“Jagged Little Pill” announced the end of its Broadway run Monday, citing rising COVID-19 cases and the “extreme uncertainty” of the months ahead.
The musical was in the midst of a suspension, having canceled performances from Dec. 18 through Dec. 21 due to the detection of positive COVID-19 results in the company. The last performance of the musical was Dec. 17.
“Jagged Little Pill,” which features the music of Alanis Morissette, began playing at the Broadhurst Theatre since December 2019. It reopened on Broadway on Oct. 21.
“We are dismayed by what appears to be another substantial public health crisis, and – due to the detection of multiple positive Covid-19 cases within the company – need to prioritize the health and safety of the cast, crew, and entire team working on ‘Jagged Little Pill,’ producers Vivek J. Tiwary, Arvind Ethan David and Eva Price said in a statement. “In light of the extreme uncertainty ahead of us this winter, and forced to choose between continuing performances and protecting our company, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our doors.”
This is the first production to close during the most recent surge of COVID-19 cases. Many shows, including “Hamilton,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Hadestown,” “Ain’t Too Proud” and “MJ,” have canceled performances through Christmas.
“Chicken & Biscuits” posted its closing notice in November after a suspension due to COVID-19 cases in the company.
“Jagged Little Pill” was capitalized for up to $14 million. It received a $10 million Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and an extension which allowed the show to spend the money until June 30, 2022.
The musical won Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical, written by Diablo Cody, and for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, awarded to Lauren Patten, but did not take home any other prizes.
Since reopening, the production has faced controversy over its depiction of gender identity and a lawsuit over its alleged mistreatment of a cast member.
In addition to plans for future productions, the producers hinted at a potential Broadway return.
“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, but at this time we are in the unfortunate position to determine Friday, December 17, 2021 as the final Broadway performance of ‘Jagged Little Pill,'” the producers said.
