Last week I was in New York City with a girlfriend in what is becoming an annual pilgrimage to attend BroadwayCon and spend time at the theater. BroadwayCon is where musical theater fans get to meet the stars of the past and today’s favorite Broadway shows. We see performances from current and upcoming shows, learn about how shows are produced and listen to fun anecdotes on the life of a Broadway performer. This trip also coincides with NYC Restuarant Week and Broadway’s two for one week. For a theater geek, it is an incredible opportunity to enjoy Broadway, and all that New York City has to offer. This year’s trip was extra special because my daughter, Brianna, joined us for a few days.

Brianna has her own blog, “Book and Butter.”  So it was only fitting that we saw the show “Waitress.” I continue to sing “Sugar, Butter, and Flour,” throughout the day. The main character Jenna is a waitress in a small town. She is married to Earl who is controlling, selfish, and brutish. She bakes her fears and anxieties away as best she can by creating masterful pies in the diner where she works. They are both sweet, “The Key (Lime) to Happiness Pie” and savory, “My Husband’s a Jerk Chicken Potpie.” Jenna finds out she is pregnant and meets Dr. Pomatter and soon bakes the “I Can’t Have an Affair Because It Is Wrong (And I Don’t Want Earl to Kill Me) Marbled Chocolate Cheesecake Pie.” The cast of characters and their individual stories are heartfelt and fun. Their work in the show does more than support the character of Jenna. They have robust songs and storylines of their own. The leads in the production I saw were Sara Bareilles and Jason Mraz. It was breathtaking to hear Sara Bareilles sing her creation and play alongside Jason Mraz. Sara didn’t bake the original pie for the story of Waitress, but she wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway show. Her words sung in her unique voice brought extra depth to the entire evening.

Everyone finds ways to quiet the distress of the day. Some are simple and are done quietly like taking long slow breaths or petting the dog. Most take a little more time like baking pies, running in the park, putting a puzzle together, or painting a landscape. I cook and break bread with friends and family when I’m in need of relief on a typical day. But, my top pick to escape is the theater. I cannot be sad or worried when I’m engaged in a live musical theater performance. The orchestra or band begin to play, and the energy of the actors and the telling of the story with dance and lyric takes over my entire brain. It is the ultimate mental escape for me. I have a similar experience when I watch a show on the screen, but without the energy and eye contact that takes place during a live performance, my mind still wanders. Musicals come with a bonus feature that other experiences typically do not, a soundtrack! Through the music, I can be transported back to that time and place when I was watching the show. Baking or eating pie will never be the same for me. I will always hear Jenna (Sara Bareilles) sing “Sugar, Butter, and Flour” when I’m having pie, and I will smile.  I will smile not just for the flaky crust and delicious filling, but for the sweetness and the memory of seeing “Waitress.”