Alicia Keys’ musical “Hell’s Kitchen” is heading to Broadway this spring.
The musical, with music and lyrics by Keys and a book by Kristoffer Diaz, had its world premiere at the Public Theater on 24 October and is currently running there until 14 January. “Hell’s Kitchen will transfer to Broadway’s Shubert Theatre, with previews beginning March 28 and opening April 20.
The official synopsis reads: “In a cramped apartment on the edge of Times Square, 17-year-old Ali is desperate to get her piece of the New York dream. Ali’s mother is just as determined to protect her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. When Ali falls in love with a talented young drummer, both mother and daughter must face hard truths about race, defiance and growing up. Ali feels trapped until the sound of a neighbour playing the piano opens the door to an unexpected friendship and a radically different future”.
“Good things take time, and for 13 years I’ve been dreaming, developing and finding inspiration for a musical based on my experiences growing up in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC. Hell’s Kitchen is inspired by my life, but it’s not a biographical story. It’s a story about family relationships and identity: Who are we? Who do we want to be? Who are we becoming?” Keys said in a statement. “The score features new songs that I’m really excited to share with the world, as well as many of my album releases that you know but have never heard like this – rearranged and reimagined”.
The Broadway cast is yet to be announced. The Off-Broadway production at the Public Theater includes Shoshana Bean, Maleah Joi Moon, Brandon Victor Dixon, Kecia Lewis, Chris Lee and Vanessa Ferguson.
“Hell’s Kitchen features music consulting by Tom Kitt, music supervision by Adam Blackstone, choreography by Camille A. Brown and direction by Michael Greif. 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 and hair and wig designer Mia Neal. The Broadway production of Hell’s Kitchen is produced by AKW Productions, with Aaron Lustbader serving as executive producer.
