“Sugar, butter, flour…” these three words, ingredients, are the first thing an audience in the Brooks Atkinson Theatre hears every night. The pauses between each word leaves the audience listening to what’s happening next. Or, as the first song of the show asks “what’s inside?” And many are asking what’s inside the intriguing production of Waitress: The Musical, and what exactly is it that helps to make it the most interesting and beautiful show on Broadway this season.

Waitress tells the story of Jenna (Jessie Mueller), a young girl who is working her days away at Joe’s Diner making pies for customers, and getting through the day as best as she can. Jenna’s pies are special though because of the unique recipes that come with them. She is married to Earl (Nick Cordero), a slacker of a husband who treats Jenna poorly, and takes her money for himself. Jenna is encouraged by her co-workers and friends Dawn (Kimiko Glenn) and Becky (Keala Settle) to leave Earl and open up her own pie shop, but when Jenna finds out she is pregnant with Earl’s baby, she feels obligated to be tied down to their broken relationship. Jenna begins seeing her new doctor, Dr. Pomatter (Drew Gehling) and when Jenna begins to feel loved and appreciated, they begin to develop feelings for each other. When Jenna has a moment of realization that she can’t keep living the way she does, she stashes away money so she can enter a pie contest that will give her just enough money to leave Earl and start a life for her and her baby. But conflict steps in and Jenna is stuck between figuring out how to deal with her situation and find the best for her and her future baby.

The story manages to carry a balance of both serious and humour, which is tastefully done. The story does address serious issues of marital abuse, and the fear of leaving someone, as well as stepping outside of a comfort zone. Jenna’s character is one who has settled, but she wants to strive for more, because she knows she can, but due to her situation is afraid to step in a new territory.

There is an astounding amount of talent in this cast. With Tony winner Mueller leading the cast, Glenn (Orange is the New Black, Spring Awakening), and Settle (Les Mis), bring their own side stories and songs that make you love more than just the lead characters. Each actor is heavily invested in their characters, and it’s visible in how they portray them on stage.

The music from the show is all original content by Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles. Bareilles recorded songs from the musical called “What’s Inside: Songs From Waitress” featuring the main single “She Used to Be Mine” which received positive reviews.

Notably, this show leads an all female team including direction by Diane Paulus (Hair, Pippin), book by Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam, Love the Coopers), and choreography by Lorin Latarro (American Idiot).

The story carries a lot of heart and a sense of feel-good. You leave the show feeling a need to make a change for your own life as the audience sees with Jenna’s. There are elements of love and heartbreak, but above all, hope. There is a lot of hope for the characters as well as how you see yourself in the characters. You want the characters to do well, and in how they strive after their dreams, they eventually see everything fall into place as the outcome. The production is real. Some of the situations are real ones that we go through in our everyday living, making it a touching story and a loving one. All of these are the perfect ingredients to make for the most beautiful production on Broadway this season.

In a small theatre on Yonge Street, a show is packing a big punch with a new touring production called A Night with Janis Joplin.

A Night with Janis Joplin profiles the singer who's unique voice and trailblazing persona made her one of the most iconic rock stars in music history.

The show is the telling of Janis' life as she started out as a musician. From her humble beginnings in Port Arthur, Texas to her shot to fame in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury, the story is told through the eyes of Janis from Janis, as if she's sharing the story around a group of friends in a living room.

Mary Bridget Davies, who potrays the rock icon, is undoubtedly the best and only choice for the role. Upon first glance (and first listen!) you may have even thought you were in the same room as Janis herself. Davies shares the same unique raspy and rough vocals that Janis had. She carries the same mannerisms, and speech styling like the use of the word 'man' at the end of every sentence, to which, if you've ever seen a Janis interview, she does just that.

The "ensemble" of the show is a very limited group of women who rotate by playing as back up singers and Janis' influences. Influences including Bessie Smith, Aretha Franklin, and Odetta. When the influences are introduced, they're dressed as the particular singer and usually perform one of their songs. Interestingly enough, by showing these influences, the audience realizes that a lot of Janis' songs were actually covers from these famous blues singers (like Down on Me and Summertime).

One of the interesting aspects of the show is that she talks about her blues idols, primarily all of her favourite blues artists. What is noticed right away is that she only ever talks about her favourite and influential female artists. Although Joplin admired male blues singers, it's imperative to note the time period where this is coming from. During a time where women in the music business were either controlled by their male management or male musicians dominated the scene.

The audience carried a mix of age demographics, from people who grew up listening to Janis, to those who were just discovering her. Some were still embodying their old hippie spirit with their dyed hair and their peace sign purses as they sang along to the songs in the show. Although the reaction started off slow, it was when the band kicked into Piece of My Heart did the audience begin to respond. The performance was so good that at the end of the song, it gained a standing ovation. Including the finale, there were three standing ovations throughout the whole show, all entirely well deserved.

The fourth wall was broken several times during the show to not only engage with the audience, but to encourage them to sing along and dance if they so saw fitting. With a certain buzz by intermission, it almost felt like everyone was at a rock concert as opposed to a theatrical production.

By the end of the show, there was a sombre reminder when Davies (as Janis) tells the audience that she hopes to be around forever, that she doesn't want to retire. Anyone aware of the rock star's history knows that Joplin met tragic fate on October 4th, 1970 when she died of a drug overdose in her hotel room at the age of 27. It was there that the hopefulness of Janis' spirit would remain. Truthfully, she had built a legacy that would inspire several other musicians, and certainly gain an iconic reputation that would have her remembered her forever.

A Night with Janis Joplin is more than just a sharing of Janis Joplin's life, it's about the music and spirit of her music. Joplin was certainly a unique spirit and no one could ever math the kind of style and charism she shared. Getting a new perspective on the kind of person she was and the music she loved makes someone who's a fan of hers love her that much more.