The Doctor Is In! Watch Jason Mraz Get Into Character with Songs from WAITRESS

Hello, I'm Richard Ridge for Broadway World. Two-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jason Mraz is stepping into the role of Dr. Pomatter in the hit musical Waitress for 10 weeks only, beginning on November 3rd, and we drop by the YouTube studios to bring you a sneak peek

Yeah, that's exactly what I mean. I swear that as those flavors mixed and melted, I could hear this siren sing

It was truly something special, one taste, and I want the whole thing

This is great. You were like incredible. What was today like for you? Well, it was different singing Bad Idea at 10 a.m. in the morning

That is definitely a different experience. But it's a joy. I mean, this whole thing's been so exciting to have Jason come into the show

And when Sarah first told me that was happening, it was just, it's been such a joy

It's been like a rebirth for me. That's, you know, speaking of waitress. But it's just been really refreshing, you know, to get to rehearse with someone and also rehearse with someone in a very in-depth way

You know, I've been in all of rehearsals. We've done two weeks now. We're going on our third week

So it's very much like I'm rehearsing the show with him as if we're going in together

So it just feels really great. And he's so good in it

Yeah, he's so good. But he's singing her score. That just ridiculous that I get to do that on a nightly basis I been a huge fan for years That no secret I said that millions of times Yeah it a joy to sing It really is a joy to sing And it also amazing to sing with Jason I mean his voice is like butter

So it's just stupid. It's stupid fun. There's no other way to describe it

How cool was this this morning for you? Oh my gosh, it was thrilling. It's so much fun, first of all, just to hear the songs in such good hands

with both Betsy and Jason. I mean, we're so lucky. This cast has been just one juggernaut after another

And to welcome Jason in at this point is so exciting for the life of our show

And he brings all of his love of theater with him and his beautiful vocals and his sincerity

and his generosity. He's just a really, he's an easy fit and so much fun to experience

And he's your friend. It must be so cool to have your friend go into the show. It's so exciting

Yeah, you feel like, I mean, it's a lot of different feelings

I feel like a proud parent in a way, but it's just fun, especially when somebody's so good

It's like, it's not watching your friend step into something being like, fingers crossed, this is going to go well

This is watching someone who's really going to shine in this role. It's really exciting

About to make your Broadway debut, my friend. How excited are you? I'm very excited

You don't get to do that every day. Yeah. How did this all happen for you

Well, I blame Sara Bareilles for this whole thing. She first invited me to sing on her album version of the Waitress songs, which I was

thrilled about. Not just one duet but two duets And then a few years later she called again and said would you consider being Dr Pomatter in the show

And I'd seen the show a few times, so I knew I was getting myself into, but I had never considered it

I never, ever considered it. But I just had to go with her confidence in me

I took it as a compliment. And she told me I would love the cast and be so welcome

and she was absolutely right. And I'm just thrilled. Working so far with Betsy Wolfe in the rehearsal room, what that's meant to you

Working with Betsy has been a huge, huge gift because her acting chops are fierce

So whatever I throw at her, she throws it right back. And I'm learning from her how to really match her energy in these scenes

So just to watch her turn it on helps me let down my force field and really turn it on

and the fact that she's rehearsing with me and doing eight shows a week is very, very impressive

And, you know, the popular role has fewer scenes, fewer songs. The fact that she's carrying, you know, Jenna Hunterston through that show night after night after night

and still showing up with all that energy. So Betsy has really been a teacher for me in this process

You went to theater school, didn't you? So I participated a lot in theater as a kid

I participated in the School of Performing Arts in the Richmond community, my hometown, Richmond, Virginia

And then right after high school, I came to New York City and enrolled in American Musical and Dramatic Academy, known as AMDA

But it was there that I got the big reality check that I could be auditioning for the rest of my life Or I could learn an instrument and just play right here right now And so to me I found instant gratification in writing my own songs

So I could go to the Central Park and sing songs and delight people. I could delight my roommates

I could go on the sidewalk, the subway. I could delight people. I thought, I'm going to do this for a while

What are you looking forward to the most to November 3rd? Your first performance on stage

What am I looking forward to the most? I'm looking forward to walking through that office door as Dr. Pomander, because then it's no turning back

You know what I mean? I'm looking forward to walking through. I've got my clipboard and I'm about to meet Jenna Hutcherson for the first time

And then I will meet her again night after night after night for, I don't know, 100 shows

So I'm looking forward to that first time. Yeah. I need a bad idea, just one

Hearts keep racing, let's make mistakes. Let us say so once and make worse what we've already prepared

This secret is safe, no reason to throw it away. When there's love to be high

Hold me tight as I tell myself that you might make sense

And make current money's been just so bad Let's see this through

It's a pretty good bad idea Me and you