She played a Broadway hopeful in her NBC series, Smash.
But on Tuesday, Katharine McPhee turned one of her ‘biggest dreams’ into reality. The American Idol star made her way to the opening night of the Broadway musical Waitress, in which she has a starring role.
The 34-year-old actress looked flawless as she arrived make-up free for her debut at the Brooks Atkinson Theater in New York City.
Opening night: Katharine McPhee went au naturel as she arrived at the Brooks Atkinson Theater in NYC for her Broadway debut in the musical Waitress on Tuesday
The showstopping beauty was all smiles for her big night, wearing a long black wool coat over a light grey sweatshirt.
She topped her laid-back look off with black skinny jeans and white lace-up sneakers.
Keeping her personal belongings close, Katharine carried a Louis Vuitton handbag filled with a black binder and water bottle.
Thrilled: The actress looked excited as she sported a black wool coat, grey skinny jeans and white lace-up sneakers
Keeping warm during the chilly NYC temperatures, the starlet sported a grey beanie and kept her shoulder-length blonde tresses down.
The singer took to Instagram on Monday to share how excited she was to finally appear on a Broadway stage, portraying Jenna in the musical.
‘Swipe to see the little girl who always dreamed about tomorrow. She makes her broadway debut in a starring role,’ wrote Katharine as she shared a snap of her in her Waitress costume and another one of her as a little girl.
She continued: ‘This has been one of my biggest dreams since as early as I can remember…’
‘One of my biggest dreams’: The American Idol star will play Jenna in the musical and shared on Instagram that being on Broadway has always been an aspiration of hers
Nostalgia: The beauty shared a throwback pic of her in a cheetah leotard, calling herself ‘the little girl who always dreamed about tomorrow’
Katharine recently told Playbill what made her want to take on the role of Jenna.
‘There are so many themes in the show that I connect to on a really deep, personal level: Being in relationships you’re not meant to be in, the feeling of not wanting to be a mother, wanting to be a mother. It has comedy, and heart, and darkness, and sadness, and hope.’
The star will play a limited engagement in the show, through June 17, and is in great company.
Sara Bareilles took her final bow on the show last month before being replaced by an understudy.
And while this will be Katharine’s first turn in the Broadway spotlight, she isn’t exactly a stranger to musical theater.
No stranger to musical theater: Katharine previously portrayed Karen Cartwright, who was a Broadway hopeful turned star, on the NBC series Smash
The Scorpion actress attended Boston Conservatory before finding herself on American Idol, where she was the runner-up.
But a big chunk of her experience comes from her role as Karen Cartwright on the NBC series Smash.
According to the show’s website, Karen is, ‘newly arrived from Iowa in pursuit of her Broadway dream. Karen must learn to navigate the shark-infested waters of the professional theater to win the role of a lifetime against her competition.’
Katharine even took a jab at her former character, posting two pictures on Twitter of her portraying Karen and her portraying Jenna side by side.
‘If you don’t love me at my (picture of Karen), then you don’t deserve me at my (picture of Jenna),’ wrote the Broadway newcomer.
Time flies: The star will perform a limited engagement in the Broadway musical, through June 17, according to Playbill
The talented singer also shared updates on her Instagram Story ahead of her opening night.
In one snap, Katharine shared a gift containing two white roses accompanied by a handwritten letter of encouragement.
‘From papa!!!’ wrote the star. And it seems as though the gifts kept on coming.
The actress shared another picture of a bouquet of flowers from a pal with a letter saying:’ Happy opening night friend!! I love you and can’t wait to come cheer you on this weekend.’
Encouraged: The singer shared some snaps on her Instagram Story of gifts from her family and friends before her big night
‘Happy opening night!!!’: Katharine received several bouquets of flowers along with letters of motivation
Ahead of the main performance, she also shared a fun mirror selfie, wearing nothing but a bra.
‘Half way through my first put in! Yes I do wear clothes on the show,’ wrote Katharine as she playfully stuck out her tongue.
One person that might frequent the Waitress audience is Katharine’s beau, David Foster.
The loved-up pair went public with their relationship last year, despite their 34 year age difference, and have been inseparable ever since.
The two were spotted on a casual stroll with their dogs on Friday.
Katharine can also be seen as office manager Paige Dineen in the fourth season of the tech-action-drama Scorpion, which currently airs on CBS.
Camera ready: Before the main performance, the Scorpion actress shared a behind-the-scenes snap of her getting ready during rehearsal
Big fan: One person that might be frequenting the Waitress audience is Katharine’s beau, David Foster