‘Jagged Little Pill’ and ‘American Utopia’ soundtracks earn Grammy nominations

The 63rd Grammy Awards will take place on Jan. 31, 2021.

Ahead of next year's Grammy Awards, the nominees for the Best Musical Theater album have been announced. Six soundtracks have been nominated in total, including Broadway and West End musicals which premiered in 2020.

In order to be nominated in the Best Musical Theater Album category, albums must contain "at least 51% playing time of new recordings. Award to the principle vocalist(s) and the album producer(s) of 51% or more playing time of the album. The lyricist(s) and composer(s) of a new score are eligible for an Award if they have written and/or composed a new score which comprises 51% or more playing time of the album.'

David Byrne's American Utopia is nominated in the category, with Byrne as producer, composer and lyricist. After a Broadway premiere in 2019, the show will return to the Great White Way next year, with a filmed performance currently on HBO. 

The Alanis Morrisette jukebox musical Jagged Little Pill is nominated, with principal soloists Kathryn Gallagher, Celia Rose Gooding, Lauren Patten & Elizabeth Stanley. Lyrics are by Glen Ballard and Alanis Morrisette, with Neal Avron, Pete Ganbarg, Tom Kitt, Michael Parker, Craig Rosen & Vivek J. Tiwary as producers. The nomination comes just before the cast of Jagged Little Pill entertain audiences in their December concerts.

The off-Broadway revival soundtrack of Little Shop of Horrors is also nominated, featuring Tammy Blanchard, Jonathan Groff and Tom Alan Robbins as principal soloists. Music and lyrics are by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman respectively, with Will Van Dyke, Michael Mayer, Alan Menken & Frank Wolf as producers.

The off-Broadway premiere of Soft Power rounds off the American albums, with music and lyrics by Jeanine Tesori and David Henry Hwang. Francis Jue, Austin Ku, Alyse Alan Louis and Conrad Ricamora feature on the album, with Matt Stine as producer.

Two London shows are nominated for Best Musical Theater Album: Amelie which premiered at London's The Other Palace and The Prince of Egypt soundtrack, based on the Dreamworks animation.

The 63rd Grammy Awards will take place on Jan. 31, 2021.

^{Photo credit: Cast of Jagged Little Pill (Photo by Matthew Murphy)}