A heaping dose of empowering music, mixed with a side of belly laughs and dramatic sentiment is served up in ‘Waitress.'
Preview: Waitress at The Schuster
Inspired by the 2007 film, ‘Waitress’ is a musical about a woman desperate to make the most perfect pie and to master the recipe for a life of happiness. To probe a little deeper into the show, is Steven Good, who plays a gynecologist, Dr. Jim.
According to Good, ‘Waitress,’ contains all the elements of a fulfilling production. “It has everything you like in a musical. There’s heart and tons of humor. It’s very relatable to the audience,” he said.
Dr. Jim has a beyond friendly bedside manner with the show’s leading lady, Jenna, as they develop a romance together. Jenna finds herself pregnant by her abusive husband and Dr. Jim provides a safe escape with his comfort and care. However, it’s winning a local pie contest that could really provide Jenna with the means for the fresh start that she so desperately craves.
Good happily prescribes laughter for those who attend the show. He’s grateful for the opportunity to provide so many smiles. “Dr. Jim isn’t your typical leading man. He’s very quirky and creates a lot of laughs. I enjoy getting to do some comedy,” he said.
A skilled musician, Good can play multiple instruments and also has a wide vocal range. At the University of California Santa Cruz he earned degrees in Music Composition, Operatic Voice, and Theatre. Good then attended Harvard and the American Repertory Theatre Institute for his Masters in Acting. During that time he also had the opportunity to live, perform, and train at the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia. In 2017 Good made his Broadway debut in ‘Escape to Margaritaville.’
Good’s credits also include appearances on the CW’s ‘Heart of Dixie’, ABC’s ‘Notorious,’ and a starring role in the Lifetime movie ‘Nightmare Nurse.’ However, it’s working live on stage where Good feels most connected with the audience. “On T.V and film you don’t get to share in the intimacy of the moment with the audience. It’s something special that you don’t get from any other medium,” he said.
While on the national tour, Good has immensely enjoyed traveling to place’s he’d never been and experiencing all the different cultures. “It’s incredible to see all the beauty and diversity of our wonderful country,” he said. “It’s also interesting to see how audiences react differently to some parts of the play in different parts of the country. There is a change in reactions depending on where we are.”
A universal aspect of the show though is pure enjoyment as a whole. Fans of the movie will be glad to discover that the musical doesn’t stray too far from the script. “It’s the movie elevated to the next level through music. Some of the songs are taken from a line of dialogue in the movie,” said Good.
‘Waitress’ will be serving up laughs, smiles, and joy through music at the Schuster Center June 25 – 30.
