After nearly two years, Hell’s Kitchen is ending its acclaimed run on Broadway. The Tony- and Grammy Award-winning production’s last performance at New York’s Shubert Theatre will be Feb. 22, marking nearly 800 performances.
Original cast member and Tony-nominated actor Brandon Victor Dixon will also reprise his role as Davis beginning Jan. 27 through the musical’s final curtain call. Although the Broadway engagement is concluding, Hell’s Kitchen’s multi-year national tour — which launched Oct. 10, 2025 — is ongoing with international productions slated for South Korea, Germany and Australia.
Created and inspired by 17-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys, Hell’s Kitchen garnered more than $100 million in ticket sales during its Broadway run. It also raised more than $1.5 million for charity in association with TodayTix Group.
“We set out on a mission with Hell’s Kitchen to tell diverse stories on Broadway,” Keys tells Billboard. “And to actively ensure this feeling that you belong here. That this Broadway space is a place for everybody. We really had the intention of actively pursuing and creating the opportunity for diverse audiences to experience this show; expanding the kinds of roles available for Black and Brown actors and artists on Broadway. That’s been one of my favorite parts: reshaping the cultural landscape by bringing more people to the table and making Broadway more accessible.”
Produced by AKW Productions, Hell’s Kitchen made its world premiere on Oct. 24, 2023 at The Public Theater and ran through Jan. 14, 2024 before graduating to Broadway on April 20, 2024. In addition to featuring music and lyrics by Keys, the play boasts direction by five-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif. Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony nominee Kristoffer Diaz wrote the book with music supervision by Emmy and Grammy winner Adam Blackstone and choreography by five-time Tony nominee Camille A. Brown.
The musical’s original cast starred Maleah Joi Moon as Ali, the rebellious teen girl on fire whose coming-of-age experiences and relationship with her mother are the play’s central focus, Shoshana Bean, Kecia Lewis and the aforementioned Dixon. Both Lewis and Moon won two of the play’s 13 Tony nominations in 2024 for best actress in a featured role in a musical and best actress in a leading role in a musical, respectively. Additional accolades include a 2025 Grammy for best musical theater album.
The current cast features Amanda Reid, Kelsee Kimmel, four-time Grammy winner Yolanda Adams, three-time Grammy Award winner Ne-Yo and Lamont Walker II (also in the original cast). In addition to Adams and Ne-Yo, Grammy-nominated singer Tank and Hamilton’s Christopher Jackson have appeared in limited engagements. Hell’s Kitchen: Behind the Dream, a book chronicling the musical’s 13-year journey to Broadway complemented by behind-the-scenes commentary plus interviews with the creative team and original cast, was released by Keys this past October.
Alicia Keys on stage at “Hell’s Kitchen” Broadway opening night at Shubert Theatre on April 20, 2024 in New York City.
Jason Mendez/Getty Images
As Hell’s Kitchen’s Broadway run winds down, Keys reflects on fulfilling one of her lifelong dreams — and why she promises, “This is only the beginning.”
What other takeaways are you leaving with thanks to this experience?
There’s no way for me to just have one takeaway. It’s crazy. I’ve learned so much and grown so much. But the net takeaway is that there are truly no limits; no boxes except the ones we put ourselves in. I’ve reached a new level of pushing myself, learning there’s so much newness at every opportunity. Then there’s the collaboration and partnership of making a show like this, putting experts in their fields together to create something that belongs to everyone.
And talent, that’s another thing. We found some of the most talented people including young people just fresh out of high school or college. It’s really inspiring to see how much organic, raw talent there is and that this show has continued to bring people’s dreams to life. We also founded Kaleidoscope Dreams, a nonprofit organization inspired by the show, to increase access to the arts throughout our communities and schools.
Why was the musical able to have such a strong and successful impact?
While the story is so specific to these characters in New York City in the ’90s, that specificity makes it totally universal. Everyone sees a piece of themselves in this story. It’s about family, grit and resilience; about making mistakes and building up stronger. It’s also about hope, love, transformation and finding your community — things that we’re all looking for. That’s what makes it so relatable and has also made it so successful. Things will never quite look the same after this show because it’s shifted the perspective. That’s how change happens.
Can you speak on why the show is concluding its Broadway run?
The story is out in the world; audiences are deeply connecting to it. I have to say thank you to Broadway, all the fans and supporters of this show for giving me the opportunity to tell this story. And for it being the most mega launching pad as this is only the beginning. Because of it, we have these incredible verticals as our next phase. We have the U.S. tour, a Korean company, an Australian company and we’re developing a German company. This is literally bringing New York across the country and across the world. It’s always been a lifelong dream of mine to create a Broadway musical born from the dream of my mother. I can’t believe how massive it all is. It’s growing and growing, doing exactly what is supposed to do down the road.
Do you envision a TV and/or film version of the musical?
Man, there are so many new opportunities and pathways. I can’t give you all of my secrets. But there’s a whole world ready to be built and experienced in all kinds of new mediums. I’m super excited.
Is another stage play in your future?
Yes, are you kidding me?! With everything that I know and have learned … just wait to see what comes next.
