and Alicia Keys “Hell's Kitchen” 13 nominations Tony AwardsThere were high hopes for the Broadway musical ahead of Sunday's big awards ceremony, and of course, we've been watching this story unfold. Multiple times at multiple award ceremoniesSo it's no surprise that they only managed to win two trophies.
Despite this disappointment, we An unforgettable performance “Hell's Kitchen,” featuring the musical's cast, Keys, and surprise guest Jay-Z, earned prime position as the first big act of the night. It aired early enough that viewers lost interest and started checking other channels. But the rest of the show felt like a cliched Tony Awards production, finishing up the hip-hop/R&B before moving on to the more traditional shows for the rest of the night.
While the “Hell's Kitchen” ensemble was great, it felt like the Tonys were using them to attract viewers — perhaps because Keys brought in new audience members — but weren't ready to take the show seriously with the awards recognition.
As usual, social media did not disappoint when it came to opinions on the amazing “Hell's Kitchen” performance.
One user thought Jay-Z's appearance would be false advertising since he hasn't appeared on the show. Write on X“'How do we get people in Iowa to buy tickets to Broadway?' The answer is, get them to believe Jay-Z and Alicia are going to star in a real-life production of 'Hell's Kitchen.'”
While it's important to give ticket buyers a glimpse into the show they'll ultimately see, no one should be buying tickets to “Hell's Kitchen” thinking they're actually going to see Jay-Z.
Meanwhile, other viewers thought the inclusion of music superstars meant Tony Award winner Murray Joy Moon didn't get the spotlight she deserved. writeFYI: Murray Joy Moon had a great performance on Hell's Kitchen, but I think it was a shame that the “HK” medley not only didn't show her charm, but also ruined it by including Alicia Keys and Jay-Z (who weren't on the show).”
At least one theater fan is frustrated that all the talk is about other actresses who won awards for their performances on “Hell's Kitchen.” Posts“I'm upset about the coverage of Hell's Kitchen this morning – all the attention was on the number of awards the show didn't win and not the ones it did win, like the amazing Maria Joy Moon who won Best Actress in a Musical. This show is a must see and please support these amazing artists.”
“Hell's Kitchen's” Tony experience has once again sparked a discussion about why mainstream awards are important for Black arts. In this case, Tony attention translates to increased ticket sales, so a win or a memorable performance can lead to an extended run. While we're excited about Tony winners Moon and Keishia Lewis, we can't deny that we feel like we're stuck in a never-ending loop of our art being nominated but never getting the wins it deserves.
