When you think of Alicia Keys—17 Grammy Awards, more than 65 million records sold worldwide, singer, songwriter, pianist, actress, producer—it is easy to focus on the icon. “Hell’s Kitchen” invites audiences to look beyond the superstar and toward the young woman behind the music: the girl shaped by New York City, family struggles, artistic awakening, and the communities that nurture talent long before the world notices it.

Built around Keys’s music and lyrics, this semi-autobiographical jukebox musical, produced by Keys with a book by Kristoffer Diaz, arrives at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre following a celebrated Broadway run that earned 13 Tony Award nominations and wins for both Best Leading Actress and Best Featured Actress.

At its heart, “Hell’s Kitchen” is a coming-of-age story and a love letter to Manhattan itself. Set amid the creative pulse of the city, the musical explores ambition, identity, first love, and the transformative power of art. The story centers on Ali, a spirited seventeen-year-old inspired by Alicia Keys and portrayed with magnetic charisma by Maya Drake. In one of the production’s most imaginative opening moments, Ali rides the elevator through her apartment building while the residents of each floor emerge in vivid snapshots of urban life, immediately immersing the audience in a world buzzing with music, movement, and possibility.

“Alicia Keys’s songs take on new emotional life, transforming familiar hits into deeply personal storytelling.”

Much of that energy comes alive through the combined work of scenic designer Robert Brill, projection designer Peter Nigrini, lighting designer Natasha Katz, and sound designer Gareth Owen, who transform the stage into a living, breathing New York City saturated with rhythm and color.

Like many teenagers, Ali experiences the exhilaration and vulnerability of first love through her relationship with Knuck, played with warmth and charm by JonAvery Worrell. Yet her deepest connection is ultimately with music itself. That journey takes shape through her relationship with Miss Liza Jane, portrayed magnificently by Roz White. As Ali’s mentor and piano teacher, Miss Liza Jane becomes both guide and emotional anchor, helping her channel heartbreak, confusion, hope, and longing into artistic expression.

The production’s emotional center, however, belongs equally to Ali’s mother, Jersey, played by the electrifying Kennedy Caughell. As long-buried family tensions surface and Jersey reconnects with Ali’s estranged father David, portrayed by Desmond Sean Ellington, the musical deepens beyond youthful self-discovery into something more emotionally layered. Their powerful rendition of “Fallin’” becomes one of the evening’s defining moments, transforming the familiar Alicia Keys hit into an expression of heartbreak, memory, and unresolved love.

Throughout the production, Alicia Keys’s songs are seamlessly woven into the narrative, often taking on entirely new emotional meanings. “Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready)” captures the tenderness of young love, while songs like “No One” and “Not Even the King” deepen the emotional bonds between family members.

Adding to the production’s momentum is Rickey Tripp’s vibrant choreography, which fills the stage with infectious energy and captures both the swagger and soul of New York City. The cast delivers powerhouse vocals throughout, but Caughell’s performance proves especially unforgettable. Her emotional intensity and commanding voice brought the audience to its feet in a spontaneous mid-show standing ovation, one of the evening’s most thrilling moments.

Opening night carried an added sense of occasion with Alicia Keys herself in attendance at the historic Pantages Theatre. Watching from the audience, she appeared visibly moved as the crowd erupted in applause for the performers bringing her story to life.

What lingers after the final curtain is not simply the music, though the score is filled with beloved hits, but the show’s sense of optimism and creative possibility. “Hell’s Kitchen” celebrates the communities, mentors, and struggles that shape artists long before success arrives. At the Pantages, it becomes more than a Broadway touring production. It becomes a vibrant celebration of resilience, self-expression, and the enduring power of music.

–Rosane Grimberg

Hell’s Kitchen runs through June 21st. For more information visit: https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com/