Waitress

Waitress at Des Moines Civic Center

Ever dream about walking away from the life that's holding you back? Jenna does. Waitress follows a pie-making expert trapped in an unhappy marriage, dreaming of a future where she calls the shots. Sara Bareilles wrote the music and lyrics, turning Jenna's struggle into songs that balance humor, heartbreak and hope. Theater works when it shows you someone else's fight and reminds you of your own. Saturday, December 19, 2026, at 1:00 PM, Des Moines Civic Center stages a story about courage, creativity and the messy, beautiful work of choosing yourself.

Bareilles' music carries the emotional weight. Her songs capture the internal battle between fear and ambition, the moments when staying feels safer than leaving, and the slow realization that you deserve better. Jessie Nelson's book gives Jenna's journey room to breathe, to hurt, and to eventually rise. You're watching someone rebuild from the inside out, and the music makes every step feel earned.

Bring someone who knows what it's like to want more. Bring the friend who needs a reminder that second chances exist. Or come alone and spend an afternoon with a story that refuses to apologize for asking difficult questions. Explore tickets for Waitress at Des Moines Civic Center and give yourself a Saturday that honors the dreamer still fighting inside you.