OnlyOnAOL: Ann Taylor serves up women-power in 'Waitress'
By: Donna Freydkin
"Waitress is some serious mix of female talent.
The Tony-nominated Broadway musical is the first in history to have all-female creative team behind it, something that's hard to fathom in 2016, when it shouldn't be an exception. To celebrate the show, Ann Taylor is spotlighting the headliner Jessie Mueller, and director Diane Paulus with an interview along with portraits and video footage posted on anntaylor.com.
"It wasn't a gimmick. The stars aligned on this one because of the subject matter. It's the best people for the job and they happen to be women," says Mueller. "Because of this material, it's beneficial to have women in the room. There's freedom of expression of the subject matter, being that it's what a woman goes through."
The show is based on the film starring Keri Russell, and features original music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles. It's about Jenna (Mueller), a baker seeking to escape her loveless marriage, and co-stars Jenna Ushkowitz and Christopher Fitzgerald (watch our interview with Fitzgerald above).
On October 18, Mueller and Paulus will have a conversation at Ann Taylor's Rock Center store, followed by a live performance from "Waitress" cast. And those signed up for Ann Taylor emails will get 30 percent off tickets to the show.
"I've never done anything like this before. It was all about working together and being inspired," says Mueller. "The clothes are an extension of the person. I like clothes when it looks like the person is wearing them. The brand has an elegance and ease to it, which I relate to."
