**** Recommended A 17-year-old girl with an absent father rebelling against her controlling mother is not a new story. What makes Hell’s Kitchen different is … the music and Alicia Keys! Not actually Alicia Keys, but you couldn’t prove it by the screaming fans in the audience. I would give an A++++ on the voices & music, the choreography too, but just a B- on the story but nobody cared because – Alicia Keys! 4 Spotlights
When Alicia Keys was growing up in the eighties, Hell’s Kitchen was vastly different from the upscale neighborhood it is today. It wasn’t quite a slum but it definitely had a lot of street life. Because rents were more reasonable than other areas in New York, many apartments were occupied by artists and musicians.
Maya Drake as Ali in the North American Tour of Hell's Kitchen, the hit Broadway musical from Alicia Keys. Photo by Marc J Franklin
So, 17-year-old Ali, played by sensational newcomer Maya Drake, lives on the 42nd floor of a 44 story building on 43rd Street. Whenever she goes up and down on the elevator, she can can identify the musicians practicing on different floors. Ali wants to be out on the street with the ‘cool’ kids, not stuck in her room doing homework, but her mother, Jersey (Kennedy Caughell), is determined to safe, which to her means away from the kids on the street.
One day Ali and her friends meet a group of guys hanging around in front of her building making music with makeshift instruments. Ali zeros in on a guy named Knuck (JonAvery Worrell) who is drumming on a big white bucket. Although he seems indifferent, she keeps turning up wherever he is. Eventually she invites him to her apartment, but her mother caught them. Jersey did not handle it well, screaming at both kids, announcing Ali’s age (which she hadn’t told Knuck), and had him arrested.
Maya Drake and the cast of the North American Tour of Hell's Kitchen, the hit Broadway musical from Alicia Keys.
Since Ali’s grounded, she wanders around the building, ending up in the Ellington Room (kind of a community center). There is a woman playing the grand piano so Ali stops to listen. When she returns the next day, Miss Liza Jane (Roz White) tells her to take a seat at the piano and proceeds to give her a lesson.
Jersey calls Ali’s father, Davis (Desmond Sean Ellington), for help, but he flirts with Jersey rather than getting into a discussion of Ali’s issues. When he learns she’s learning to play the piano, he decided he should be the one to teach her, but then he has an audition for a gig in San Diego. Jersey is furious so she goes to his audition, interrupting everything to yell at him. Caughell’s angry song, Pawn It All, which displayed her incredible range, brought a standing ovation!
Maya Drake as Ali in the North American Tour of Hell's Kitchen, the hit Broadway musical from Alicia Keys. Photo by Marc J Franklin
Also appearing: Rashada Dawan (Crystal & others), Beda Spindola (Millie, Opera Singing Neighbor & others), ChiKezie “Chike” Nwankwo (Ray, Opera Singing Neighbor, Club Manager & others), Gigi Lewis (tiny & others), Marley Soleil (Jessica & others), Jeffrey May Hyche (‘Riq & others) and ‘Zaiah Ellis (Q & others).
The Hell’s Kitchen Dance Ensemble: Destini Hendricks, Christopher Miller, Usman ali Mughal, Marques Furr, Sangeetha Santhebennur, Mae-Lynn Flores and Ethan Zundell.
Swings: Stemaarciae Bain, Miya Bass, Jaylen T. Bryant, Shereé Marcelle Dunwell, Alfred Joackson, Asten Stewart, Teetee, Sydney Townsend and Timothy Wilson.
The Hell’s Kitchen Orchestra: Emily Orr (Music Director/Keyboard 1); Joy Brown (Assistant Conductor/Keyboard 2); Darrick Brown (Music Associate/Keyboard Swing); Azana Hightower (Guitar 1); Rafe bradford (Bass); Adam Bailey (Percussion); Brandon Brooks (Drums).
Maya Drake and JonAvery Worrell in the North American Tour of Hell's Kitchen, the hit Broadway musical from Alicia Keys.
Opening on Broadway in 2024, Hell’s Kitchen was nominated for 13 Tony Awards®, winning two, Leading Actress in a Musical and Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Hell’s Kitchen was written by Kristoffer Diaz with the music of Grammy Award® winner, Alicia Keys. The show is directed by Michael Greif with choreography by Camille A. Brown.
Hell’s Kitchen runs through November 30th at the Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph, Chicago. Best nearby parking option: the Government Center Garage, $21 on SpotHero. Running time is two hours, 35 minutes, with an intermission.
Performances: Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 7:00 pm; Wednesdays at 1:00 & 7:00 pm; Saturdays at 2:00 & 7:30 pm; Sundays at 1:00 pm. There will be no performance on Thanksgiving Day. On Friday, November 29th, there will be a matinee at 1:00 pm. Tickets range from $40-$149. FYI www.BroadwayInChicago.com
Note: A $1 donation for every ticket sold will be made through an ongoing partnership between Broadway’s Hell’s Kitchen and the Alicia Keys co-founded organization, Keep A Child Alive (KCA). To date, $1,000,000 has been donated.