Alicia Keys To Debut New Project ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Off Broadway This Month
Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for National Portrait Gallery Reading Time: 2 minutes
Alicia Keys, the multi-talented Grammy-winning artist, is about to make her mark in a new arena of creativity with her musical project, Hell’s Kitchen. Based on her experiences growing up in a gritty New York neighborhood, Keys has spent the last 12 years developing this musical, which is set to premiere Off Broadway on October 24.
Alicia Keys Ventures Into Broadway With Hell’s Kitchen
With an impressive track record of 15 Grammy Awards, five number one albums, and around five billion song streams, Keys has carved a unique niche in the music industry. Known for her soulful voice and remarkable songwriting skills, she signed a recording contract as a teenager and, at 42, continues to exhibit unwavering determination and control over her creative and commercial endeavors.
Hell’s Kitchen is a departure from the typical biographical jukebox musicals that chronicle the lives of pop stars. Instead, it is a focused and fictionalized narrative centered on a few months in the life of a 17-year-old named Ali, who, like Keys herself, is the daughter of a white mother and a Black father, growing up in Manhattan Plaza.
The creative team, including playwright and librettist Kristoffer Diaz, director Michael Greif, and choreographer Camille A. Brown, has worked closely with Keys to craft a narrative that blends fact and fiction. The musical aims to explore themes of identity, relationships, and self-discovery, resonating with audiences as they follow Ali’s journey.
One distinctive aspect of Hell’s Kitchen is the integration of Alicia Keys’ iconic songs into the score, including hits like “Fallin’,” “No One,” “Girl on Fire,” “If I Ain’t Got You,” and “Empire State of Mind.” Keys has also composed four new songs specifically for the show, promising a fresh perspective on her well-known repertoire.
What Prompted Alicia Keys to Venture Into Musical Theatre?
Keys’ venture into the world of musical theater may come as a surprise to some, but it shows her lifelong love for the arts. Her upbringing in New York, marked by her mother’s pursuit of a career in acting and their visits to Broadway shows, has deeply influenced her creative journey.
In addition to her artistic contributions, Keys is taking an unusual approach to the production’s management. Instead of seeking external producers, she is personally financing and retaining the rights to the musical’s commercial future, demonstrating her ownership not only of the artistic vision but also the economic aspects of Hell’s Kitchen.
As Keys prepares to introduce Hell’s Kitchen to the world, her dedication to this project is evident. She embraces her role as a driving force behind the musical, engaging with every detail and offering direction to the cast and crew.
