Matthew Murphy.
Jagged Little Pillwill not be reopening onBroadwayas the ongoing Omicron outbreak continues to paralyze New York City’s theater scene.
After initiallycancelingshows from Saturday to Tuesday, producers of the musical based on the iconic 1995 Alanis Morissette album announced on Monday that it will not return to the Great White Way, making Dec. 17 as the date of its final performance.
The decision was made after “the detection of multiple positive COVID-19 cases within the company,” producers told PEOPLE in a statement.
“We are so proud of this extraordinary show, and this extraordinary company, who every night in difficult circumstances, have told theJagged Little Pillstory,” producers Vivek J. Tiwary, Arvind Ethan David, and Eva Price said. “This show about healing, human connection, and catharsis, has been a salve to audiences, and to all of us, throughout these trying times. Yet, the drastic turn of events this week with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has, once again, changed everything.”
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Last week, nine Broadway productions called off performances, includingHarry Potter and the Cursed Child,Freestyle Love Supreme,Mrs. Doubtfire,Ain’t Too Proud to Beg, andTina: The Tina Turner Musical.
On Monday, the Broadway productions ofHamiltonandAladdinannounced they would not hold performances through Christmas due to the breakthrough cases.MJ, the Michael Jackson musical, called off performances until Christmas last week.
It’s not just Broadway either. Radio City’s iconicChristmas Spectacular Starring theRadio City Rockettesalso went dark after an uptick in cases. They’ll remain closed for the entire season.
Jaggedproducers said they plan to keep the musical alive in 2022 with forthcoming plans for “subsequent productions” followingJagged Little Pill’srecent success in Australia.
“We also hope and intend to find a way to bring this vibrant and vitalizing musical back to the Broadway stage, once the current crisis is past,” they said in their release. “There is nothing in the world like live theater. There is no community in the world like this great Broadway family of artists and audiences. We will make it through this, together.”
Tickets for canceled shows will be refunded at the original point of purchase, producers noted.
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Jagged Little Pillfirst opened on Broadway at theBroadhurst Theatre on Dec. 5, 2019.
At closing, the production starred Heidi Blickenstaff, Morgan Dudley, Kathryn Gallagher, Derek Klena, Sean Allan Krill, and Tony-winner Lauren Patten in its leading roles. Among the ensemble was Annelise Bker, Jane Bruce, Runako Campbell, John Cardoza, Ken Wulf Clark, Janine Divita, Logan Hart, Max Kumangai, Heather Lang, Veronica Otim, Wren Rivera, Adi Roy, and Kei Tsuruharatani. Swings Yeman Brown, Zach Hess, Kelsey Orem, Deanne Stewart, and Grace Slear rounded out the company.
Though the show won acclaim, including twoTony awardsand a Grammy for its cast album, the show did face controversyover Patten’s character Jo Taylor, who was originally written and played as non-binary during a run in Boston. However, when the show went to Broadway, the role was depicted as a gay, cisgender female.
Producers spoke to the “reasonable and deeply felt upset around the issues of transparency and accountability and the character of Jo” in aTwitter statementin September, detailing several actions taken in response.
Former costars also previously accused producers of causingharm to the trans and non-binary community. In response, a statement was madeon social mediathat guaranteed a “comprehensive investigation” into the claims.
source: people.com
