The musical's on fire! Hell's Kitchen, the new Alicia Keys jukebox musical, opened on at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway April 20. And the reviews are now in.
Hell's Kitchen features music and lyrics by Keys and a book by Kristoffer Diaz. Inspired by the 15-time Grammy winner's life, the story centers on 17-year-old Ali and her mother, sharing a cramped apartment near Times Square. Ali wants to live out her NYC dream, but Mom is scared her daughter will repeat her own mistakes.
Click here to purchase the opening night Playbill for Hell's Kitchen
Michael Greif is directing with choreography by Camille A. Brown.
Read the reviews below.
Chicago Tribune (Chris Jones)*
Digital Journal (Markos Papadatos)
Entertainment Weekly (Dalton Ross)
New York Stage Review (Bob Verini, Melissa Rose Bernardo)
New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell)
New York Theatre Guide (Gillian Russo)
New York Times (Elisabeth Vincentelli)*
TheaterMania (Zachary Stewart)
Time Out New York (Adam Feldman)
*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
The cast of Hell's Kitchen is led by Shoshana Bean as Jersey, Brandon Victor Dixon as Davis, Kecia Lewis as Miss Liza Jane, Chris Lee as Knuck, and Maleah Joi Moon as Ali
They share the stage with Chad Carstarphen as Ray, Vanessa Ferguson as Tiny, Jakeim Hart as Q, Jackie Leon as Jessica, Nyseli Vega as Millie, Lamont Walker II as 'Riq, and Rema Webb as Crystal, alongside ensemble members Reid Clarke, Chloe Davis, Nico DeJesus, Timothy L. Edwards, David Guzman, Raechelle Manalo, Sarah Parker, and Niki Saludez. Rounding out the company are understudies Desmond Sean Ellington, Badia Farha, Gianna Harris, Jade Milan, Susan Oliveras, and Oscar Whitney Jr.; and swings Takia Hopson, Onyxx Noel, Aaron Nicholas Patterson, and William Roberson. Donna Vivino serves as standby for Jersey.
READ: Camille A. Brown Is Bringing '90s New York Back to Broadway in Hell's Kitchen
Most of the cast members are reprising their performances from the musical's 2023 Off-Broadway premiere at The Public Theater, with only Webb, Vega, and Hopson new for the Broadway run. Casting is by Heidi Griffiths and Kate Murray.
Greif reassembled his complete Off-Broadway creative team for the Broadway bow. The music team includes music director Lily Ling and orchestrators Adam Blackstone and Tom Kitt with arrangements by Keys and Blackstone. The creative team also includes scenic designer Robert Brill, costume designer Dede Ayite, lighting designer Natasha Katz, sound designer Gareth Owen, projection designer Peter Nigrini, hair and wig designer Mia Neal, and makeup designer Michael Clifton. Foresight Theatrical is general manager, and Danny Maly serves as production stage manager.
Read: Shoshana Bean and Maleah Joi Moon Fearlessly Lead the Alicia Keys Musical
AKW Productions is producing the Broadway run, with Aaron Lustbader serving as executive producer. Co-producers include ROC Nation, DML Productions, Julie Yorn, Mandy Hackett, The Jacobs Family, Sharpton Swindal Productions, John Gore Organization, Terria Joseph, Andy Nahas, James L. Nederlander, Clara Wu Tsai, Grove Entertainment, Independent Presenters Network, Della Pietra Spark Theatricals, and The Public Theater.
Visit HellsKitchen.com.
The company of Hell's Kitchen
The company of Hell's Kitchen
Brandon Victor Dixon and the company of Hell's Kitchen
Maleah Joi Moon and the company of Hell's Kitchen
Maleah Joi Moon, Chris Lee, and the company of Hell's Kitchen
Kecia Lewis and Maleah Joi Moon
Shoshana Bean and Maleah Joi Moon
Company of Hell's Kitchen
