A Tasmanian performer has been cast in the Australian premiere of the hit Broadway musical Waitress.
John Xintavelonis from Bellerive will play Cal, the manager of Joe’s Diner, when the production opens at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne on May 1.
He will star alongside Natalie Bassingthwaighte as lead character Jenna, Rob Mills as Dr Pomatter and John Waters as Joe.
“I haven’t worked with Natalie before but I know Rob Mills really well through mutual friends,” Xintavelonis told Pulse.
“And it’s an honour to work with John Waters, who is a legend of film and TV and theatre in Australia.”
“But the best thing about doing these shows is that the Tasmanians come and see the show and I get to catch up with them at stage door.”
The casting call came only a few weeks ago after months of waiting.
“I was auditioning for about four different shows last November and December,” the former Geilston Bay High School student said.
“The call just literally only came through a few weeks ago from an agent to say I’ve been cast in Waitress.”
He said the American creative team behind the production were perfectionists who took their time making final decisions.
Xintavelonis has built an impressive musical theatre resume since his breakthrough role as Pumbaa in The Lion King’s Australian production.
He’s since appeared in Billy Elliot, Jekyll and Hyde, The Wizard of Oz and Opera on the Harbour.
Between mainland productions, he runs John X Presents, staging major shows in Tasmania including a record-breaking professional production of Rocky Horror in 2021.
Waitress tells the story of small-town waitress Jenna, who dreams of escaping her troubled marriage through her pie-making skills and a baking contest.
The musical features music by Grammy winner Sara Bareilles and has been praised for its female-led creative team.
Tickets are on sale now for the Melbourne season, with the production moving to Sydney’s Lyric Theatre from August 1.
