BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Explore New Jersey - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://explorenewjersey.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Explore New Jersey
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260322T233000
DTSTAMP:20260408T024003
CREATED:20260308T180612Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260308T180627Z
UID:82483-1774027800-1774222200@explorenewjersey.org
SUMMARY:Jagged Little Pill
DESCRIPTION:NJCU Center for the Arts Brings the Powerful Broadway Musical “Jagged Little Pill” to Jersey City for a Limited Two-Weekend Engagement \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNew Jersey’s theatre scene continues to thrive with ambitious productions that bring nationally celebrated works to local audiences\, and this March the spotlight turns to Jersey City as the NJCU Center for the Arts presents the electrifying stage musical Jagged Little Pill. Running across two weekends from March 20 through March 29\, 2026\, the production will take over the Margaret Williams Theatre at New Jersey City University\, delivering a bold theatrical experience inspired by one of the most influential albums in modern music history. \n\n\n\nFor theatergoers across the Garden State\, this production represents far more than another musical staging. It is an opportunity to experience a deeply emotional and socially resonant story set to the music that defined a generation. Drawing from Alanis Morissette’s groundbreaking 1995 album of the same name\, Jagged Little Pill transforms the raw emotion of that iconic record into a dramatic narrative that resonates just as powerfully today as it did three decades ago. \n\n\n\nAs part of the vibrant performing arts programming featured by Explore New Jersey’s theatre coverage\, the NJCU Center for the Arts production highlights how regional stages throughout the state continue to champion contemporary storytelling and culturally significant works. \n\n\n\nA Landmark Album That Reshaped Music and Inspired a Broadway Phenomenon\n\n\n\nWhen Alanis Morissette released Jagged Little Pill in June 1995\, the album immediately redefined the landscape of alternative rock and mainstream pop music. Featuring unforgettable tracks such as “You Oughta Know\,” “Ironic\,” “Hand in My Pocket\,” and “You Learn\,” the album’s confessional lyrics and uncompromising emotional honesty struck a chord with audiences worldwide. \n\n\n\nThe record quickly became a cultural phenomenon\, catapulting Morissette into global stardom and ultimately earning her the distinction of the best-selling international debut artist in music history. Its influence extended beyond radio charts and concert stages\, shaping conversations about identity\, vulnerability\, and the complexities of modern life. \n\n\n\nDecades later\, that same emotional intensity provided the foundation for a groundbreaking stage adaptation. The Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill took Morissette’s music and built an entirely new dramatic framework around it\, transforming familiar songs into narrative devices that explore family dynamics\, trauma\, resilience\, and healing. \n\n\n\nRather than presenting a traditional biographical story about the singer herself\, the musical uses Morissette’s music as a soundtrack to a fictional yet deeply relatable story about contemporary life. \n\n\n\nA Story About Family\, Identity\, and Confronting Difficult Truths\n\n\n\nAt the center of the musical is the Healy family\, a seemingly perfect suburban household living in Connecticut. On the surface\, their lives appear polished and stable. Beneath that carefully maintained image\, however\, lies a web of emotional strain\, secrets\, and unresolved pain. \n\n\n\nThe family is led by Mary Jane Healy\, often called MJ\, a woman who has spent years projecting strength and composure while privately struggling with trauma from her past. Following a car accident\, MJ finds herself battling a growing dependence on prescription opioids—a challenge she tries desperately to conceal from those closest to her. \n\n\n\nHer husband Steve Healy struggles to understand the distance forming between them. Unable to see the depth of MJ’s internal struggle\, he watches their marriage slowly drift into emotional uncertainty. \n\n\n\nTheir children face challenges of their own as they attempt to navigate adolescence and identity in a world full of social pressure and complicated moral choices. \n\n\n\nTheir son Nick\, an academically driven high school senior recently accepted to Harvard\, appears destined for success. Yet beneath the expectations placed upon him by family and society\, he wrestles with questions about integrity\, responsibility\, and the courage required to speak up when difficult truths surface. \n\n\n\nTheir adopted daughter Frankie\, fiercely independent and determined to define her own identity\, confronts issues surrounding race\, belonging\, and sexuality as she searches for a place where she feels truly understood. \n\n\n\nThrough these intertwined stories\, Jagged Little Pill explores a series of urgent contemporary themes—including addiction\, sexual assault\, systemic injustice\, and the struggle for personal authenticity. It is an unflinching look at the ways individuals carry trauma and the long\, complicated road toward healing. \n\n\n\nA Musical That Channels Emotion Through Iconic Songs\n\n\n\nOne of the defining features of Jagged Little Pill is the way Morissette’s music functions not simply as performance pieces\, but as emotional turning points within the story. \n\n\n\nSongs that audiences have known for years take on new meaning when placed within the dramatic arc of the characters’ lives. Lyrics once heard through headphones or blasting from car radios become deeply personal expressions of grief\, anger\, hope\, and transformation. \n\n\n\nThe musical’s score includes reimagined versions of Morissette’s beloved songs\, blending powerful ensemble moments with deeply intimate solos that reveal the internal worlds of the characters. \n\n\n\nFor longtime fans of the album\, hearing these songs within a theatrical setting offers a fresh perspective on their emotional depth. For newcomers\, the music becomes an accessible gateway into the narrative’s powerful themes. \n\n\n\nThe result is a theatrical experience that feels both familiar and entirely new. \n\n\n\nNJCU Center for the Arts: A Hub for Cultural Excellence in Jersey City\n\n\n\nThe staging of Jagged Little Pill by the NJCU Center for the Arts underscores the institution’s commitment to presenting ambitious\, culturally relevant productions that resonate with audiences across the region. \n\n\n\nLocated within New Jersey City University\, the Center for the Arts has built a reputation as one of Jersey City’s most dynamic cultural venues. Its programming spans theatre\, music\, dance\, and interdisciplinary performance\, providing a platform for both emerging talent and celebrated works from across the performing arts landscape. \n\n\n\nThe Margaret Williams Theatre\, where the production will take place\, offers an intimate yet fully equipped performance environment that allows audiences to connect closely with the performers and the emotional intensity of the story unfolding on stage. \n\n\n\nProductions like Jagged Little Pill demonstrate how university-based arts programs contribute significantly to the broader cultural ecosystem of New Jersey\, bringing compelling theatrical works directly into local communities. \n\n\n\nPerformance Schedule Across Two Weekends\n\n\n\nThe NJCU production of Jagged Little Pill will be presented over six performances spanning two weekends in March 2026. \n\n\n\nWeekend One\n\n\n\nFriday\, March 20\, 2026 — 7:30 PMSaturday\, March 21\, 2026 — 7:30 PMSunday\, March 22\, 2026 — 3:00 PM \n\n\n\nWeekend Two\n\n\n\nFriday\, March 27\, 2026 — 7:30 PMSaturday\, March 28\, 2026 — 7:30 PMSunday\, March 29\, 2026 — 3:00 PM \n\n\n\nAll performances will take place at the Margaret Williams Theatre at New Jersey City University. \n\n\n\nGiven the musical’s popularity and its limited run\, audiences are encouraged to secure seats early. \n\n\n\nWhy This Production Matters for New Jersey Theatre\n\n\n\nThe arrival of Jagged Little Pill at NJCU reflects a larger trend unfolding across New Jersey’s performing arts landscape. Regional stages throughout the state are increasingly presenting productions that tackle complex social issues and reflect the lived experiences of modern audiences. \n\n\n\nThis musical stands out because it does not shy away from difficult topics. Instead\, it places them at the center of its storytelling\, creating a space where audiences can confront issues that affect real families and communities. \n\n\n\nThe show’s themes—addiction\, identity\, justice\, and resilience—are universal. Yet when presented on a local stage in Jersey City\, they gain an added dimension\, reminding audiences that these struggles and conversations are happening in neighborhoods across New Jersey every day. \n\n\n\nTheatre\, at its best\, creates empathy. Productions like this invite audiences not only to witness a story but to see parts of their own lives reflected in it. \n\n\n\nExperiencing the Power of Live Theatre in Jersey City\n\n\n\nFor anyone passionate about musical theatre\, contemporary storytelling\, or the enduring legacy of Alanis Morissette’s music\, this NJCU production promises a compelling and emotionally charged experience. \n\n\n\nThe combination of iconic songs\, powerful narrative themes\, and live performance energy creates a theatrical event that resonates long after the curtain falls. \n\n\n\nAs New Jersey continues to strengthen its reputation as a destination for world-class performing arts\, productions like Jagged Little Pill demonstrate how local stages contribute meaningfully to the national theatre conversation. \n\n\n\nThis March\, the NJCU Center for the Arts invites audiences to experience a story about imperfection\, vulnerability\, and the difficult—but essential—journey toward healing. \n\n\n\nAnd in a time when honesty and empathy matter more than ever\, few musicals capture that journey with the same raw emotional power as Jagged Little Pill.
URL:https://explorenewjersey.org/event/jagged-little-pill/
LOCATION:NJCU Center for the Arts – Margaret Williams Theatre\, 2039 John F. Kennedy Blvd\, \, NJ\, Jersey City\, New Jersey\, 07305\, United States
CATEGORIES:Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://explorenewjersey.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/1768937694.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260321T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260321T000000
DTSTAMP:20260408T024003
CREATED:20250728T132629Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250728T155817Z
UID:48897-1774051200-1774051200@explorenewjersey.org
SUMMARY:TheaterWorksUSA’s Dog Man: The Musical
DESCRIPTION:“A howling good time. This show is perfect for everyone.”–NewsdayA Hilarious\, Heartfelt Family Adventure!Based on the worldwide bestselling hit series by Dav Pilkey\,Dog Man: The Musicalis ahilarious and heartwarming production following the chronicles of Dog Man\, who withthe head of a dog and the body of a policeman\, loves to fight crime and chew on thefurniture. But while trying his best to be a good boy\, can he save the city from Flippy thecyborg fish and his army of Beasty Buildings? Can he catch Petey\, the world’s most evilcat\, who has cloned himself to exact revenge on the doggy do-gooder? And willGeorgeand Harold finish their show before lunchtime?? Find out in this epic musical adventurefeaturing the hilarity and heart of beloved characters from Dav Pilkey\, the creator ofCaptain UnderpantsandCat Kid Comic Club. Featuring an exciting book andlyrics byKevin Del Aguila\, music by Brad Alexander\, and original direction and choreography byJen Wineman. Recommended for ages 6+
URL:https://explorenewjersey.org/event/theaterworksusas-dog-man-the-musical/
LOCATION:New Jersey
CATEGORIES:Concerts,Music,Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://explorenewjersey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Dogman-840a-30bcd097e4-gW4j8z.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR