You know you’re in for a good time when the opening number features a full-company dance break or when you spot an older gentleman in the audience completely feeling every beat. That’s exactly what happened last night at Playhouse Square during the National Tour Opening of Hell’s Kitchen, the Alicia Keys Musical.
This show had it all: emotion, empowerment, laughter, and powerhouse talent. The casting team absolutely knocked it out of the park; every performer felt perfectly placed.
Featuring songs from the Alicia Keys songbook, Hell’s Kitchen reimagines some of her biggest hits, including “Fallin’,” “No One,” “If I Ain’t Got You,” “Empire State of Mind,” and “Girl on Fire,” in new and electrifying ways. Each number is woven seamlessly into the story, creating moments that feel both nostalgic and brand new.
At the heart of the show is Ali, a 17-year-old navigating life in a New York City high-rise. Maya Drake, making her professional stage debut fresh out of high school, delivers a performance that’s nothing short of astonishing. Her voice and stage presence radiate confidence and soul far beyond her years. She guides the audience through Ali’s emotional journey with both vulnerability and strength, beautifully bringing Keys’ music to life alongside her mother, Jersey, played by Kennedy Caughell.
Caughell delivers one of the most breathtaking performances of the night. When she sang “Pawn It All,” I had goosebumps and then goosebumps on my goosebumps. Her rasp, her emotion, her power: simply stunning. Jersey’s journey as a single mother, protective to a fault, learning lessons in love and letting go, is portrayed with raw honesty and heart.
The choreography by Tony Award–winner Camille A. Brown deserves its own standing ovation. Every movement is intentional: fun, fierce, emotional, and it perfectly complements the music and storytelling throughout the show.
Overall, Hell’s Kitchen delivers everything you could want from a jukebox musical and then some. I know some musical theater purists roll their eyes at jukebox shows, but I don’t care. I love them, and this one blew me away.
Hell’s Kitchen runs at Playhouse Square through November 1, 2025.
Tickets available at PlayhouseSquare.org
