On stage, “chemistry” often refers to a romantic pairing, but in the case of a new musical, hell's kitchen, is the perfect piece to represent the teacher-student bond between Broadway veteran Keshia Lewis and newcomer Marea Joy Moon. Before a word is exchanged, Moon, who plays Ali, a teenage character loosely modeled on Alicia Keys, declares that Lewis, as pianist Miss Liza Jane, is her ideal. Legal. Queen. In return, when Ali mumbles excuses for not pursuing her interest in music, Miss Liza Jane replies, “You are here because the voices of your ancestors called for your presence.'' That’s why!” Ali quickly straightened her stance, and so did the Shubert Theater audience, reveling in the power of the actresses' partnership.
In real life, Lewis understands the pressure of making your big Broadway debut at such a young age. At the age of 18, she played the huge role of Effie in the movie. dream woman. In the four decades since then, Lewis has appeared on Broadway. Once on this island, sleepy attendant, Chicago and children of lesser gods, among many other plays and musicals. Her current performance is Miss Liza Jane's candor and truth-telling, winning cheers and tears for her ceiling-raising vocals and a rarely heard applause on her exit. After Wednesday's matinee, Lewis went into a small dressing room applying her favorite shade of lavender and musing about her various ways of doing things. hell's kitchen That matches her experience on and off stage.
your character is hell's kitchenyou'll be happy to play it.
This show fits perfectly with where I am in my life and career. There are a lot of young people in the cast, but they call me “Mom'' and “Legend,'' which just means “old actress.'' [laughs] But it's very satisfying to know that they want to grow and learn from what I've done. I am a spiritual person and I consider Miss Liza Jane to be a part of me. I'm not as strict as her, but she's certainly just as serious about her job.
Did you feel an immediate bond with your young co-star Marea Joy Moon?
From day one. Marea is one of the most professional and honest people I have ever worked with.If there's a moment [off stage] She wasn't herself, so I said, “Are you okay?” She said, “I'm glad I didn't ruin that scene.” What does the 21-year-old think about her scene partners?she upon that. She was born for this.
What did you react to when you read it? hell's kitchen Is this the first time?
I liked the fact that it wasn't what people expected. This is a love story between her mother and daughter, and the story of a young girl who learns her passion for art in this community. People think it's going to be a jukebox musical and they're going to hear Alicia Keys songs playing along with the script, but they're surprised when it's not.
In fact, your two powerful songs “Perfect Way to Die.” [written in response to police violence] “Authors of Forever” isn't Alicia Keys' biggest hit.
They are Even if only slightly is known. Last night, someone said to me, “I can't wait to hear 'Authors of Forever' on the cast album,” and I said, “Alicia already recorded it.”
What was it like working with her, especially vocally?
I was blown away by how generous, down-to-earth, and supportive she was. She doesn't have to be like that. Jeez. No one would blame her if she didn't. But from the first day I asked, “What do you think?'' How is she feeling? “In one of our first sessions, she explained what was going on inside of her when she wrote her 'perfect way to die.' she said: “I want it to be mine, but I want you to know where it came from.” When I listen to her recordings, she sings two steps higher than me.
”This show fits perfectly with where I am in my life and career.“ – Kesia Lewis
Critics have commented on the strength and depth of your playing.
Last summer, I was working on this piece with my piano teacher – who kindly paid for the lessons so I could be authentic – while everyone else was singing. I noticed that Miss Liza Jane doesn't sing. Women aren't expected to do that, and my speaking voice is low, so I thought, “Let's see how low I can go.'' On the first day of rehearsal, I said: [director] Michael [Greif] Alicia: “I have a present for you.'' We played it and they said, “Can you do eight shows a week?'' [Lewis nods with a smile.] Alicia could have said, “It has to be the key I recorded,” but she said, “It has to be the key I recorded it in.” go There. “It's an honor to sing that song.
You went to a school nearby. [at the former High School of Performing Arts].teeth hell's kitchen Is it true to your experience?
This show is set around 1994-1995 and I grew up. Once on this island Then, but yeah. Danny Burstein and I went to high school together on 46th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue. Times Square is like Disneyland now, but back then, you had to go through a lot of craziness to get to what you were trying to achieve.One of my friends lived in the building where Alicia lived. [Manhattan Plaza, subsidized housing for artists], so I know it well. I had the opportunity to apply for an apartment there, but I foolishly thought, “I don't want to live with a bunch of actors.'' I can't tell you how many times I regretted that decision.
(Photo: Joan Marcus)
You raised your son Simon as a single mother. Do you empathize with Jersey, the protective mother played by Shoshana Bean?
absolutely. Unfortunately, in our country it is often open season for black boys. And what was heartbreaking about raising him in New York was always having to think, “What if the police come?” What do you do when something is unfair? ” My child has a bad temper. He said, “Mom, I understand,'' and I said, “No, I'll think about it again.'' The best thing I can do is encourage him with things he likes to keep him from thinking about things that are more interesting.
Were you performing?
no! When he was 6 years old we put him in a small drama school and he did really well. But when he was about 13 years old, he said, “Mom, I just want to be a regular and play basketball.” He came to me at the beginning of his senior year and he said he didn't want to go to college. He wanted to go to vocational school and study electronic engineering. That summer, I was doing a show at Berkeley Rep, and a woman from the theater who I had known since her son was a baby asked me if I would be interested in working backstage. He liked this job so much that he is currently participating in Roundabout's internship program to become a stagehand.His parents were disappointed that I didn't graduate from New York University. dream womanAnd I decided to let my child do whatever made him happy.
What are your memories of playing Effie? [the role created by Tony winner Jennifer Holliday] When you were 18?
With Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine? It was scary. Brenda Braxton taught me the show. She was dance captain and then we were dance captains. Chicago together. It was an out-of-body experience.i have seen dream woman On my 17th birthday, I couldn't move at the end of the first act. My heart said: There's a place for you,' because I'd never seen anyone who looked like me sing like that on a Broadway stage. I have many wonderful memories. One night I forgot some of the lyrics to “And I Am Telling You,” and Ben Hurney, with his back to the audience, spoke them to me.
Casting in musicals, especially this season, is much more adventurous than it was in the beginning. Do you feel like Broadway is changing?
Yes, it's very exciting.People always ask me about my dream role in a classic movie, it's Mama Rose [in Gypsy] or dolly [in Hello, Dolly!]. But there's nothing better than attending a new show and meeting lots of old friends. My mother used to say that. “She can't walk three blocks in Midtown without seeing five people she knows.” Ken Page [Lewis’ co-star of a 1988 revival of Ain’t Misbehavin’] I came the other night and met 6 people I knew from shooting a video at Manhattan Plaza. I've been here and I'm enjoying the ball.
