Chance Theater Tackles Trauma and Healing in ‘Jagged Little Pill’

Melia Franks
Jul 10
5 min read

Updated: Jul 28

What you oughta know about the Alanis Morrisette musical, which opens tonight at the Chance Theater.

The cast of "Jagged Little Pill" in rehearsal. 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

UPDATE: This show has been extended to Aug. 16 and the fact box below reflects this change.

“Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill: The Musical” is coming to Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills, July 10-Aug. 9, bringing its blend of raw emotion, contemporary storytelling and iconic rock to the stage.

With previews starting tonight at 8, the cast is making its last-minute adjustments – fine tuning every minor detail before the curtains open. Family, identity, trauma, vices, and unforgettable rock all come together in a production that leans as much into emotional truth as it does into a theatrical performance.

"Jagged Little Pill" is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical with an original story by Diablo Cody (“Juno,” “Jennifer’s Body”), featuring Morissette’s trend-setting music and lyrics. The musical follows the journey of the Healy family, who on the outside look like the perfect suburban family. However, behind the white picket fence, the family battles secrets and struggles with addiction, trauma and identity.

Originally premiering on Broadway in 2019, the jukebox musical now arrives in Orange County as part of Chance Theater’s ongoing commitment to bold, character-driven work.

Set in a small, affluent Connecticut town, the story centers on Mary Jane Healy, a mother grappling with unresolved trauma and opioid addiction as she attempts to hold her family together. Around her, each member of the Healy family is forced to confront personal crises that refuse to stay hidden. A high-achieving son preparing for Harvard, an adopted daughter navigating questions of identity and belonging, and parents whose carefully maintained perfection begins to falter under the pressure of denial.

For director Mathew McCray, the production is an amalgamation of artistry and talent that provides a platform for meaningful themes audiences of all generations can enjoy or ponder.

“The story isn’t about Alanis Morissette,” he said. “But in other ways, it really is. The way they have woven this story really anchors the music within the narrative of these characters.”

The musical draws from Morissette’s iconic discography, utilizing the emotional architecture of her music to shape the world of the Healys. The musical’s title is inspired by Morissette’s 1995 multi-platinum-selling album “Jagged Little Pill,” but the production draws from songs across multiple albums in her catalog. In some cases, the music has been adapted – and in select instances newly written – for the stage, allowing performers to more fully inhabit their roles while giving audiences a deeper, more immersive experience.

Allen Everman and Jocelyn A. Brown in rehearsal for "Jagged Little Pill." Photo courtesy of Steve Leiken

For actor and associate artistic director Jocelyn A. Brown, who plays Mary Jane Healy, the production’s emotional openness is what makes it resonate.

“We tend to all present these edited, perfected versions of ourselves in the world,” Brown said. “We hide and we mask our doubts and our turmoil because that makes us vulnerable if people know what we're struggling with. I think it's very relatable in that way to everybody.”

Brown has been part of Chance Theater for 25 years, after moving to Orange County in 2001 and discovering a small but ambitious theater company. What has kept her there, she says, is the integrity of the artists and the consistency of their collaborative work ethic.

For McCray, one of the most striking aspects of the production is the versatility required of the cast. Unlike shows that might lean heavily in one direction, this production demands equal strength in acting, singing and dancing.

“This show really excels in all three areas,” McCray said. “The scenes are intense and meaty. The songs have a lot of dance, and they also have a lot of full ensemble vocals. It's a challenging show because you need triple-threat kind of people.”

Choreographer Mo Goodfellow worked closely with McCray to translate those demands into movement that reflects character and the story. Goodfellow emphasizes choreography that is shaped around each performer’s strengths while still serving the emotional arc of the more emotionally fraught motifs.

Those behind the show also note the unique challenges of staging the work in a smaller space like Chance Theater. The size of the Cripe Stage requires constant adjustment, but also creates an intimacy that allows audiences to see every emotional shift clearly, which Goodfellow describes as a strength rather than a weakness.

One of Goodfellow's main goals is not only to make the production visually captivating, but to truly to serve the message of the story.

“There are a lot of really powerful themes in the show,” Goodfellow said. “Something that is particularly powerful is understanding that when you are struggling with something, you don't have to do it alone. Knowing that it's okay to ask for help, and with that, the power of community — being able to support one another in particularly dark times is really powerful.”

McCray echoes that sentiment, noting that audiences may be surprised by the range of tone in the production.

“The show offers an eclectic experience that is both funny and intense,” he said, but he also points to the production’s larger message about patience and healing.

“We need to find patience with ourselves and with each other,” McCray said. “The idea that we need to allow healing to occur, and that healing is sometimes a difficult process … not only patience with each other, but patience with yourself too. I think that’s one of the major lessons of the show.”

Brown adds that the story’s emotional honesty is what gives it lasting impact.

“We all have times that our lives are messy, and we’re all complicated,” she said. “We are all just trying to do our best and stumbling through life. I hope audiences see many facets of that in the story and ask themselves ‘How can we best help each other through it?’ ”

Performances of “Jagged Little Pill” take place at Chance Theater on the Cripe Stage at the Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center in Anaheim. The production runs approximately two hours and 30 minutes. Preview performances from July 10–17 offer limited discounted pricing and an early look at the show as it continues to be refined ahead of official opening night on July 18. The July 19 childcare matinee is already sold out, underscoring early demand, with additional themed and regular performances running through August 9.