The opening of the refurbished Theatre Royal with the exhilarating production JAGGED LITTLE PILL signals a major milestone for Sydney.
JAGGED LITTLE PILL is an emphatic new musical with a story that takes a look at what it means to be alive in 21st century America ignited by Alanis Morissette’s beloved hits such as ‘You Oughta Know,’ ‘Head Over Feet,’ ‘Hand In My Pocket,’ and ‘Ironic’, as well as 2 brand new songs written just for the show. Sydney audiences will be the first outside of Broadway to experience this electrifying and inspiring production from December as it plays an exclusive limited season at the Theatre Royal Sydney.
JAGGED LITTLE PILL features lyrics by Alanis Morissette with music by Morissette and six-time Grammy Award winner Glen Ballard and an original story written by Oscar Award winner Diablo Cody (Juno, Tully). The production is Directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Waitress, Pippin), Movement Direction and Choreography is by Olivier Award winner Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui with Music Supervision, Orchestrations and arrangements by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt.
Released on June 13, 1995, the tremendous success of Alanis Morissette’s album Jagged Little Pill skyrocketed her to become the bestselling international debut artist in history; a title she still holds, with the record’s sales reaching 33 million copies worldwide winning 5 Grammy Awards.
Now, 25 years after its release, Jagged Little Pill continues to be one of the Top 20 Best-Selling Albums of All Time. In Australia, the album has sold in excess of one million albums, is certified 2 x Diamond, spent 10 weeks at #1 and was the highest selling album in 1996. With 10 eclectic and acclaimed albums released over the subsequent years, Morissette’s music has garnered 7 Grammy Awards (with 14 nominations), a Golden Globe nomination, and total sales of over 60 million albums.
The story of JAGGED LITTLE PILL centres around the "Healys", a seemingly perfect suburban family striving to hide the cracks beneath the surface when a troubling event shakes their community. Using themes and emotions in the original album, the musical embraces today’s powerful social voice and burns with passion in its uplifting storytelling, ultimately highlighting the hope and healing that comes when people come together.
JAGGED LITTLE PILL opened on Broadway in December 2019 following its record-breaking, sold-out world premiere at the American Repertory Theater. Fans and critics were unapologetic with their love for the musical and of course were devastated when the show had to shut down due to Covid 19 restrictions 3 months into its Broadway season. Its success though has not been halted with a 2021 Grammy Award win for the Best Musical Theatre Album released through Atlantic Records and then scooping the pool with 15 Tony Award nominations including Best Musical, Best Director, Best Book and Best Choreography making it the production with the highest number of Tony Award nominations for this season.
Natalie Bassingthwaighte (pictured) will star in the Australian production of JAGGED LITTLE PILL in the lead role of Mary Jane Healy, the perfectly imperfect mother, she has it altogether on the outside but is achingly fragile on the inside, learning to navigate her own struggles but also safeguarding her and her family’s needs for healing.
Natalie is one of Australia’s most awarded and beloved entertainers, having developed a rich career as an actor, musician and TV presenter. She was most recently seen on Australian stage in her critically acclaimed performance as Roxy Hart in Chicago. After commencing her career in musical theatre productions such as Rent, Grease and Footloose, the multiple Logie Award nominee also has vast acting credits including her successful long run in Neighbours and is about to star in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis playing a young Elvis’ Stepmother alongside Tom Hanks. Natalie has appeared as host and judge on a variety of TV talent programs in Australia and New Zealand and as the front woman for Australian pop dance group The Rogue Traders she went on to dominate the pop music charts before releasing her solo album which debuted at Number 1 on the ARIA charts.
The Tony-nominated JAGGED LITTLE PILL creative team also includes Scenic Designer Riccardo Hernandez (Parade), Costume Designer Emily Rebholz (Dear Evan Hansen), Lighting Designer Justin Townsend (Moulin Rouge!), Sound Designer Jonathan Deans (Waitress), and Video Designer Lucy Mackinnon (Spring Awakening); alongside Hair, Wig, and Make-up Designer J. Jared Janas (Sunset Boulevard). Production Stage Management is by Ira Mont (The Producers).
All performances will have conditions of entry adhering to the relevant NSW Government Public Health Orders and health advice.
THEATRE ROYAL SYDNEY
EXCLUSIVE LIMITED SEASON
2nd – 19th DECEMBER 2021
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
(main image: Evan Zimmerman)
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