Feature photo by Joshua Hasty
On the surface, the Healy family appears to have it all together — a picture-perfect suburban life complete with high achievements and neat boundaries. But as most people know, the stories kept behind closed doors are often far more complex.
That raw, honest humanity sits at the very heart of Civic Theatre’s upcoming production of “Jagged Little Pill,” running Oct. 2 through 17 at The Center for the Performing Arts. Inspired by Alanis Morissette’s groundbreaking 1995 album, with a Tony-winning book by Diablo Cody, the musical follows the Healys as they navigate the unspoken truths families so often hide: addiction, identity, sexual assault and the brave work of healing amidst chaos.
For director Michael Lasley, bringing the show to the stage is less about theatrical escapism and more about holding up a mirror to the human condition.
“Families, people, human beings — we live behind a facade,” Lasley said. “We project what we want the world to see. But that is not necessarily what is actually there underneath or what we’re dealing with.”
Lasley noted that the heavy topics within the show carry a history of silence that demands to be broken.
“I do think that the main themes of this show, which are drug addiction and sexual assault… have been with us for all time,” Lasley said. “Also, there are things that come with shame to the individual, to the family, to the friend group.
At the center of that storm is Mary Jane “M.J.” Healy, a high-achieving homemaker striving to maintain order while secretly battling an opioid dependency.
Abigail Okerson plays Mary Jane, taking on what she describes as the most demanding project of her theatrical career.
“I do theater to express the things that most people aren’t strong enough to actually do,” Okerson said. “Whoever’s in that role [of M.J.] has to be able to take care of something that’s so much deeper than just singing pretty.”
Okerson sees the production as an essential narrative centered on female resilience and honesty.
“It showcases women winning,” Okerson said. “I love being a front woman, to be able to cheer others on and to show that it’s okay to be imperfect… My number one trope right now is teaching girls and women to be louder. You can be loud. Take up way more space than what you’re taking up because you’re important.”
Lasley emphasized that Mary Jane’s journey carries deep weight for the entire production.
“This is Mary Jane’s show. It really is,” Lasley said. “We are watching her heart more than anyone else’s. She really represents a very large sector of society that wants to ignore their problems rather than deal with them head on… And that’s a death sentence in a very real sense to approach life like that.”
Despite the friction within the household, Lasley views the central narrative as one grounded in love and progress.
“This is a dysfunctional, messed up family. But they are trying. They love each other. And there is hope in the end,” Lasley said. “Their problems aren’t solved at the end of the play. But they have a path forward.”
Beyond the family unit, the musical introduces characters wrestling with identity and trauma in a world that often demands silence.
Kelsey McDaniel plays Jo, the fiercely independent friend navigating her own identity and complicated relationships. McDaniel grew up with the sounds of the 1990s and feels a personal connection to the show’s heavy material.
“As someone who has lost someone to addiction, has dealt with other things in the show… getting to witness everyone, and as we’re putting the show together, live out these things on stage is really important,” McDaniel said. “I’m excited for people to take something away from that.”
McDaniel also performs one of the show’s most iconic numbers, “You Oughta Know,” using the moment to express unyielding emotion.
“The feminine rage — I view that as just letting everything out that maybe she’s been holding in to protect other people’s feelings,” McDaniel said. “It’s such a cathartic moment to just get to wail that song.”
For one of the younger and newer members of the cast, the narrative presents a challenging look at responsibility and speaking out.
Cole Hurt plays Nick Healy, the high-achieving “golden boy” son who finds himself caught in the middle of a devastating situation after witnessing a crime. Hurt, a collegiate decathlete who returned to theater, and in his debut performance with Civic, recognized the gravity of his role.
“Nick’s struggle is he sees his best friend assault one of his other friends sexually and he can’t even comprehend that his best friend would do that,” Hurt said. “I think educating the youth about how to manage those situations, like from a witness perspective… having people speak up and showing them how to and that it’s the right thing to do… it’s about educating them.”
The survivor of that central tragedy, Bella, is played by Bridget Dean. Returning to theater and Civic after completing her college degree, Dean found the supportive environment crucial for handling such sensitive material.
“I wanted to come back to Civic specifically after college so that I could refine my love and spark for theater,” Dean said. “The actors being well taken care of makes the characters well taken care of. And if the characters are well taken care of, then I think it makes the story just that much more powerful.”
Dean hopes audience members facing similar struggles find validation through her character’s arc.
“I want people to feel represented and to feel seen,” Dean said. “I really want audience members who relate to her story to be able to process that they have nothing to be ashamed of and they have nothing to be sorry for because truly, we need to focus on the victim.”
To support both the cast and the community, Civic Theatre partnered with Prevail, an Indiana organization providing resources for survivors of crime and abuse. Representatives from Prevail will be onsite and available at each show for patrons who need to talk with someone or are seeking resources.
“When you’re telling stories like this, you can’t just say, ‘Well, here it is.’ You can’t be careless with the subject matter,” Lasley said. “So, we can’t be careless with the cast. We can’t be careless with the crew. We can’t be careless with the audience.”
“Jagged Little Pill” runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Oct. 2 through 17. Due to mature themes — including addiction, sexual assault and strong language — viewer discretion is advised.
Tickets are available at thecenterpresents.org.
