The forecast for Broadway this fall: Al Roker with a sprinkling of pie.
The venerable “Today” weatherman is the latest to join the cast of Sara Bareilles’ “Waitress.” From Oct. 5 through Nov. 11, he’ll play Ol’ Joe, the gruff, secretly sweet owner of the diner at the center of the story.
The announcement was made on Wednesday morning’s “Today” show, where the 64-year-old emerged on set rolling a cart piled high with pies.
This isn’t Roker’s first time on Broadway. In 2003, he slipped into the role of “Mystery Guest” in the comedy “The Play What I Wrote.”
But this marks his first singing role.
Judging from the clip of what was purported to be his first vocal lesson, Roker’s own assessment seemed apt: “As a singer, I’m a terrific weatherman.”
Roker will perform six shows a week, skipping Saturday and Sunday matinees. “Waitress,” based on Adrienne Shelly’s 2007 movie, opened April 24, 2016, with Bareilles herself occasionally playing its heroic lead.