‘Jagged Little Pill’ to launch at Theatre Royal Sydney
In an exclusive limited season, ‘Jagged Little Pill’ will launch at Theatre Royal Sydney this December.
Producers Trafalgar Entertainment and GWB Entertainment are thrilled to announce that the Australian tour of this 15-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical, inspired by the ground-breaking album of the same name by Grammy Award winner Alanis Morissette, will now premiere in Sydney.
The musical is set to open at Theatre Royal Sydney on 2 December 2021 for an exclusive limited season.
Also announced today, Natalie Bassingthwaighte will star in the lead role of Mary Jane Healy – a perfectly imperfect mother, who has it all together on the outside but is achingly fragile on the inside. Bassingthwaighte 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 the Australian stage in her critically acclaimed performance as Roxy Hart in ‘Chicago’.
“I am beyond excited and privileged to be part of this incredible show,” said Bassingthwaighte.
“I have such admiration for the key creative team in Alanis, Diablo and Diane who have created a show full of heart, courage, determination, and a vulnerability, which I am looking forward to bringing to the role of MJ.
“I was a huge Alanis fan and of the album as a young adult, a time where I was discovering what sort of person I wanted to become, and I can’t wait to be able to tell this story on stage through the incredible music and lyrics entertaining audiences but also filling them with hopeful inspiration.”
Further casting for the Australian production will be announced shortly.
This news in Australia comes on the eve of the prestigious Tony Awards on Broadway where ‘Jagged Little Pill’ is the most nominated show with a total of 15 nominations, and one of the most Tony-nominated productions of all time. Tickets sales in New York are reaching daily records as it hurtles towards its return to the stage.
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.
“To be able to announce the Australian Premiere in the same week as our Broadway company is nominated for 15 Tony Awards including Best Musical is a source of intense pride and joy,” said lead Producer, Arvind Ethan David.
“The world and Covid-19 have not made things easy, but we know that our endlessly resourceful and tenacious partners Trafalgar Entertainment have assembled an extraordinary cast and team and we can’t wait to reopen the historic Theatre Royal Sydney and show Australian audiences the uncompromising power of ‘Jagged Little Pill’.”
The opening of the refurbished Theatre Royal with this exhilarating production will signal a major milestone for Sydney. NSW Minister for the Arts, Don Harwin spoke about the arts making a triumphant return.
“Sydney is coming back with a bang, opening this fantastic, reimagined venue with the first production of ‘Jagged Little Pill, outside of Broadway,” said Harwin.
“This is sure to be an incredible show, drawing on one of the greatest albums of our time, and fans will be in for an unforgettable night out. It’s the first of many great productions for the Royal that’ll bring nightlife back into the centre of our great city.”
‘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 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. It 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 explosive 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.
The Australasian premiere of ‘Jagged Little Pill’ in Sydney is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and Destination NSW. All performances will have conditions of entry adhering to the relevant NSW Government Public Health Orders and health advice.
Tickets for the exclusive limited season are on sale now.
Visit the official ‘Jagged Little Pill’ website for more information.
Media Release Supplied.
Title Photograph by Evan Zimmerman.
