8/24/2022
Broadway Las Vegas / Performances and Artists
Many can remember when Alanis Morissette became a household name overnight.
When her album “Jagged Little Pill” released in 1995, its impact exploded on a global scale. With powerful melodies like “Ironic,” “You Oughta Know” and “You Learn,” the record sold over 33 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.
With Morissette’s fervent fanbase, it might seem obvious to create a Broadway musical featuring all of her megahits.
But the music icon admits she initially felt reluctant, when first approached about the idea.
“My initial thought was, ‘is it going to have to be my story? Because that’s terrifying,’” says Morissette, who was just 21 at the time her hit album released. “My first thought was, ‘the only way I want to do this is if I’m surrounded by a team of people with whom I resonate, and if there’s a story told that could match and feel married to the music.”
Thanks to Morissette working closely with the musical’s creative team, the production fuses her electrifying melodies with groundbreaking theater elements, to portray the struggles and healing of fictional suburban family the Healys.
Morissette lauds the Tony-winning book, penned by Oscar winner Diablo Cody, as a perfect complement to her music.
“It feels like the record and the book (for the musical) were written at the same time,” Morissette says. “It has brought these songs and stories to life in a way that has allowed the rubber to hit the road.”
A Story to Fit the Music
While writing the show’s book, Cody says Morissette’s album felt like “a gift,” because the songs’ strong storytelling wove seamlessly into theatrical drama.
“When you listen to ‘Jagged Little Pill,’ I feel like the characters are in there already,” Cody says. “It’s not a typical jukebox musical situation, where you’re thinking ‘how can I shoe-horn this hit into the story?’ It was really this cool, synergistic, organic thing.”
Reflecting the fierce feminist messages in Morissette’s songs, the musical largely focuses on three women, with the cathartic melodies capturing their daunting challenges.
These characters take on another dimension with a Greek-chorus-inspired ensemble on stage, which reacts physically and vocally to the story’s compelling twists.
Acclaimed choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui enjoyed experimenting with how to convey their reactions through movement, he says.
“You have these bodies in the room who can witness what’s going on in the family and can move along with them or move against them,” he says. “Through their eyes, we can know if something will derail or go in a good direction.”
Healing Through Music
Composer Tom Kitt worked side by side with Morrisette in adapting her songs for the musical.
Kitt admits he felt intimidated in working with such famous melodies.
“The great challenge with something like this is you’re working with an iconic, brilliant masterpiece, so everyone is going to know what you did,” he says.
He found his solution in closely following Morissette’s guidance, he adds.
“This album matters as much to me as it does to anybody,” he says. “I take it very seriously. It’s sacred.”
Morissette hails that working with the show’s creative team felt even more rewarding than performing her original hits solo.
“Traveling the planet performing these songs, there was a still a profound loneliness for me, and this experience (of creating a musical) has brought me into this community,” she says. “(Sharing the music) wasn’t personally healing, until now.”
SEE THE SHOW
“Jagged Little Pill” runs September 6 to 11 at The Smith Center – CLICK HERE for tickets.