Alicia Keys' Broadway Bomb — Singing Sensation's Musical 'Loses a Staggering $8Million'

[macbeth]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 9:06am

https://radaronline.com/p/alicia-keys-broadway-bomb-musical-loses-8-million/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Threads#Echobox=1773490452

 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 9:10am

I am frankly really surprised HK lost as much money as it did. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 9:16am

I saw Hell’s Kitchen at The Public and absolutely abhorred it. I didn’t end up seeing it again after it transferred to Broadway.

People told me it was better on Broadway, but whenever I asked what had actually changed from the Off-Broadway run, no one could really point to anything specific beyond the show having “more breathing room on a bigger stage.”

To be clear, my issues with the production at The Public had nothing to do with the staging or design - both of which were perfectly fine. My problems were with the trite book and the way the Alicia Keys songs felt shoehorned into the story. Talented cast aside, I found the whole thing a mammoth bore.

In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to spend more time or money giving it another chance on a bigger stage.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 12:04pm

I was very disappointed in the book and thought it was a huge mistake to not spend more time on Alicia’s creative process and artistry. I could give a **** about Knuck. 

[inception]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 12:25pm

Yes, if they had done something more real and not so trite they'd still be running.  The lead character was so whiney & annoying wanting to rebel against her mom it made it hard to like.

Updated On: 3/15/26 at 12:25 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 12:48pm

I’ll join the pile on to say that the book was indeed terrible. It was essentially an after-school special turned up to 11. It was really hard to care about any of the characters in depth, even Miss Liza Jane. Although, I do concede that Kecia really deserved her Tony since her version of “Perfect Way To Die” stopped me cold in awe.

I’m not surprised that it closed at a huge loss to be honest. We often spent many months scratching our heads at how they were still running even when they were underperforming at least six figures a week. Even more were the attempts at Star casting that likely cost a fortune, but probably only boosted the box office just enough to cover the additional expense.

Short of Alicia joining the cast (although she really wouldn’t fit any role) and waiving royalties, I think the show was simply played out

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 12:51pm

the book is just so meh and uninteresting 

i could tell at least 70% of the plot from the first sentence in the opening scene 

Updated On: 3/15/26 at 12:51 PM

[blug]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 1:01pm

Yikes.  I didn't think it lost that much money.  

I remember when this was first announced and there was a lot of browbeating that the Public was throwing so much cash into an Alicia Keys jukebox musical as opposed to something more organic.  Sad.  

[Kad]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 1:12pm

quizking101 said: "
I’m not surprised that it closed at a huge loss to be honest. We often spent many months scratching our heads at how they were still running even when they were underperforming at least six figures a week. Even more were the attempts at Star casting that likely cost a fortune, but probably only boosted the box office just enough to cover the additional expense."

HK has an interesting gross history - it does very well in its first year, then comes down a lot after its first holiday season, then goes into an erratic pattern. It never seemed to be able to sustain one stable average gross for very long. I think behind-the-scenes expenses turned it into a total money pit that made recoupment all but impossible. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 1:21pm

This tracks. It cost $22 million, and there were reports at the time of the closing announcement that it had returned 60% to investors. I'm actually surprised it lasted as long as it did.

Star-replacement casting can also skyrocket the weekly running costs, and some of those stars probably didn't actually deliver financially in the way that the producers hoped.

There's a good chance that investors will become whole thanks to touring, licensing, and international productions. That's the benefit of returning 60% vs. 0% or 10%. But this will not return JERSEY BOYS and HAIRSPRAY levels of money.

It also won't be an amateur/educational licensing bonanza due to racially-specific roles: many communities and schools simply don't have that level of diversity in their programs. But every high school in NYC with a theatre program will do it every few years.

Updated On: 3/15/26 at 01:21 PM

[Joyce 9]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 1:22pm

This wretched musical is responsible for Suffs losing Best Musical.  It took votes away from Suffs when most people thought Suffs was more worthy than Outsiders. What more, Camille Brown’s ugly choreo got a nomination over Mayte Natalio’s elegant marching arm movements and clean lines in Suffs.  If it wasn’t for Maleah Joi Moon, Kecia Lewis, and Shoshana Bean’s absolutely wonderful performances, they’d have nothing. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 1:29pm

Including the run at The Public, I saw the show 30+ times (and easily could have doubled that if my credit cards could have handled it).  HK is right up there with JERSEY BOYS, MAMMA MIA, BEAUTIFUL and MJ as one of the great bio/jukebox musicals. How it lost the Tony to THE OUTSIDERS is just beyond ridiculous. Oh well, at least we’ll always have the OBCR.

Let the hurling of insults begin…

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 1:32pm

Another show with an incredibly boring book with great songs and performances. I don't care about the story involving either Man in this show. Grinded to a halt anytime Davis came into the story and for the show to end with "Yeah, he's still a loser who doesn't show up for his kid..." feels so... really?

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 1:38pm

Kad said: "quizking101 said: "
I’m not surprised that it closed at a huge loss to be honest. We often spent many months scratching our heads at how they were still running even when they were underperforming at least six figures a week. Even more were the attempts at Star casting that likely cost a fortune, but probably only boosted the box office just enough to cover the additional expense."

HK has an interesting gross history- it does very well in its first year, then comes down a lot after its first holiday season, then goes into an erratic pattern. It never seemed to be able to sustain one stable average gross for very long. I think behind-the-scenes expenses turned it into a total money pit that made recoupment all but impossible."

A big part of those BTS expenses was PT and medical leave for the cast, as well as hiring vacation swings. By the end of the run, most shows had at LEAST 4 understudies or swings every show. I think I remember seeing 5 listed for the last show when I walked by the theatre that day. 

[Joyce 9]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 1:39pm

I don’t think HK has nearly the beauty or emotionality that Beautiful has.  Tears rolling down my eyes during Natural Woman and Beautiful.  Hell’s Kitchen has “No One” to finish it off, sweet mother daughter duet, but it’s no Beautiful.  I will say, you do feel like you’ve been on a journey watching these two shows.  They add up to more than the sum of its parts. 

Updated On: 3/15/26 at 01:39 PM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 1:43pm

quizking101 said: "Kad said: "quizking101 said: "
I’m not surprised that it closed at a huge loss to be honest. We often spent many months scratching our heads at how they were still running even when they were underperforming at least six figures a week. Even more were the attempts at Star casting that likely cost a fortune, but probably only boosted the box office just enough to cover the additional expense."

HK has an interesting gross history- it does very well in its first year, then comes down a lot after its first holiday season, then goes into an erratic pattern. It never seemed to be able to sustain one stable average gross for very long. I think behind-the-scenes expenses turned it into a total money pit that made recoupment all but impossible."

A big part of those BTS expenses was PT and medical leave for the cast, as well as hiring vacation swings. By the end of the run, most shows had at LEAST4 understudies or swings every show. I think I remember seeing 5 listed for the last show when I walked by the theatre that day."

 

I was there. There was one person out —and she had been out with a re-occurring injury for the last year (but she was in the audience and on stage for the curtain speeches). 

Updated On: 3/15/26 at 01:43 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 2:04pm

JSquared2 said: "quizking101 said: "Kad said: "quizking101 said: "
I’m not surprised that it closed at a huge loss to be honest. We often spent many months scratching our heads at how they were still running even when they were underperforming at least six figures a week. Even more were the attempts at Star casting that likely cost a fortune, but probably only boosted the box office just enough to cover the additional expense."

HK has an interesting gross history- it does very well in its first year, then comes down a lot after its first holiday season, then goes into an erratic pattern. It never seemed to be able to sustain one stable average gross for very long. I think behind-the-scenes expenses turned it into a total money pit that made recoupment all but impossible."

A big part of those BTS expenses was PT and medical leave for the cast, as well as hiring vacation swings. By the end of the run, most shows had at LEAST4 understudies or swings every show. I think I remember seeing 5 listed for the last show when I walked by the theatre that day."



I was there. There was one person out —and she had been out with a re-occurring injury for the last year (but she was in the audience and on stage for the curtain speeches)."

Hmmm. I’ll take your word. They probably didn’t update the board then.

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 2:27pm

Joyce 9 said: "This wretched musical is responsible for Suffs losing Best Musical. It took votes away from Suffs when most people thought Suffs was more worthy than Outsiders. What more, Camille Brown’s ugly choreo got a nomination over Mayte Natalio’s elegant marching arm movements and clean linesin Suffs. If it wasn’t for Maleah Joi Moon, Kecia Lewis, and Shoshana Bean’s absolutely wonderful performances, they’d have nothing."

You’re delusional to think Suffs’ choreography was in anyway comparable to Hells Kitchen. Hate the show, that’s fine. But let’s not just spew BS. Suffs gave us step touches at best. 

 

 

[Joyce 9]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 7:22pm

I totally disagree with that, I think The March was phenomenal and Keep Marching was elegant and beautiful.  Fire and Tea was fierce.  It’s all very vanilla but it worked, not everything needs to be difficult.  We’ve seen ugly Steven Hoggett choreo with people stomping around nominated. 

[Observation]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 7:30pm

Caught the tour and left at intermission, which I never do. But I knew where the story was going and found the book scenes terrible from the first scene where I realized the dialogue was going to be telling us what is happening "So I took the elevator and ran down the street in the rain." I'm paraphrasing of course, but I just have a hard time connecting with that type of story telling. 

I was hoping the musical numbers would keep me hooked, but I just couldn't get into the show. The house was sold out and there were a lot of folks around me who seemed genuinely invested and having a good time, so I made the decision to leave between acts and just chalk it up to "this just isn't for me." 

Still sad to see a new musical lose so much of its profit, especially after an almost 2 year run.

The Broadway business model seems so broken and I'm not savvy enough to begin to give recommendations on how to fix it. 

[inception]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 7:47pm

Blaming HK for Suffs losing Best Musical is a stretch.  I saw Suffs on tour & it put me to sleep.  Outsiders takes a much loved property & cranks it to 11.  A well deserved win.

[Joyce 9]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 7:49pm

If you saw Suffs on Broadway, you would have been blown away. I’m sure the tour of Outsiders is just as boring if not more boring than Suffs tour. 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 8:28pm

The idea of HK causing split votes preventing Suffs from winning Best Musical sounds so crackpot conspiratorial. Like those voting audiences (I feel) could be barely touch in a Venn Diagram lol...

[Joyce 9]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 8:38pm

No not true at all, people just vote for what they like most.  There’s no “voting audiences”

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 8:54pm

Joyce 9 said: "No not true at all, people just vote for what they like most. There’s no “voting audiences”"

So you're not saying they split the vote then. Do you know what that term means? I don't think you do...