‘Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill: The Musical’ at Chance Theater

OC Theatre Guild
Jun 24
5 min read

Broadway hit explores themes of identity, trauma and healing.

From left, Ryan Smith, Autumn Kirkpatrick, Jeremy Kie Vance, Allen Everman, Jocelyn A. Brown and Doshima Iyorlu. Photo courtesy of Steve Leiken

by Anne Reid

When "Jagged Little Pill" premiered on Broadway in 2019, audiences embraced its unflinching examination of addiction, racism, identity and the complicated realities that often exist beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Now Chance Theater is bringing the Tony Award-winning and Grammy Award-winning musical to Orange County with a production that strips the story down to its emotional core.

Based on the iconic Alanis Morissette album and featuring a book by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody, "Jagged Little Pill" follows the Healy family, who appear to have everything together on the surface. Beneath that image, however, family members grapple with addiction, trauma, questions of identity and the growing realization that the life they’ve carefully constructed may not be sustainable.

Rather than trying to recreate the original Broadway staging, director Matt McCray is reimagining the musical for Chance Theater's Cripe Stage with a smaller cast, a visible onstage band and a stronger focus on the psychology of the characters.

"The young people are really taking the lead in this story," McCray said. "There are conversations about equality and inclusiveness, and the world at large."

While Morissette's music forms the foundation of the show, McCray emphasizes that this is not a musical about the singer herself.

"The music is completely used to tell the story," he said. "Not of Alanis, but of experiences and events that are explored through her music."

Many of the themes found in Morissette's lyrics, including female empowerment, abuse, sexuality, anger, healing and self-discovery, are woven throughout the narrative. Set in a contemporary suburban Connecticut community, the story includes an adopted Black daughter navigating questions of race and belonging within a predominantly white family and community, as well as a nonbinary character struggling to find acceptance and authenticity.

From left, Sol Joun and Doshima Iyorlu. Photo courtesy of Steve Leiken

The production updates the story's setting to 2026, a choice McCray believes helps underscore how relevant many of the show's themes remain.

"There are things in this show that have become even more important over the last few years," he said.

The song "Predator," for example, addresses issues surrounding sexual violence and accountability and is one of only two songs Morissette wrote specifically for the musical.

"I've had a little bit of a wake-up call in that way," McCray said. "The world teaches you that you never know everything. This music continues to illuminate ideas that are still very much part of the conversation today."

McCray was approached by the theater because of his previous work on rock musicals such as "Rent" and "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," productions that similarly blend contemporary music with socially relevant themes.

"Those shows are in the same vein," he said. "They're edgy, funky rock musicals."

Although he never saw the original Broadway production, McCray views that as an advantage.

"I didn't see the original," he said. "So this isn't a remount. We're trying to honor the piece, but we're creating our own version of it."

That fresh perspective extends to the show's physical staging. One of the most significant departures from the Broadway production is the decision to keep the band visible throughout the performance.

"Our band is present and onstage the whole time," McCray said. "It creates a more natural rock-and-roll vibe."

The visible musicians become part of the storytelling, reinforcing the emotional immediacy of Morissette's music while helping bridge the gap between concert and theater experience.

Morissette's music resonates not only with those who grew up in the 1990s but also with younger audiences confronting many of the same questions about identity, belonging and self-expression.

From left, Autumn Kirkpatrick, Jeremy Kie Vance and Kylie Young. Photo courtesy of Steve Leiken

“The intimacy of Chance Theater's space allows for a more character-driven approach,” McCray said. "Ours is more psychologically driven. We're in the characters' heads more frequently."

That emotional focus is reflected in the production's design. Scenic designer Joe Holbrook, who previously collaborated with McCray on "Rent" and "Next to Normal," has created a flexible environment built from modular scenic elements, furniture pieces, retractable screens and extensive video projections.

The design allows the story to move fluidly through multiple locations while preserving the open space needed for the show's demanding choreography.

At the center of the design is the Healy family home, which functions as more than just a setting.

"The mom is dealing with perception versus reality," McCray said. "The walls of the home are deteriorating. The house represents the idea that everybody has a breaking point."

The production's cast faced equally demanding challenges. More than 200 performers auditioned for the show, which requires every actor to function as a singer, dancer and actor.

"It's a true triple-threat show," McCray said. "There's really no delineation. Everybody has all of those responsibilities."

The smaller cast means many performers portray multiple characters while also helping create the ensemble that drives much of the show's movement and energy.

The production also reflects changes in the theater industry since the musical first premiered. McCray noted that authentic representation was an important consideration during casting, particularly for the show's nonbinary character.

"We do have a nonbinary actor in the role," he said. "A lot of actors now want to play characters who are true to themselves. It's much easier to find those performers than it might have been before."

From left, Ryan Smith, Doshima Iyorlu, Eric Dobson, Jaymes Macabale, Kylie Young, Sol Joun, Autumn Kirkpatrick, Hallie Snowday and Daisy Tye. Photo courtesy of Steve Leiken

Leading the cast is Chance Associate Artistic Director Jocelyn A. Brown as Mary Jane Healy, the mother whose struggle to maintain control while coping with addiction and family turmoil drives much of the show's emotional journey.

"I'm so grateful for the opportunity to explore this story, which revolves around the mom as she strives for perfection and presents her quintessential upper-middle-class family," Brown said.

"I think we can all relate to presenting facades of ourselves that suggest we have it all together, whether it's how we show up at work, school or on social media, presenting edited and perfected versions of ourselves to the world while hiding our doubts and turmoil."

"Jagged Little Pill is full of messy, complicated, beautiful and flawed people stumbling through life with each other, all just trying to do their best," the actor added.

For McCray, one of the reasons the production feels particularly at home at Chance Theater is the company's willingness to engage with difficult material.

"First and foremost, Chance is not afraid of doing provocative things," he said.

That commitment extends beyond the performance itself through the theater's post-show talkbacks, which provide audiences an opportunity to discuss the issues raised onstage.

"The talkbacks are really illuminating," McCray said. "That platform becomes very useful when you're doing provocative work."

The show's enduring appeal also stems from the lasting power of Morissette's music.

"I'm a teacher, and the young people around me who've heard this music find themselves spontaneously humming the tunes and singing the choruses. Alanis' music is still that infectious," Brown said.

"Alanis reworked the songs very intentionally to serve the musical's story. I'd argue it is one of the most successful jukebox musicals I've encountered."

Although the musical tackles challenging subject matter, McCray believes audiences will ultimately find hope within the story's honesty.

"It's a beautiful show," he said. "The depths are challenging, and there are heavy topics that we're not trying to resolve with a pretty bow on top."