Alicia Keys arrives at the 10th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency)
Alicia Keys’ Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen is set to close in New York next month, bringing its nearly two year run to an end while preparing for an expanded international future.
The Tony Award winning production will play its final performance at the Shubert Theatre on February 22, concluding a run of close to 800 performances. Since opening on Broadway in April 2024, the musical has generated more than 100 million dollars in ticket sales.
By closing night, Hell’s Kitchen is projected to have recouped around 60 percent of its 22 million dollar capitalisation. Producers expect additional returns through the show’s ongoing national tour and upcoming international productions, which are scheduled to launch in South Korea, Germany, and Australia following its Broadway exit.
Inspired by the early life and musical upbringing of Alicia Keys in New York City, Hell’s Kitchen premiered Off Broadway at The Public Theater in October 2023. The production extended its initial run before transferring to Broadway, where it quickly became one of the most commercially successful new musicals of its season.
The show is directed by Michael Greif, with choreography by Camille A. Brown and a book by Kristoffer Diaz. The score blends Keys’ catalogue of hits with new music written for the stage.
The current Broadway cast includes Ne-Yo, alongside Amanda Reid, Kelsee Kimmel, Yolanda Adams, and Lamont Walker II. Original company member and Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon is set to return to the production on January 27, reprising the role of Davis for the remainder of the run.
Hell’s Kitchen was one of only three new musicals from the 2023 and 2024 Broadway season still running into 2026, alongside The Outsiders and The Great Gatsby. While box office performance fluctuated during its run, the show reached a weekly peak gross of 1.8 million dollars in June 2024. In its most recent reported week ending January 11, it grossed just over 828,000 dollars, playing to 79 percent capacity.
Critically, the musical found early awards success. Maleah Joi won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her Broadway debut as Ali, the coming of age protagonist based on Keys. Kecia Lewis received the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. The production earned a total of 13 Tony nominations, including Best Musical.
With its Broadway chapter coming to a close, Hell’s Kitchen now looks to extend its life overseas, positioning the show for a second act on international stages well beyond its New York origins.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
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Alicia Keys autobiography on audible is my favourite by any musical artist. I would love to see a musical based on her life story that is produced by her, and will buy tickets as soon as I am notified they are available.