Katharine McPhee to star in Waitress in the West End

Katharine McPhee will play Jenna in the UK premiere of Waitress, it has been announced.

The hit show, which is penned by Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson, has its eagerly anticipated opening at the Adelphi Theatre on 8 February, and is currently booking until 25 May.

Actor and songwriter McPhee, who makes her West End debut in the production, previously played the role on Broadway from April to August of this year. Her credits include hit NBC series Smash and the CBS drama Scorpion.

The piece, which is also currently running on Broadway, is based on the 2007 film of the same name starring Keri Russell. It follows a young woman in a small town who has a talent for baking pies and yearns to enter a pie contest. Her plans are hindered by an unexpected pregnancy.

The musical opened on Broadway in March 2016 with Jessie Mueller as the lead character. It went on to be nominated for four Tony Awards and six Drama Desk Awards, as well as a Grammy Award. It has choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus. Further casting for the show is to be announced.