HELL'S KITCHEN Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/27/24 at 12:00am

This girl is on fire!

Fresh off an acclaimed Off-Broadway run at the Public Theater, Hell’s Kitchen makes the move uptown to Broadway. The new musical loosely based on Alicia Keys’s life — and featuring some of her biggest hits, including a few original songs — begins previews tomorrow (March 28) at the Shubert Theatre, before an April 20 opening. Newcomer Maleah Joi Moon leads the company as Ali, with Shoshana Bean and Brandon Victor Dixon as her parents. Kecia Lewis and Chris Lee round out the principal cast. Hell’s Kitchen features a book by Kristoffer Diaz, choreography by Camille A. Brown, and direction by Michael Greif. 

“In the mid- ‘90s, in an apartment high above the energy and grit of Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, 17-year-old Ali squints toward the horizon until she can just see the Hudson River. Despite the warnings of her protective mother, the symphony of the street calls to her — promising freedom, excitement, and the possibility of love. Finding herself. When a wise piano teacher helps her find her voice, Ali learns she can make the city her own.”

Who’s going?

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 3/27/24 at 1:01am

Just got an email for $39 lottery tickets through Telecharge, I couldn't find anything about a rush policy online

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/27/24 at 12:18pm

chrishuyen said: "Just got an email for $39 lottery tickets through Telecharge, I couldn't find anything about a rush policy online"

In-person rush will also be $39. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 3/28/24 at 9:40am

Looks like Alicia Keys was present at the invited dress rehearsal last night! I didn't see the production off-Broadway so am excited to see this on Broadway this season!

[JSquared2]

Posted: 3/28/24 at 11:33am

If anyone has done the in-person rush, are the seats in the balcony?

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/28/24 at 11:26pm

2:30 runtime listed on the show’s official website, including intermission. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/28/24 at 11:34pm

This ran about 2:45 tonight. There's a good 15 minutes that truly can and should be shaved off, which I hope they do during the next few weeks. 

Look, is this a great show? No. But do I have a great time watching it? Absolutely. Maleah Joi Moon is a star, plain and simple. And she's never really offstage for the entire show so I truly hope she takes care of herself and her voice for this run since this is a huge undertaking for her. Shoshana Bean has never sounded better and I don't understand how that's possible. Her vocal chords make this atheist believe some higher being has to exist to have given that gift to her. I had the same feeling downtown that this show just makes me happy and I loved seeing it. Set design has been amped up and it looks fabulous and I noticed absolutely no problems with the sound so they're in great shape for the start of this run. I hope it's a hit for them, they all deserve it. 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 12:00am

How’s the choreography? Has much changed? Less? More?

[DrMonicaDeMoneco]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 11:31am

Jordan Catalano said: "This ran about 2:45 tonight. There's a good 15 minutes that truly can and should be shaved off, which I hope they do during the next few weeks.

Look, is this a great show? No. But do I have a great time watching it? Absolutely. Maleah Joi Moon is a star, plain and simple. And she's never really offstage for the entire showso I truly hope she takes care of herself and her voice for this run since this is a huge undertaking for her. Shoshana Bean has never sounded better and I don't understand how that's possible. Her vocal chords make this atheist believe some higher being has to exist to have given that gift to her. I had the same feeling downtown that this show just makes me happy and I loved seeing it. Set design has been amped up and it looks fabulous and I noticed absolutely no problems with the sound so they're in great shape for the start of this run. I hope it's a hit for them, they all deserve it."

Everything you said was positive, but say it’s not a great show.

What makes it not great?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 11:37am

A lot of it is cheesy as all hell and the writing leaves a lot to be desired in quite a few areas but again, everything else is so good that when you’re watching it, none of that other stuff seems to matter in the moment.
 

I would seriously have no problem seeing this one once a week and always have a great time doing so. :)

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 11:47am

DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "Jordan Catalano said: "This ran about 2:45 tonight. There's a good 15 minutes that truly can and should be shaved off, which I hope they do during the next few weeks.

Look, is this a great show? No. But do I have a great time watching it? Absolutely. Maleah Joi Moon is a star, plain and simple. And she's never really offstage for the entire showso I truly hope she takes care of herself and her voice for this run since this is a huge undertaking for her. Shoshana Bean has never sounded better and I don't understand how that's possible. Her vocal chords make this atheist believe some higher being has to exist to have given that gift to her. I had the same feeling downtown that this show just makes me happy and I loved seeing it. Set design has been amped up and it looks fabulous and I noticed absolutely no problems with the sound so they're in great shape for the start of this run. I hope it's a hit for them, they all deserve it."

Everything you said was positive, but say it’s not a great show.

What makes it not great?"

Not Jordan. But, when I saw it, I thought it had a truly awful book, but did everything else right. 

[Miss10036]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 12:20pm

Any meaningful changes to the book and song list since the Public run, or are they more or less the same?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 12:24pm

Also curious to hear about changes made to the book since the run Off-Broadway.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 12:32pm

To me, this is a show you just have to surrender to, faults and all, if you're going to enjoy it, because it's greater than the sum of its parts, and the end product as a whole is incredibly effective, in my opinion. If someone is going to complain about how many times Shoshana Bean is cooking in the kitchen, then it's probably just not for them, and that's ok.

Updated On: 3/29/24 at 12:32 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 12:50pm

That’s exactly right, Taffy. 

[RW3]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 1:13pm

Jordan, did you see what kind of merch is available? There’s no ‘Shop’ page on the show’s website. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 1:16pm

T-Shirts, hoodies, hats, posters, keychains, magnets and a few other little things I think.  

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 1:17pm

RW3 said: "Jordan, did you see what kind of merch is available? There’s no ‘Shop’ page on the show’s website."

https://www.broadwaymerchandiseshop.com/collections/hells-kitchen 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 1:39pm

Feel like the tony race is likely Illinoise for the win with this coming in and being the hit of the season. It doesn’t have the “reflecting back on my life” trope. But that also means best score is still up for grabs

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 1:59pm

How bad would partial view from the extreme sides be for this?

[BETTY22]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 2:05pm

It is basically the same juke box musical it was downtown.

Some strong performances, but boy, the book is clunky. 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 2:23pm

Saw the ad where Keys was seated in the theatre with her white boots atop the seat in front of her. That’s how I plan to see the show, too.

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 3:48pm

I'll never understood why they chose Kaleidoscope to be the anthem for this show instead of something like ... Underdog, which they were using for the longest time as the "single" for the show when offbway

 

So I sing a song for the hustlers trading at the bus stop
Single mothers waiting on a check to come
Young teachers, student doctors
Sons on the frontline knowing they don't get to run
This goes out to the underdog
Keep on keeping at what you love
You'll find that someday soon enough
You will rise up, rise up, yeah

 

I always felt this literally spelled out the heart of the show to your audience ... instead of hearing KALEID KALEID KALEID-O-SCOPE every time I get an ad for the show...

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 5:16pm

I think because the other one is an already known Keys song and this one was written for the show?

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 5:18pm

RippedMan said: "I think because the other one is an already known Keys song and this one was written for the show?"

Well, yes. That's the literal reason. I still don't think it's an effective a marketing tool.