“Hell’s Kitchen,” Alicia Keys’ musical, is scheduled to open on Broadway in the spring.
The musical, which has lyrics and music by Keys and a book by Kristoffer Diaz, had its Public Theater debut on October 24 and will remain there through January 14. “Hell’s Kitchen” will move to the Shubert Theatre on Broadway, where previews will start on March 28.
The official opening night is set for April 20.
The story revolves around 17-year-old Ali, who yearns for her own small slice of the American dream while living in a tiny apartment in Times Square. Desperate to prevent her daughter from repeating her mistakes, Ali’s mother becomes entangled in their issues.
Ali’s romantic relationship with a gifted young drummer forces mother and daughter to face hard truths about race, rebellion, and growing up.
Ali, who feels stuck, has an epiphany when she unexpectedly befriends a neighbor who plays the piano, opening her eyes to the prospect of an entirely different future.
Alicia Keys’ musical is a reflection of life and her experiences
For the past thirteen years, Alicia Keys has been organizing, writing, and collecting material for a musical based on her early years in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City.
Her life experiences serve as a loose basis for the musical “Hell’s Kitchen,” which does not follow a biographical narrative. Instead, it’s a narrative that delves into the complexities of family dynamics and identity, encouraging reflection on who we are, what we want to achieve, and the never-ending journey of self-discovery.
Alicia Keys is looking forward to sharing new songs with the world through the musical score. Alongside these new pieces, reimagined versions of popular songs from her albums will be performed to offer an alternative perspective.
Who is in Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen”?
The Off-Broadway cast at the Public Theater features Shoshana Bean, Maleah Joi Moon, Brandon Victor Dixon, Kecia Lewis, Chris Lee, and Vanessa Ferguson; the Broadway cast is still a mystery.
“Hell’s Kitchen” features choreography by Camille A. Brown, direction by Michael Greif, music supervision by Adam Blackstone, and music consulting by Tom Kitt in terms of creative direction.
Along with scenic designer Robert Brill, costume designer Dede Ayite, lighting designer Natasha Katz, sound designer Gareth Owen, projection designer Peter Nigrini, and hair and wig designer Mia Neal, these individuals make up the creative team behind the production.
Aaron Lustbader is the executive producer of AKW Productions, which produces the Broadway version of “Hell’s Kitchen.”
Who is Alicia Keys’?
American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys studied classical piano as a child. Having started writing songs at the age of twelve, she had landed a record deal with Columbia Records by the time she was fifteen.
Keys chose to sign with Arista Records following some issues with his previous label. “Songs in A Minor,” her debut album, was released by J Records in 2001. This critically and commercially successful debut was widely praised, selling over 12 million copies worldwide.
Her follow-up album, “The Diary of Alicia Keys,” (2003), outsold her debut in sales, having sold eight million copies worldwide. Some of the album’s top hits are “You Don’t Know My Name,” “If I Ain’t Got You,” and “Diary.” Since the release of this album, Alicia Keys has won four Grammy Awards.
With an astounding 90 million records sold worldwide, Alicia Keys has established herself as one of the top-selling musicians in the world. Her achievements in the music business are incredibly remarkable, and she has been honored time and time again over her career.
Among the accolades are being named the 2000s’ R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Decade and ranking tenth on Billboard’s list of the Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years.
Her achievements include recognition from the National Music Publishers Association, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, 12 ASCAP Awards, 17 NAACP Image Awards, and an incredible 15 Grammy Awards.
