All We Really Want: A Filmmaker’s Review of NXT Generation Theatrics’ “Jagged Little Pill”

I saw Nxt Generation Theatrics’ production of Jagged Little Pill today, and as an independent filmmaker, I left genuinely impressed. This nonprofit company—run by young artists aged 16–25—chooses to pare the piece down: instead of the usual spectacle that often surrounds this musical, the production places the story and the characters front and center. That choice pays off. The emotional core of Diablo Cody’s book, paired with Alanis Morissette’s raw, confessional songs from her iconic Grammy Award-winning album, feels immediate and urgent. Without the distraction of excess theatrics, you can actually hear and feel the pain, confusion, and occasional hope that drives the narrative.