Alicia Keys turned Hollywood Boulevard into her old Manhattan stomping grounds on Tuesday, May 26, as her Broadway jukebox musical Hell's Kitchen fired up its first performance at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. The Los Angeles engagement runs through June 21, giving local theater fans a chance to catch the show on their home turf instead of booking a flight to New York.
The Los Angeles run is the second stop on a 45-city North American tour and is scheduled from May 26 through June 21, according to the Los Angeles Times. The paper reports that tickets start at $57, with performances running Tuesday through Sunday, and that the show clocks in at about 2 hours and 35 minutes.
Touring cast and creative team
The touring company mixes fresh faces with Broadway veterans. Maya Drake steps into the lead role of Ali, while Kennedy Caughell plays Jersey. The show's book is by Kristoffer Díaz and is directed by Michael Greif, with Tom Kitt and Adam Blackstone among the music team, according to Playbill. That top-tier creative crew travels with the tour to keep the staging and design consistent with the Broadway production.
What the Pantages audience will hear
Hell's Kitchen threads together Keys' biggest hits, from "Fallin'" to "Girl on Fire," with original songs written specifically for the stage. The score is delivered with high-energy choreography and a sizable ensemble, aiming to keep the plot moving instead of pausing for greatest-hits nostalgia, according to the show's Los Angeles presenter page at Broadway in Hollywood.
Keys described the musical to the Times as a mother-daughter story whose themes go beyond New York City. She noted that "we spent 13 years developing this piece," underscoring how personal the project is to her, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Serena Williams joins the producing team
Tennis legend Serena Williams has signed on as a co-producer for the tour after saying she was "blown away" when she saw the Broadway production, the producers announced as the itinerary was finalized, according to BroadwayWorld. The producing team has spotlighted Williams' involvement as part of its effort to bring the show's message to wider audiences across the country.
From Broadway honors to the big screen
The original Broadway production of Hell's Kitchen drew major attention on the awards circuit, earning 13 Tony nominations, as reported by AP News. The show converted some of that buzz into hardware, including a leading actress Tony win for Maleah Joi Moon, according to Broadway.com.
The story is also headed for the festival circuit in another format. Tribeca has announced that the documentary Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell's Kitchen will close the festival in June, with Keys set to appear after the premiere, according to Tribeca Festival.
Practical info
Hell's Kitchen runs at the Hollywood Pantages through June 21, with evening performances and weekend matinees on the schedule. Details on tickets, accessibility and group sales are listed by the show's Los Angeles presenter. For the full schedule and to purchase seats, visit Broadway in Hollywood.
.jpg){kind=link}