This semi-autobiographical musical is a must-see!
Alicia Keys is basking in the afterglow of being nominated for 13 Tony Awards for her work on the musical “Hell's Kitchen,'' which she has poured her heart and soul into for over 10 years. When she heard the news, she said she was “so amazing, amazing and so grateful.” According to a recent interview with the New York Times.
“Hell’s Kitchen” featuring music Key Christopher Diaz's books are deeply personal stories for the artist. The musical depicts a 17-year-old girl navigating similar challenges that Keys faced in her own youth, including her single mother, her yearning for independence, and her passion for music. The story also reflects Keyes' upbringing in her subsidized housing.
Despite her unwavering confidence in the project, the Tony nomination was a pleasant surprise. “You never know how people are going to receive things,” Keyes reflected. “You have to create with your mission in mind.”
Its mission extends beyond entertainment. In an interview, Keys revealed a pre-show ritual of burning palo santo, a sacred tree believed to purify negativity, throughout the theater.
Revisiting painful aspects of the past through a musical can be mentally taxing, but Keys emphasizes the emotional process involved. “It's painful, it's thrilling, it's emotional and it's honest,” she said. “The way it takes on a life of its own is really amazing.”
Keys expressed particular surprise at how the musical would be recontextualized. her own music. “When people leave the theater, they say, 'I've never heard a song like that before,'” she says. “I was the same!”
Keyes is aiming for a long-term project and is still holding back. “We’re going to keep working, we’re going to keep loving, we’re going to keep believing,” she said. “And you know, the rest is up to God's choice.”
Tickets for Hell's Kitchen on Broadway are on sale now through January at: www.hellskitchen.com.
Cover photo: Alicia Keys' musical “Hell's Kitchen'' has been nominated for 13 Tony Awards / Credit: Sarah Krulwich/The New York Times
