Waitress

Waitress was written and directed by Adrienne Shelly, who also appears in the film in a supporting role as Dawn. Tragically, Shelly was murdered before the film's release in 2007 and never saw its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The film stars Keri Russell as Jenna, a waitress and pie-maker in a small Southern town.

Yes, Waitress was adapted into a Broadway musical that opened in 2016 with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles. The musical was the first Broadway production with an all-female principal creative team in the key roles of book writer, composer, and director. Bareilles herself later stepped into the lead role of Jenna during the show's run.

The film features Jenna creating inventive pies with creative names like 'I Don't Want Earl's Baby Pie' and 'Falling in Love Chocolate Mousse Pie,' which serve as expressions of her emotional state throughout the story. The pies are central to the narrative as Jenna dreams of using her pie-baking talent to escape her abusive marriage. Each pie name reflects her inner thoughts about her life circumstances.

Nathan Fillion plays Dr. Jim Pomatter, the married physician with whom Jenna begins an affair after becoming pregnant. The cast also includes Jeremy Sisto as Jenna's abusive husband Earl and Cheryl Hines and Adrienne Shelly as her fellow waitresses. Keri Russell's performance as Jenna received widespread critical praise.