Jagged Little Pill premieres at Theatre Royal Sydney tonight

Jagged-Little-Pill-Australia-2021-photo-by-Daniel-BoudProducers Vivek J. Tiwary, Arvind Ethan David, Eva Price, Howard Panter for Trafalgar Theatre Productions, Torben Brookman for GWB Entertainment and Eilene Davidson Productions are thrilled the Australian tour of Jagged Little Pill – the Grammy and Tony Award winning Broadway musical, inspired by Alanis Morissette’s ground-breaking album of the same name, premieres at Theatre Royal Sydney tonight.

They also confirmed that after its Melbourne season at the Comedy Theatre from 2 January, the production will move to Perth’s Crown Theatre from 14 May and due to demand will triumphantly return to Theatre Royal Sydney from 9 July 2022.

“We were told that Australian audiences can be more restrained than their American counterparts. That appears to be incorrect, and it’s been heart-burstingly wonderful to see them rise cheering to their feet every-night in tribute to our extraordinary Australian cast and our story of redemption, love and family,” said producers Vivek J. Tiwary, Arvind Ethan David and Eva Price.

“We can’t wait to take this crucial story to every corner of your beautiful land. Our gratitude goes to the hard-working team at Trafalgar, Theatre Royal Sydney and GWB, and to the resident creative team tirelessly led by Associate Director Leah Howard.”

Inspired by the seminal rock album of the same name by seven-time Grammy Award winner Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill is an “electrifying, visceral and stunning” (The Hollywood Reporter) new musical with an original story about a perfectly imperfect American family, written by Tony and Academy Award-winner Diablo Cody (Juno, Tully).

Ignited by Morissette’s groundbreaking lyrics and music – from beloved hits such as You Oughta Know, Head Over Feet, Hand In My Pocket, and Ironic, to brand new songs written for the show – Jagged Little Pill is directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Waitress, Pippin).

Through explosive choreography by Tony Award nominee and frequent Beyoncé collaborator Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and the raw power of an onstage band under the Musical Supervision, Orchestrations and Arrangements of Grammy, Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt (Next to Normal, American Idiot), this emphatic new musical creates a spellbinding experience that “vaults the screaming audience to its collective feet” (The Guardian).

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).

Multi award winner Natalie Bassingthwaighte (she/her) stars in the electrifying and inspiring Australian production of Jagged Little Pill in the lead role of Mary Jane Healy, alongside critically acclaimed film, TV and stage actor and recording artist, Tim Draxl (he/him) as Steve Healy.

Making her musical theatre debut, Emily Nkomo (she/her) stars as Frankie Healy, and Queensland Conservatorium of Music graduate Liam Head (he/him) plays Nick Healy.

After originating the lead role of Muriel in Muriel’s Wedding the Musical, and recently performing in the US tour of Dear Evan Hansen Maggie McKenna (they/them) stars as Jo, with emerging stage and theatre performer Grace Miell (she/they) playing Bella and Phoenix is played by AYDAN (he/him) who has maintained a strong following after his appearance on The Voice and featured role as Harry in Fangirls.

Joining them is the stellar ensemble cast Baylie Carson (they/them), Bella Choundary (she/her), Josh Gates (they/he), Matt Hamilton (he/him), Georgina Hopson (she/her), Marie Ikonomou (she/her), Caleb Jago-Ward (he/him), Jerome Javier (he/they), Giorgia Kennedy (she/her), Coby Njoroge (he/him), Noah Mullins (he/him), Isabella Roberts (she/her), Trevor Santos (he/him), Mon Vergara (they/them), Romy Vuksan (she/her) and Imani Williams (she/her).

The story of Jagged Little Pill centres around the Healy’s, a seemingly perfect suburban family striving to hide the cracks beneath the surface when a troubling event shakes their community.

Driven by the themes and emotions of 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.

Released on 13 June 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 and 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.


Jagged Little Pill opens tonight (Thursday 9 December) at Theatre Royal Sydney, before playing Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from 2 January, Perth’s Crown Theatre from 14 May and a return season at Theatre Royal Sydney from 9 July 2022. For more information, visit: www.jaggedmusical.com for details.

Image: The Australian Cast of Jagged Little Pill – photo by Daniel Boud