“The drastic turn of events this week with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has once again changed everything,” the producers said in a statement. “We are stunned by what appears to be another substantial public health crisis, and due to the detection of multiple positive Covid-19 cases within the company, we must prioritize the health and safety of the cast, crew and the whole team is working on ‘Jagged Little Pill’.”
They added: “In light of the extreme uncertainty ahead this winter, and forced to choose between continuing to perform and protecting our business, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors.”
The show arrived on Broadway with a tailwind, given the huge popularity of the album from which the musical takes its name, and the success of a pre-Broadway production at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. On Broadway, it received some strong reviews, including from DailyExpertNews, where critic Jesse Green called it “clear in its priorities, rich in character, sincere without syrup, rousing and real.”
Taking a forward-thinking worldview, the show shed light on issues like sexual assault, transracial adoption, and opioid addiction, receiving some criticism along the way for what some saw as a shifting portrayal of Patten’s character’s gender identity. And then a former cast member accused the show of mishandling medical concerns.
The show also modeled a form of parent-friendly casting that’s rare on Broadway: Upon returning from the pandemic, the show agreed to let its lead actress, Elizabeth Stanley, share her role with another actress, Heidi Blickenstaff, so that Stanley, who just gave birth to her first child, was able to work part-time.