(Photo: Broadway Direct)

By Jordan Nash-Boulden

There’s a new leading lady clocking in at the diner–and she’s making history eight times a week. Television and off-Broadway veteran Nicolette Robinson took over the title role of Jenna–and the powder-blue apron to match–in the Sara Bareilles musical Waitress on September 4th. When it was announced that she would become the latest in a string of limited-engagement castings for the show, fans everywhere took notice and took to social media to express their support for the newest member of the company. Robinson seemed poised to step into the role and make it her own, beginning with a triumphant Broadway debut on the Brooks Atkinson stage. In doing so, she became the first person of color and first off-stage mother to play the lead since the show officially opened in 2016. Her casting not only brings new depth, emotion, and talent to Jenna’s story, but also serves as inspiration for nontraditional actors and actresses everywhere that can find themselves represented in the spotlight. Fans can catch her in the diner until October 28th serving up a performance that’s surely something sweet.