🎟️ [**Book *Waitress *tickets for the Adelphi Theatre run here**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/3309/waitress-tickets.aspx).
Broadway actress Desi Oakley flown in from New York to cover lead West End role of Waitress
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(Updated on 10 Oct 2023)
A major outbreak of illness among the West End cast of [***Waitress***](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/3309/waitress-tickets.aspx) along with another unpleasant next-door "surpies" has caused some unexpected chaos behind the scenes. American actress **Desi Oakley** has been promptly flown in across the pond to temporarily cover for **Lucie Jones** as Jenna. The musical is currently running at [**London's Adelphi Theatre**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/3/adelphi-theatre.aspx) **until 4 July 2020** with [**Sara Bareilles set to join the cast**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/sara-bareilles-to-join-west-end-waitress-cast-along-with-gavin-creel) at the end of the month.
### Lucie Jones and understudies fall ill, Desi Oakley saves day with West End debut
West End *Waitress* musical headliner **Lucie Jones** along with her understudy co-stars **Sarah O'Connor** and **Olivia Moore** have reportedly fallen ill and are currently unable to perform in the show. The bout of illness among the London cast forced the matinee and standard evening performances of *Waitress *on Saturday, 11 January to be cancelled.
Producers of the hit London musical swiftly flew in Broadway actress **Desi Oakley** to take over the role of Jenna for a full week, beginning tonight (Monday, 13 January 2020). Oakley is best known for originating the role of Jenna for the US touring production of *Waitress *and most recently starred in the New York revival of *Chicago. *Her role as a temporary replacement for Lucie Jones will mark her West End debut.
### A consolation concert of *Waitress* met with a mysterious package
The evening performance on 11 January saw the remaining cast members of *Waitress* perform a special impromptu concert-style presentation of musical numbers from the show, which was hosted by actor **David Hunter** (Dr Pomatter). However, the performance came to an untimely end after a suspicious package was found at the neighbouring [**Vaudeville Theatre**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/80/vaudeville-theatre.aspx), forcing the [**Adelphi**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/3/adelphi-theatre.aspx) auditorium to be evacuated. The venue was later placed on lockdown whilst the package was being removed.
*Waitress *currently stars Jones, Hunter, **Joel Montague**, **Hannah Tointon**, and **Marisha Wallace** with [**Gavin Creel and pop sensation Sara Bareilles set to join the cast**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/sara-bareilles-to-join-west-end-waitress-cast-along-with-gavin-creel) **beginning 27 January 2020**. Jones is expected to fully recover and return to the role next week.
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