CAST

Jenna SARAH TUBERT
Becky CHELSEA HILAIRE
Dawn RAQUEL MCPEEK RODRIGUEZ
Cal JULES DAMERON
Joe HECTOR RJ REYNOSO
Dr. Pomatter NOAH BUCHHOLZ
Earl CHRIS CORRIGAN
Ogie ZAIN AHMED
Nurse Norma/Ensemble DARIAN SLATTERY
Ensemble DICKIE DREW HEARTS
Lulu ALONA JANE ROBBINS

CREATIVE TEAM

Director SANDRA MAE FRANK
Director of Artistic Sign Language ROSA LEE TIMM
Caption Design & Video Editor STEWART CASWELL
Lighting Design ANNIE WIEGAND
Artistic Director of Deaf Broadway GARRETT ZUERCHER
Production Manager & IMAG Director JAMES CAVERLY
Company Manager KIMBERLY HALE
Stage Manager ANN BARKIN
Assistant Stage Manager AVERIL CARR
Dramaturgy/Makeup Design JACKSON TORII BART
Production Assistant LOU RISKIN
Production Assistant REBA DELL’ANGELO
Pie Baker JOANNA CISZEWSKA of HER STORY COOKIE CO.

Cast Biographies

Zain Ahmed (Ogie) I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with a minor in Psychology from Rochester Institute of Technology, complemented by two professional marketing internships. I am also a professional actor, dancer, and signing songs in American Sign Language (ASL), with 5 years of experience. I work as a professional ASL Actor at the Miaplaza, where I perform for ASL courses to teach students to master the language. Additionally, as a content creator on social media, "DESI ASL," I specialize in producing content that spans storytelling, signing songs, dance, and education related to Pakistan and India in ASL. Originally born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, I moved to Chicago at 8 years old and later relocated to Rochester, New York for college and my career. Previously, I was part of a professional traveling theater troupe for 4 ½ years, delivering performances and workshops focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) and Deaf culture for K-12 students and beyond across various U.S. cities. My experience also includes a range of roles in stage plays, films, and commercials, showcasing my talents in acting, dancing, and signing songs in ASL from high school through college and into my professional jobs for 15 years. Beyond my professional work, I enjoy studying and working on projects related to performing arts and marketing.

Noah Buchholz (Dr. Pomatter) is thrilled to be making his Deaf Broadway debut! Recent theater credits include Edward Ferrars in a stage reading of "Sense & Sensibility" (Deaf West) and Papa Finn/Duke in "Big River" (Pennington Players). He recently served as Director of Interpreters for "King Lear" (The Shed), "Aladdin" (Broadway), and "Pirates!" (Broadway). Other highlights include having one of his poems featured in an exhibit at the Guggenheim and winning Sign Slam, an improv poetry competition hosted by ASL Slam at Bowery Poetry Club. Noah is also Senior Lecturer and Director of the ASL program at Princeton University. He would like to thank his family, friends, and the Deaf Broadway team for their incredible support.

Chris Corrigan (Earl) is a dynamic force in the world of ASL poetry, storytelling, and performance. With a passion for bringing characters to life, he has dazzled audiences in productions such as Big River, Open Window, Black Sand, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Lake Windfall, Maple & Vine, and JESUS: A Deaf Missions Film. Chris has also graced the stage during Independence Day celebrations at The White House with Presidents Bush and Obama. Recently, he completed an exciting role in Milan 1880, a thought-provoking piece written by Joey Caverly. For Chris, “ASL is not just a language; it's the essence of expression—vital like pollen to flowers and as crucial as oxygen to life itself.”

Jules Dameron (Cal) (he/him) is a Deaf, trans, and gay actor, director, and writer for film and stage who thrives on bold stories and unforgettable characters. He holds a BA in Television/Cinema from Gallaudet University and an MFA in Film Directing from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, bringing a bold cinematic lens and Deaf cultural fluency to all his work. Trained at Upright Citizens Brigade, Jules has taught improv to the Deaf community and recently performed with GA Collective, a ground-breaking Deaf improv troupe led by Joey Caverly and Andrew Morrill. On screen, he played Cody in "Reverie," an impactful short film co-created with Justin Jackerson for the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, and performed in "Still Here," a music video by Magnus Riise—which he also co-directed. Onstage, Jules portrayed Moisés Kaufman in "The Laramie Project" with Deaf Austin Theatre—a compelling and widely recognized production in the Deaf community—starred as Michael in "100 Years of Darkness" with Inside Out Theatre, and took on iconic roles with Deaf Broadway including Brad and Dr. Scott/Eddie in "Rocky Horror," Madame Thénardier in "Les Misérables," and Harry in "Company." He will soon perform as Ana in "Another Kind of Silence" at City Theatre in Pittsburgh. Other credits include Friar Lawrence and a gender-bending Lord/Lady Capulet in "Romeo & Juliet." A dedicated culture-builder, Jules champions Deaf-led spaces that center Deaf experiences while welcoming hearing artists into authentic, collaborative, and culturally aware creations. www.julesdameron.com

Dickie Hearts (Ensemble) Deaf, gay, multiracial actor/filmmaker. Creator of "Passengers," set for 2025 release. Seen on Tales of the City, High Maintenance, Obie winner, Jerome Hill Artist Fellow. Always championing Deaf & LGBTQ+ stories onscreen.

Chelsea Hilaire (Becky) was born and raised in Trinidad. She went to Lexington School for the Deaf where her acting skills bloomed through many wonderful roles, including Titana in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Becca/Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing, and Snoopy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. She continued to act at Gallaudet University where her roles included Miss Saunders in Cloud 9, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Cacambo in Candide. She currently wears many hats proudly, including the store manager of the signing Starbucks in Washington DC. She is also the successful baker of her own business – That Is So Chelsea Cheesecakes, also based in DC. It’s never too late to reclaim your skills and she is excited to be a part of WAITRESS.

Hector RJ Reynoso (Joe) has performed in various productions. Notably, he played the role of Rocco in Beethoven’s "Fidelio," directed by Dudamel, in collaboration with Deaf West Theatre at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He was also part of LA Phil's 12-day tour, which included stops in Barcelona, Paris, and London. Hector is recognized for his portrayal of Joseph of Arimathea in the film "Jesus: A Deaf Mission." He has performed with theatre Francisco de Goya (Goya's in the House of the Deaf Man) Center for Arts Theatre, CCBC. Company (Larry) Deaf Broadway at Damrosch Stage, NY. Synetic Theater Beauty and the Beast (Jean Paul). Other roles include Hamlet…the rest is silence (Polonius), Twelfth Night (Sir Toby Belch), The Three Musketeers (Porthos), The Taming of the Shrew (Baptista Minola), Othello (Brabantio), King Lear (Earl of Gloucester) and King Arthur (Ensemble). The Old Man Never Let It Go Deaf Festival Kentucky and Capital Fringe Festival. King Lear (Earl of Gloucester) Rustaveli Theater in Republic of Georgia. He won a Helen Hayes award for outstanding ensemble King Lear and he was nominated for an actor in Goya's in the House of the Deaf Man in 2008 at Carnegie Mellon University, and Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region II/Gallaudet University production. On film, he played all roles in one actor's play in Christmas Carol for New York Deaf Theatre.

Alona Jane Robbins (Lulu) is a young Deaf actor who made her film debut alongside Sarah Paulson in the Searchlight Pictures thriller, "Hold Your Breath." Alona has also guest starred on episodes of "Law & Order" and "New Amsterdam." Born and raised in NYC, Alona is a big sister, an obsessive reader, and loves traveling and knocking back oysters.

Raquel McPeek Rodriguez (Dawn) is a Deaf Latina actress raised in Los Angeles. She took to the stage at age 8, performing in school plays, skits, and local competitions. She later majored in Theater at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where she booked her first lead role in the play Electricidad and was recognized by the John F. Kennedy Center through the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition. After graduating, Raquel expanded her acting career, signing with a manager and talent agency. She soon began booking television roles, including appearances on Beyond (Freeform), Pretty Little Liars (Freeform), Speechless (ABC), and Chicago Med (NBC). More recently, she guest-starred as Sienna on NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS). After taking time to explore other passions, Raquel is excited to bring her experience full circle by returning to the stage with Deaf Broadway's: Waitress, The Musical.

Darian Slattery (Ensemble/Nurse Norma) is elated to make her Deaf Broadway and Summer For The City debut in Waitress: The Musical! Coming from Rochester, NY, Darian has served as an actor, Assistant Director, and Director of Artistic Sign Language in several shows at Rochester Institute of Technology and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Darian thanks RIT/NTID profoundly for helping her grow her Deaf identity and ASL skills. Darian also thanks Sandra Mae Frank and Garrett Zuercher for this opportunity, the late great Judy Heumann for her work in advancing Disability Rights in the United States, and her parents, Charlotte, Andrew, Rusty, and Lucy, for their love and support.

Sarah Tubert (Jenna) is a Deaf Latina SAG-AFTRA actress, voiceover artist, motivational speaker, and international athlete. She recently voiced a series regular on Disney’s Primos and appeared on Claws (TNT) and Switched at Birth (ABC Family). Stage credits include Never is Now (Skylight Theatre & Museum of Tolerance), and workshop productions of Medusa: The Musical (Deaf West) and Our Town (Pasadena Playhouse/Deaf West). She also Assistant Directed American Idiot at the Mark Taper Forum. Sarah narrated the award-winning El Deafo for Penguin Random House, and her ASL music videos have reached millions on YouTube. She co-created the podcast What the Deaf?! and has a children’s book coming out soon. She is captain of the USA Women’s Deaf Volleyball Team and will compete in her fourth and final Deaflympics this November in Tokyo. Performing at Lincoln Center is a dream come true. As a Deaf artist and athlete, she’s passionate about rewriting the narrative of what’s possible and hopes to inspire those while doing it.

Creative Biographies

Ann Barkin (Stage Manager) (she/her) is thrilled to be joining the Deaf Broadway team! Off Broadway: Off Peak (59E59), Mornings at Seven (Theatre at St. Clement’s), Sistas (St. Luke’s), MsTrial (New World Stages), This One’s for the Girls (St. Luke’s), Education (59E59) and The Strangest (NYTW, 4th Street Theatre). She has also worked regionally on a number of productions, and is currently a stage manager/technician for a few venues around New York.

Averil Carr (Assistant Stage Manager) (she/her) is honored to be working on this production of Waitress! She previously worked as the assistant stage manager for Deaf Broadway’s Rent and Once on this Island. Averil is a theatre maker and teaching artist, working with the NYC DOE’s Office of Arts and Special Projects on numerous programs including the All-In(clusive) Teen Theater Ensemble and the Shubert High School Theater Festival. Her other teaching residencies include work with ActionPlay, Epic Players, and Broadway Bound Kids. In addition, Averil works closely with NYU’s Verbatim Performance Lab, where she co-created a verbatim documentary theatre investigation into sexual violence at universities and institutions- We’re Not There Yet. She is an MA Candidate at NYU’s Program in Educational Theatre. // averilcarr.com

Stewart Caswell (Captionist) Stewart is thrilled once again to be working with Deaf Broadway. He has performed all over the world as a member of Up with People in 2008 and as a member of Phamaly Theatre Company in 2015, when he traveled to Osaka, Japan for a production of The Fantasticks. He resides in the seaside town of Belfast, ME and is grateful he can do this work remotely. This is his fourth time captioning a show for Deaf Broadway, and is happy once again to be back at Damrosch Park! He immensely enjoys the challenge of bringing musical theatre into the visual sphere, and making it accessible for more people by filling in the gaps left behind by traditional captioning practices. Language is only one part of music; it’s the rhythm, dynamics and tone that also matter. He hopes he has captured all of that with this project. He wants to thank Garrett and all of the Deaf Broadway team for welcoming him with open arms and entrusting him with this important job. And also, he would like to thank his family back in Maine for all of their support while he was hidden away in his studio for months.

James Caverly (Production Manager/IMAG Director) has been part of the Deaf Broadway team since its founding in 2020 when it was a series of zoom performances. His Deaf Broadway producing credits at Lincoln Center: "Into The Woods", "Sweeney Todd", "Rent", & "Once On This Island". As an actor, he performed in Deaf Broadway's "Rent" at the Rose Theatre, and took part of the music video 'Seasons of Love' that won a 2025 Webby Award. He directed Deaf Broadway's "Company" in the summer of 2023 at the Damrosch Stage.

Joanna Ciszewska (Pie Baker) is a deaf NJ-based pastry chef, visual artist, and founder of Her Story Cookie Co., blending sugar and storytelling to celebrate women’s legacies — and is honored to support the community through her creative work.

Sandra Mae Frank is an actor, director, and advocate passionate about authentic storytelling in ASL spotlighting deaf actors. She starred on Broadway in Spring Awakening with Deaf West Theatre and is widely recognized for her role as Dr. Elizabeth Wilder on NBC’s New Amsterdam. Theatre credits include Fun Home, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, Next to Normal, and Our Town. TV/Film credits include The Silent Hour, Netflix's Daybreak, and NBC's Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. She has also performed in several Deaf Broadway productions, including RENT as Maureen. Fun fact: she co-directed The Music Man at Olney Theatre Center (alongside Michael Baron), earning the 2023 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Direction in a Musical. She’s thrilled to be baking up something special with this incredible production! @sandramaefrank

Kimberly Hale (Company Manager) (she/her) grew up in Iowa and currently lives and works in New York City as a Theatre Teaching Artist, Actor, Director/Choreographer & an ASL-English interpreter. She is currently the Artistic Director of the NYC DOE All In(clusive) Teen Theatre Ensemble. She was the ASL Music Coach for the Public Theater/Shakespeare In The Park production of TWELFTH NIGHT by Shaina Taub (New York Times Critics’ Pick). Her recent acting work includes HARD PLACES for the Hunter MFA Festival and Roundabout/Reverb Theatre Arts Festival, SYLVIA for New York Deaf Theatre and SCREENSHOTS and THE PUDDLE PLAY for The On and Off Theatre Workshop. Her other theater work includes teaching and interpreting for Lexington School for the Deaf Drama Club, Actionplay, Epic Players, NexGen Youth Theatre, and Ocean Beach Youth Group. As a founding member of Deaf Broadway, she never dreamed the shows they produced in their homes on Zoom during the pandemic would lead to where we are today. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with all the talented actors, crew, and creative team on WAITRESS.

Rosa Lee Timm (Director of Artistic Sign Language) is a Deaf biracial artist, executive leader, and entrepreneur whose career spans over two decades in the arts, media, and social impact sectors. Known for her powerful ASL music videos and one-woman show, she has performed across the U.S. and internationally, with work featured by Disney, PBS, Warner Bros., and the Guggenheim Museum. Rosa Lee previously served as Chief Marketing Officer and later as Division President of the CSD Social Venture Fund, where she led investments in Deaf-owned and mission-driven businesses. She also collaborates as a leadership coach and ASL consultant, offering services rooted in intentional living, cultural fluency, and creative expression. She lives in Maryland with her two children.

Jackson Torii Bart (Dramaturg/Makeup Design) (he/they) is a hard-of-hearing dramaturg and musician who is absolutely thrilled to continue their collaboration with Deaf Broadway. Deaf Broadway shows: Company, RENT, the Rocky Horror Picture Show (virtual) - other recent projects include Privilege by Garrett Zuercher and The Fifth of November by Nora Brigid Monahan. Much love to the DB creative team and cast!

Annie Wiegand (Lighting Designer) (she/her) is the first and only professional Deaf lighting designer in the U.S. theatre industry. Her design work with Deaf Broadway includes Rent and Company. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Annie holds a BA in Theatre from Appalachian State University and an MFA in Lighting Design from Boston University. She began her career in New York as Lighting Director for The Acting Company, touring nationally for three years. Other credits span Off-Broadway (I Was Most Alive With You, Playwrights Horizons) and major regional productions including Spring Awakening (Skylight Music Theatre), Cinderella (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and ZACH Theatre), Eclipsed (Milwaukee Rep), Steel Magnolias (Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Dallas Theater Center), The Upstairs Department (Signature Theatre), and The Bridges of Madison County (IRNE nomination, SpeakEasy Stage). Recent work includes Sensorium Ex, a futuristic disability-centered opera presented by VIA/BMP at the Common Senses Festival in Omaha, Nebraska. Other highlights include work with Kinetic Light, where she is a company member, as well as Anikaya Dance Theatre and Opera Birmingham. Annie serves as Associate Professor and Production Co-Program Director of the Gallaudet University Performing Arts Program. www.anniewiegand.com

Garrett Zuercher (Artistic Director) The founding artistic director of Deaf Broadway, Garrett Zuercher (he/him) is a profoundly Deaf theater and film artist with a master’s in playwriting from Hunter College. His award-winning plays have been staged at such world-class venues as the Kennedy Center and The Shed. For Deaf Broadway, he directed all Deaf, all ASL versions of INTO THE WOODS, SWEENEY TODD, and RENT for Lincoln Center, the latter for their prestigious American Songbook series. He also starred as Bobby in COMPANY. Also as an actor, he has starred in Broadway productions, multiple television series, and feature films. Dedicated to bringing authentic Deaf voices to the mainstream, he is a staunch advocate for awareness and representation within the theater and film industries. For more, please visit garrettzuercher.com.

At its heart, WAITRESS is an empowering story about reclaiming your space, your autonomy, and your future - even when life takes unexpected turns. Just because you didn’t plan for certain things doesn’t mean they can’t be part of something even more beautiful.

This show is a love letter to everyone who has ever felt less than. To the women who rise even when the world tries to pull them down. To the strength found in friendship, the courage uncovered in unexpected places, and the joy of discovering freedom through self-expression. Jenna’s journey isn't about perfection but persistence—and that is what makes it so powerful.

As the director guiding this story, I am deeply inspired by how WAITRESS uplifts complex, flawed, and utterly human characters. It doesn’t ask them to be saviors or saints; it asks them to be real - and in that honesty lies their strength.

Behind this production is a team of fierce, collaborative deaf artists - all of whom poured their hearts into bringing this world to life. From the sugar, butter, and flour to the bruises, secrets, and hopes, we’ve baked every part of ourselves into this performance.

My hope is that you leave tonight reminded of your own worth, your own power, and the people who help you believe in both.

Sandra Mae Frank

Director

All pies for this production were generously provided by hard-of-hearing baker Joanna Ciszewska of Her Story Cookie Co. (IG: @herstorycookieco)

To support Deaf Broadway and help enable future productions like this one, please visit deafbroadway.com.

Deaf Broadway’s WAITRESS, THE MUSICAL was made possible, in part, through IRT's ASL Creative Development Series. For more information, please visit irttheater.org.

Additional support for this production is provided by Lingvano. For more information about Lingvano and learning American Sign Languge, please visit our website at deafbroadway.com.

Deaf Broadway is indebted to the following people and organizations for their invaluable support, without which this production would not have been possible:

Sara Bareilles

Jessie Nelson

Stephanie Torns

Jamie Rose Hays

Kori Rushton and IRT Theatre

Dr. Peter and Joyce Barkin

The Field

Phillip Brown, Chad Kaydo, Gregory Mosher, Guthrie Park, Jack Perry and the Theatre Department at Hunter College

Ellery Brown, Kerry Candeloro, Maya Deschenes, Jenni Klauder, Roshni Lavelle, Wing Louie, Emily Mills, Desiree Naranjo Ochoa, Skye Pagon, Adam Sage, and everyone else at Lincoln Center