Producers Barry and Fran Weissler together with David Ian for Crossroads Live have announced that star of stage and screen Les Dennis joins the cast of musical comedy WAITRESS as Joe, alongside West End star Evelyn Hoskins as Dawn when it comes to Hull New Theatre this autumn.
Les Dennis is one of the UK’s best-known entertainers with a career in showbusiness spanning more than 50 years. His West End credits include Inside Number 9: Stage Fright at the Wyndham’s Theatre, Grandad Trotter in Only Fools and Horses The Musical at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Wilbur in Hairspray opposite Michael Ball at the London Coliseum, King Arthur in Spamalot, Amos Hart in Chicago and Bill in Me and My Girl. His touring theatre credits include 42nd Street, Art, Legally Blonde, High School Musical 2 and Uncle Fester in the musical comedy The Addams Family. His many TV credits include Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street and a fictional version of himself in Extras.
Evelyn Hoskins returns to the role of Dawn having previously starred in Waitress both in the West End and on tour. She most recently reprised her role of Carol Van Deusen in 42 Balloons at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, having previously played at the Vaudeville Theatre and Lowry, Salford. Evelyn’s other stage credits include Something Rotten! in concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Gyspy at the Mill at Sonning, Carrie at the Southwark Playhouse, as well as originating the role of Thea in the London production of Spring Awakening at the Lyric Hammersmith and Novello Theatre.
WAITRESS is based on the 2007 movie written by Adrienne Shelly. Music and lyrics are written by GRAMMY award-winning, singer-songwriter sensation Sara Bareilles. With a book by Jessie Nelson, direction by Tony-award winner Diane Paulus and choreography by Lorin Latarro, Waitress has garnered multiple awards and nominations in both America and the UK, receiving acclaim from both audiences and critics alike.
Celebrating 10 years of production, WAITRESS opened on Broadway on 24 April 2016 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, where it ran until 5 January 2020. Waitress celebrated its official opening night at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End on 7 March 2019. The show has gone on to global success with further productions in North America, Japan, Holland, a French language production in Canada, a Spanish language production in Mexico, and coming this spring of 2026 an Australian production in Melbourne and Sydney.
WAITRESS tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie maker in a small town, who dreams of a way out of her loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s new doctor may offer her a chance at a new life, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes to happiness. But Jenna must find the courage and strength within herself to rebuild her life. This beautiful musical celebrates friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.
WAITRESS comes to Hull New Theatre from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 September. Tickets are on sale now. Book at the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit hulltheatres.co.uk