Seven years ago, Sara Bareilles was "just" a successful musician living in LA. With multiple chart-topping hits, such as "Love Song" and "Brave," under her belt, she felt comfortable. But something was stirring inside of her—a craving for change.

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So she packed up her things and moved across the country to New York, where her agent reached out with a new opportunity, this time, in theater. There was a small production in the works based off a 2007 movie called Waitress, and the director, Diane Paulus, wanted Sara to be a part of it.

It certainly wasn't what Sara was expecting, but she figured she'd at least hear her out. It was then that Sara fell in love with the story and decided to take a leap of faith, joining the production as the lead songwriter. It was a risky move, and Sara admits she probably wouldn't have taken the project on if she had known how much work it would require.

"It's really good for you as a person to do something you don't know how to do, and to learn, and to ask questions, and to be a student again," she says.

Sara had zero theater experience, but she obviously had music chops, and was able to translate her skills to create the entire score for the production. After the show made its 2015 premiere at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it moved to Broadway and quickly became a hit. Waitress is now in its third smash year on Broadway, and will soon open in London.

It's really good for you as a person to be a student again.

"It has turned into the deepest love and the most incredible turning point in my artistic life and also my life just as a person on the earth," Sara says. She even got the chance to step into the main role of Jenna Hunterson for two limited runs. Although it was certainly a challenge, she doesn't regret a thing. "Stay open-minded about doing the thing that's hard because I think that's where the real reward lives," recommends Sara.

Amanda Lundgren I’m Amanda, and I’m Cosmopolitan’s Editorial Fellow/Timothée Chalamet’s number one fan.

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