Courtesy of production
Hell’s Kitchen, the Alicia Keys musical currently playing a sold-out run Off Broadway, will transfer to Broadway’s Shubert Theater this spring, producers announced today.
Directed by Michael Greif, Hell’s Kitchen will begin previews on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the Shubert before premiering on Saturday, April 20. The musical features music and lyrics by Keys as well as a book by Kristoffer Diaz and includes such Keys hits as “You Don’t Know My Name,” “Fallin’,” “If I Ain’t Got You,” “No One” and “Empire State of Mind” among others.
Casting will be announced shortly. The critically acclaimed off-Broadway cast includes Maleah Joi Moon as the Keys-inspired character Ali and Shoshana Bean as her mother Jersey.
“Good things take time and for 13 years I have been dreaming, developing and finding inspiration for a musical based on my childhood in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC,” Keys said in a statement, adding, “It is an honor to be a part of this Broadway season with so much incredible talent and great stories. I grew up with musical theater and have so many memories of standing in line at TKTS to see shows like “Miss Saigon” and “Rent.” To me, Hell’s Kitchen is also a New York story about finding your dreams, and to me this musical coming to Broadway is the embodiment of that idea.”
Oskar Eustis, artistic director of the Public Theater, called Hell’s Kitchen “an extraordinary show” and added: “We are delighted that it is coming to the Shubert Theater, where A Chorus Line performed 16 gloriously after moving from The Public in 1975 ran for years.”
“Like that legendary show,” he continued, “Hell’s Kitchen is a quintessentially New York story.” Our audiences are thrilled with the musical and see themselves and their own lives in the story of an extraordinary 17-year-old girl who growing up and discovering his place in the world.” He said Hell’s Kitchen is “exactly what we’re hungry for: a reason to look optimistically about the world, a reminder of why we love New York City, a celebration of it “How art and love can overcome all barriers.” It’s an amazing theatrical debut for one of the world’s greatest songwriters – it will touch millions of people.”
The synopsis: In a cramped apartment in Times Square, 17-year-old Ali is desperately searching for her piece of the New York dream. Ali’s mother is equally determined to protect her daughter from the same mistakes she made. When Ali falls in love with a talented young drummer, mother and daughter must confront the harsh truths about race, defiance and growing up. Ali feels trapped until the sound of a neighbor playing the piano opens the door to an unexpected friendship and a completely different future.
“Hell’s Kitchen,” Keys said, “is inspired by my life, but it’s not a biographical story. It is a story about family relationships and identity: who are we? Who do we want to be? Who do we become? The score features new songs that I’m really excited to release, alongside many of my album releases that you know but have never heard before – rearranged and reinterpreted.”
The show’s creative team also includes Adam Blackstone (music supervision), Tom Kitt (music advice), Camille A. Brown (choreography), Robert Brill (stage design), Dede Ayite (costume design), Natasha Katz (lighting design) and Gareth Owen (sound design), Peter Nigrini (projection design) and Mia Neal (hair and wig design).
Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway will be produced by AKW Productions, it was announced today. Aaron Lustbader will serve as executive producer.
The musical had its world premiere at the Public Theater on October 24th and runs Off Broadway until January 14th. In addition to Moon and Bean, the Off Broadway cast also includes Chad Carstarphen, Reid Clarke, Chloe Davis, Nico DeJesus, Brandon Victor Dixon, Timothy L. Edwards, Desmond Sean Ellington, Badia Farha, Vanessa Ferguson, David Guzman, Crystal Monee Hall, Gianna Harris, Jakeim Hart, Chris Lee, Jackie Leon, Kecia Lewis, Raechelle Manalo, Jade Milan, Maleah Joi Moon, Onyxx Noel, Susan Oliveras, Sarah Parker, Aaron Nicholas Patterson, William Roberson, Niki Saludez, Mariand Torres, Donna Vivino, Lamont Walker II and Oscar Whitney Jr.