From now until mid-August, the Garden Theater transforms into Joe’s Pie Diner, where the sugar is high, the stakes are higher, and the coffee never stops flowing.
Waitress, the hit Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson, tells the story of Jenna, a small-town waitress with a big talent for baking and a life that’s gotten a little too complicated. She’s stuck in a bad marriage, unexpectedly pregnant, and wondering if she’s lost sight of who she used to be.
Waitress is Short North Stage’s most requested show of the season, and for good reason. It’s got the kind of emotional punch that sneaks up on you, plus songs you’ll be humming for days. Seriously, if “She Used to Be Mine” doesn’t hit you right in the chest, check your pulse.
And if you’ve never seen a show at the Garden Theater before, now’s the time. This historic space is a gem in the Short North, and Short North Stage is the professional theater company making magic there week after week.
SNS is known for mixing Broadway staples with bolder, lesser-known works, all within a space that feels intimate and electric. With three stages under one roof — the grand Main Stage, the cozy Green Room, and Ethel’s Stage Left Lounge — there’s always something happening, whether it’s a musical, a cabaret, or something in between. And as the Short North stretches north and Ohio State’s influence creeps south, this block of High Street is becoming a real cultural connector. Short North Stage is right in the middle of that shift, helping shape what live theater in Columbus can be.
Waitress runs through August 10, with performances most Thursdays through Sundays. Tickets are on sale now at shortnorthstage.org, and you can get 15% off tickets with the code “Navigator”. Come for the music, the laughter, the heartbreak, and maybe even some pie cravings you weren’t expecting.
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