Show Title:

Jagged Little Pill
Year:

2018
Composer:

Alanis Morissette, Tom Kitt, Glen Ballard
Lyricist:

Alanis Morissette
Book Writer:

Diablo Cody
Venue:

American Repertory Theater, Cambridge, Massachusetts 
What is the show about?:

The musical starts off with Mary Jane Healy, the mother, writing her Christmas cards and lying about how well she and her family is doing. In reality, her family is falling apart but she tries to keep up appearances to the public. No one knows that she is addicted to pain pills after a car accident and she and her husband are fighting. She has trouble understanding her daughter, Frankie, and her son, Nick, is slowly breaking under all of the academic pressure that he is under. Everyone has been keeping a secret life apart from their family. Jo, who is Frankie's partner, is struggling with their gender identity and how their mother is treating them. A girl, bella, comes forward about her sexual assault. Nick goes to his mom to tell her that he saw it happen. She tells him to keep it to himself because it could ruin his good-boy reputation. Frankie is caught cheating on Jo and she then runs off to New York. MJ has unresolved trauma from when she was sexually assaulted in high school and overdoses on pain killers. The play ends with a year being passed and MJ is writing her Christmas cards again and telling the audience how far her and her family have come. 
What is the vibe of the show?:

Very much teenage 2000's angst. 
How would you describe the music of the show?:

It is inspired by the music of Alanis Morissette. It is a mashup of all of her songs. 
What characters are in the show? What do they demand of the actors who play them?:

MJ, Steve, Frankie, Nick, Bella, Jo, and Phoenix. All of the characters have to deal with a lot of trauma. Having to live through experiences like this and then having to then portray those emotions on stage takes a huge emotional toll on a person. It would be tough performing this show multiple times a week. 
What did you think of the show?:

For me, it has a similar vibe to Spring Awakening. Teens that are struggling with how they express themselves. I would really like to see this show performed. 
Does the show have any roles or songs that might be appropriate for folks in the class?:

The show deals with a lot of deep subject matter. If someone is willing to perform a song from this show, I am sure it would be really good but it would be really difficult. 
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