The nominees for the 2021 Grammy Awards for Best Musical Theatre Album were announced on February 8th. This year, five musicals are up for the award: Jagged Little Pill, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, The Prince of Egypt, and Soft Power.
Jagged Little Pill is based on the 1995 album of the same name by Alanis Morissette. Adapted into a Broadway musical by Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus, Jagged Little Pill tells the story of a modern American family as they struggle to make sense of their lives in a world where truth is subjective and reality is often manipulated. The musical features some of Morissette’s most beloved songs as well as several new original pieces.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical is an adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s iconic 2001 film.
With music by Marius de Vries, lyrics by Glen Slater, and book by John Logan, Moulin Rouge! tells the story of a young poet who falls in love with a beautiful courtesan at the infamous Parisian nightclub. The musical features some of Luhrmann’s original film score as well as new original songs written specifically for the stage production.
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical tells the story of legendary singer Tina Turner’s rise to fame and her personal struggles along the way. Featuring music from Turner’s extensive catalog over six decades, this jukebox musical follows her journey from anonymity to becoming one of the most successful and iconic female artists in history.
The Prince of Egypt, based on Dreamworks Animation’s 1998 film, is an epic family-friendly musical about Moses’s journey from slave to leader. Featuring a gospel-infused score composed by Stephen Schwartz, this show follows Moses’s struggle to save his people from slavery and his ultimate faith that God will provide a miracle for them all.
Soft Power, written by David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori, is an immersive show that looks at Chinese-American relations through both Eastern and Western lenses. Combining traditional Chinese opera with American musical theatre conventions, Soft Power offers an insightful look at our current cultural climate while also providing plenty of entertainment along the way.
These five nominees are all worthy contenders for this year’s Best Musical Theatre Album Grammy Award. Each has something unique to offer audiences across all ages and backgrounds – whether it be powerful narratives or exhilarating music – making every show worthy of recognition in its own right.
Conclusion: The 2021 nominees for Best Musical Theatre Album are Jagged Little Pill, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, The Prince Of Egypt, and Soft Power – each one offering something unique to audiences across all ages and backgrounds making them all worthy contenders for this year’s Grammy Award.