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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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…

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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