May 30, 2017
The following is a press release from the producers of the “Jagged Little Pill” musical:
Producers Vivek J. Tiwary, Arvind Ethan David, and Eva Price have announced that the highly anticipated musical debut of Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill” will premiere at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in May 2018. Boasting an incredible lineup of seasoned talent, the world premiere will be directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (“Pippin,” “Waitress,” “Finding Neverland,” “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess”), with a book written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (“Juno,” “United States of Tara”). Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt (“American Idiot,” “Next to Normal”) will be providing orchestrations and arrangements. A.R.T.’s production of Jagged Little Pill is produced by special arrangement with Vivek J. Tiwary (American Idiot, A Raisin in The Sun, and The Addams Family) Arvind Ethan David (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, The Infidel), and Eva Price (Dear Evan Hansen, On Your Feet, Peter and the Starcatcher).
“This team that has come together for this ‘Jagged Little Pill’ musical is my musical theatre dream come true,” said Morissette in a statement. “The chemistry between all of us is crackling and I feel honored to be diving into these songs again, surrounded by all of this searing talent. Diablo and Diane are already taking these deeply personal songs that are part of my soul’s marrow to a whole other level of hope, freedom and complexity.”
Songs from Morissette’s groundbreaking third album ‘Jagged Little Pill,’ which she co-wrote with Glen Ballard, will be performed in the upcoming show including classics “Ironic,” “You Oughta Know,” and “Hand in My Pocket.” Melodies from her extensive body of work will also be incorporated into the musical. In 1995, “Jagged Little Pill” launched the singer-songwriter into International stardom, earning her five Grammy Awards out of nine nominations, including Album of the Year. She became the youngest artist in history to receive the title, and remained so for the next 14 years. To date, the album remains among the best-selling albums of all time, selling more than 33 million copies worldwide.
From the Tony Award-winning productions of “Pippin,” “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess,” “Waitress,” and “Hair” to her immersive Studio 54-inspired “The Donkey Show,” Diane Paulus has been expanding the boundaries of theater by working with artists across disciplines including 7 Doigts and Sara Bareilles. “‘Jagged Little Pill’ defined a generation and yet the raw, emotional honesty of Alanis’s songs feels more needed now than ever,” said Diane Paulus. “I am thrilled to be collaborating with Alanis and Diablo to unlock the theatrical power of this album.”
In close creative consultation with Morissette, Diablo Cody has written a new and original storyline that revolves around a modern and multi-generational family and their complex dynamics, touching on issues of gender identity and race.”I am so excited to tell a modern story through these iconic songs. Alanis’s music is full of powerful narratives that lend themselves organically to this process” says Cody, who won an Academy Award for writing the screenplay for the beloved indie film “Juno,” and penned the screenplays for “Young Adult” and “Ricki and the Flash.” Bringing her talent for storytelling to the small screen, she is the creator of the Emmy and Golden Globe winning series “United States of Tara” alongside Steven Spielberg, and the WGA-nominated series “One Mississippi” with Tig Notaro.
“Alanis, Diablo, Diane and Tom are a producer’s dream team,” said Tiwary, David, and Price in a joint statement. “We’re honored to be shepherding these four fierce pioneers towards the creation of a what will be a true cultural event, one worthy of the groundbreaking legacy of ‘Jagged Little Pill.'”