The musical centers on Jenna, a pie chef and waitress at a small-town Southern diner. She's stuck in a loveless and abusive marriage with her husband, Earl, and she's horrified to learn she's pregnant with his child. She receives support — and romantic affection — from her gynecologist, Dr. Pomatter, who is also married, complicating things further. She wants to save money to escape her life and build a better one for herself and her baby, and she learns about a pie-baking contest with a cash prize she sees as her chance.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

JENNA A woman stuck in her life as an unhappily married waitress in a small town. Finds some happiness and expression through her meticulous baking of pies. Lives her life paycheck-to-paycheck, day by day, and wants nothing more than to get away and start fresh, unbeknownst to her destructive husband, Earl. Must have a fantastic pop/rock voice with great range.

Note: This role engages in multiple scenes of staged intimacy including close proximity, kissing, embracing, and simulated sexual activity. No nudity. This role is on the receiving end of staged violence: grabbing, shoving.

BECKY The oldest of the waitresses at Joe’s Diner. Irreverent, snarky, been there, made it back, and somehow kept her forward and sometimes wicked sense of humor. She is honest and loyal to her gals at the diner. Must have a soulful pop voice with an excellent pop belt. 

Note: This role engages in a scene of staged intimacy involving close proximity, kissing, and simulated sexual activity. No nudity or undress.

DAWN She is the youngest of the waitresses at Joe’s Diner. Endearing and genuine. Thick glasses, hair parted 14 centimeters to the left - eccentric is the nice way to say she’s slightly unusual, and not so slightly OCD - as an example, she sets tables painstaking ensuring each salt and pepper shaker is equidistant from the napkin holder. An odd duck. Should have excellent comedic timing. Must have an excellent pop/rock/folk voice. 

Note: This role engages in a moment of staged intimacy involving close proximity and simulated sexual activity as well as moments of kissing and embracing. No nudity or undress.

DR. POMATTER Handsome, endearing, and neurotic. He is clumsy in manner. Jenna’s gynecologist with whom an unexpected extramarital affair is born. Has a quirky sense of humor and a big heart, despite the fact that he’s contributing to the affair. Should have a strong pop/rock tenor. 

Note: This role engages in multiple scenes of staged intimacy including close proximity, kissing, embracing, and simulated sexual activity. No nudity.

EARL Jenna’s husband. An almost talented musician who peaked in high school. He’s handsome in a gruff way, but that face is clouded with broken dreams, drowned in cheap beer. Publicly, Earl turns on the charm but privately he is a nightmare narcissist, exploding into unexpected anger one second and turning into a sobbing mess the next. Guitar playing a plus. 

Note: This role engages in staged intimacy including kissing and embracing. This role also initiates physical violence: grabbing, shoving.

OGIE Absolutely smitten with Dawn after a 5-minute date. Extremely quirky, incredibly persistent, yet always kind. Should have excellent comedic timing. Must have a strong pop/rock tenor/baritenor sound.

Note: This role engages in a moment of staged intimacy involving close proximity and simulated sexual activity as well as moments of kissing and embracing. No nudity or undress.

CAL A chef at the diner. A “Salt of the earth” guy’s guy surrounded by gals. Brash, impatient, unsentimental, but somehow charming. Should have a strong pop/rock voice with great comedic chops.

Note: This role engages in a scene of staged intimacy involving close proximity, kissing, and simulated sexual activity. No nudity or undress.

JOE The owner of the diner where Jenna, Dawn, becky, and Cal work. A seemingly old, curmudgeonly man who has a soft spot for Jenna (and her pie), but picks when that warmth allows itself to be shown. A sarcastically funny and no-nonsense guy with a keen ability to read people. Must have a strong baritone pop/rock.

LULU 4-5 years old. Daughter of Jenna and Earl. A sweet, carefree child who appears in the last scene of the show, she is the essence of childhood joy and freedom.

ENSEMBLE Essential to the storytelling of the production - Jenna’s muses, Joe’s Diner customers, a trio of pregnant women, Nurse Norma, Franchise Pomatter and more. Should be strong movers who excel at storytelling choreography.