Hells Kitchen Review: Alicia Keys Musical Brings a Vibrant Depiction of Teen Girlhood

Hells Kitchen opened on Broadway on April 20, 2024. The following is Aramide Tinubus review of the shows Off Broadway premiere published on Nov. 19, 2023. The credits and copy have been updated to reflect any changes for the Broadway transfer.

“Hell’s Kitchen” opened on Broadway on April 20, 2024. The following is Aramide Tinubu’s review of the show’s Off Broadway premiere published on Nov. 19, 2023. The credits and copy have been updated to reflect any changes for the Broadway transfer.

“Hell’s Kitchen,” playwright Kristoffer Diaz‘s new musical with songs by Alicia Keys, begins at a dinner table. 17-year-old Ali (a magnetic Maleah Joi Moon, making her professional debut) has dinner with her mom, Jersey (Shoshana Bean), in their Hell’s Kitchen apartment every night at the same time. It’s a routine that Jersey insists on to keep Ali safe from the perils of New York City in the 1990s. But for Ali, their one-bedroom apartment on the 42nd floor feels like a cage. She longs to hang out with her friends, listen to music and flirt with an older drummer named Knuck (Chris Lee), who uses the courtyard of their Manhattan Plaza building as his stage.

Related Stories

Photo illustration of a robot's hand holding a magnifying glass VIP+

Cloud Adoption Key to Media Business Exploiting AI

LEGALLY BLONDE, Reese Witherspoon, Bruiser, 2001.

'Legally Blonde' Prequel Series Sets Open Casting Call for Young Elle Woods

Styled in baggie jeans, Timberland boots, Tommy Hilfiger crop tops and gold chains, Ali speaks directly to the audience about her feelings, dreams and desires. She welcomes viewers into her beautifully chaotic teenage world as if opening up her diary. Without an outlet to express herself, she comments on her increasing frustrations with Jersey’s overbearing attitude while gathering the courage to approach Knuck.

Popular on Variety

It’s difficult to unlock the experience of being a 17-year-old girl, but under Michael Greif‘s direction, “Hell’s Kitchen” does just that. Loosely based on Grammy Award winner Keys’ personal experiences, the musical, now playing on Broadway after a world premiere last year at the Public Theater, captures Ali’s ever-evolving emotions and her quest for freedom. Despite her mother’s rules, Ali rebels against them, staying out late, getting to know Knuck intimately and fighting Jersey at every turn.

Because her estranged father, Davis (Brandon Victor Dixon), is a professional musician, Ali only begrudgingly learns to play the piano from her stern neighbor, Miss Lisa Jane (Kecia Lewis). But soon she discovers that music might be the best way to convey her feelings.

With absolute powerhouse vocals from the cast and songs written by Keys with orchestrations and arrangements by Emmy and Grammy winner Adam Blackstone, “Hell’s Kitchen” moves beyond Ali’s teenage experiences. The play also showcases Jersey’s perspective as a single mother determined to get her daughter to make different choices from her own. Though Keys’ iconic music is used throughout, Diaz and Blackstone don’t haphazardly sprinkle the tunes across two acts. Instead, tracks like “You Don’t Know My Name” and “Fallin” come thundering forward from surprising characters at unexpected times.

The set design, though simple, captures the essence of New York City. Designer Robert Brill uses black steel rectangles to showcase the city’s vertical structures and linear lines. Image projection is used in the background to orient the audience in a specific neighborhood or place. The minimalism of the stage and Ali’s earnest narration make the viewers feel a part of the production rather than just spectators.

In addition to Moon and Bean’s sensational vocal range, “Hell’s Kitchen” illustrates how tender mother/daughter relationships can be. It also reflects the issues underlying New York City in the ’90s while demonstrating the impact of loss, absentee fathers and over-policing in communities of color. Since the play runs at a lengthy 2 hours and 30 minutes (including an intermission), these themes are often drawn out and sometimes feel cliché, bordering on corny. However, the absolute dynamism of the cast keeps the show from falling into pure melodrama.

Still, “Hell’s Kitchen” is a quintessential musical. Some of the dancing is over-elaborate at times, especially during tender numbers like “Hallelujah/Like Water” or sensual moments including “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready).” While these segments could have shined with the singing alone, the ensemble’s talent is undeniable. With stunning harmonies and the infusion of on-stage pianists, guitarists and drummers, the show feels like watching a glorious tapestry come together.

When it’s all said and done, “Hell’s Kitchen” is more than a story about a young woman’s first love affair. Ali’s involvement with Knuck is a central component, but as one of her homegirls points out, having a man isn’t the sole all-important element of the narrative. Instead, “Hell’s Kitchen” is a sparkling story paying homage to New York, to that beautiful and heartbreaking transition between girlhood and womanhood and to the women who hold our hands through it all.

Read More About:

Jump to Comments

‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Review: Alicia Keys Musical Brings a Vibrant Depiction of Teen Girlhood to Broadway

Shubert Theatre; 1,443 seats; $197 top. Opened on Broadway April 20, 2024. Reviewed in its Off Broadway premiere at the Public Theater, Nov. 19, 2023. Running time: TWO HOURS, 30 MIN.

  • Production: An AK Worldwide Media, Inc., Roc Nation, DML Productions, Mandy Hackett, Julie Yorn, The Jacobs Family, The Sunshine Group, Front Row Productions, Sharpton Swindal Productions, The Jaime Family, John Gore Organization, Terria Joseph, Andy Naha, James L. Nederlander, Candy Spelling, Clara Wu Tsai, Universal Music Publishing, Grove Entertainment, Independent Presenters Network, Della Pietra Spark Theatricals, Score 3 Partners, with executive producer Aaron Lustbader and the Public Theater, presentation of a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Alicia Keys and book by Kristoffer Diaz.
  • Crew: Directed by Michael Greif. Choreography by Camille A. Brown. Set, Robert Brill; costumes, Dede Ayite; lights, Natasha Katz; sound design, Gareth Owen; projection design, Peter Nigrini; hair and wig design, Mia Neal, production stage manager Danny Maly.
  • Cast: Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon, Kecia Lewis, Chris Lee, Chad Carstarphen, Reid Clarke, Chloe David, Nico DeJesus, Timothy L. Edwards, Desmond Sean Ellington, Badia Farha, Vanessa Ferguson, David Guzman, Gianna Harris, Jakeim Hart, Takia Hopson, Jackie Leon, Raechelle Manalo, Jade Milan, Onyxx Noel, Susan Oliveras, Sarah Parker, Aaron Nicholas Patterson, William Roberson, Niki Saludez, Nyseli Vega, Donna Vivino, Lamont Walker II, Rema Webb, Oscar Whitney Jr., and introducing Maleah Joi Moon.

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXOAjqWcoKGkZL%2BmwsierqxnmJq5rb%2BMpKCtm5iau26%2BxK%2Bgnq9dlrmqr8iaZKSdqah6rsHSopqapF2Xv7Ctw7CYsmVhZ4B2hZZwam9qXw%3D%3D

 Share!