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Broadway musical 'Jagged Little Pill' coming to the Wharton Center

January 31, 2023
<p>Photo courtesy of Evan Zimmerman. </p>

Photo courtesy of Evan Zimmerman.

Photo by Courtesy Photo | The State News

"Jagged Little Pill" is coming to the Wharton Center Tuesday, Jan. 31 through Sunday, Feb. 5. The musical is centered around the idea of the imperfect Healy family as they deal with tribulations presented by modern day struggles.

"Jagged Little Pill" is a jukebox musical; its namesake an album by Canadian-American singer songwriter Alanis Morissette.

Lani Corson, who plays the role of Mary Jane Healy, describes the story of "Jagged Little Pill" as surrounding a “seemingly perfect family who is actually dealing with a myriad of issues.”

Corson said the musical touches on several topics that are relevant in today's society. 

“It touches on a lot of the hot button issues of today: addiction, sexual assault, interracial adoption,” Corson said. “Then some of the more of mundane issues, like our society's obsession with perfection and all of the pressure that especially high school and college-aged kids are under."

In addition to playing the role of Mary Jane Healy, Corson also participates in the production as an ensemble cast member. 

Corson said being a member of the ensemble cast involves “being an integral part of the storytelling. Members of the ensemble are known as the "conscience” of the performance, she said.

“We are an ​​integral part of the storytelling, in terms of, we take on the emotion that is happening to the the main characters,” Corson said.

Corson takes on the roles that lean “more on the comedic side” as an ensemble member. In order to accomplish this, she said she must find the voices and mannerisms of each of her characters.

“I love to pretend to be someone else and embody a different past and present than is my reality and being able to share emotion and joy,” Corson said. “And maybe bring something to an audience member that they have never been able to experience before.”

Corson hopes the audience will see themselves in the characters portrayed in the musical. 

“I think there's a lot being represented on the stage," Corson said, "It is exciting and illuminating for a lot of people to see to see things that they're like, ‘Oh, I didn't know that. I identified with this, but I do.'”

"Jagged Little Pill" will be performed in Cobb Great Hall for six days. Ticket prices, beginning at $39 and $29 for students, can be bought online. A schedule of showtimes can also be found online at the Wharton.

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