Keys’ Autobiographical Broadway Show Ties for Most Nods
Alicia Keys and her family had a champagne-popping celebration at home after learning that her semi-autobiographical Broadway musical “Hell’s Kitchen” tied for the most Tony Award nominations with a whopping 13 nods.
The Grammy-winning singer was over the moon with joy upon hearing the news on Tuesday. In an Instagram video captured by her husband Swizz Beatz, Keys can barely contain her excitement.
“Oh my gosh guys. We just found out that Hell’s Kitchen was nominated for 13 Tonys! Oh my God!!!!” she exclaims to the camera.
Sweeping Across Major Categories
“Hell’s Kitchen” didn’t just earn nominations in technical categories – it’s a contender for some of the biggest awards. The musical scored nods for Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical for Michael Greif, and Best Book of a Musical for Kristoffer Diaz.
Lead actress Maleah Joi Moon (who plays the teenage lead Ali) is up for Best Performance by a Leading Actress, while co-stars Brandon Victor Dixon and Shoshana Bean both received nominations in the featured acting categories.
Other nominations spanned choreography, orchestrations, lighting, scenic design, costumes and more.
A Personal Journey Brought to the Stage
The buzz around “Hell’s Kitchen” has been building since its world premiere last fall at The Public Theater. The musical chronicles a 17-year-old girl’s coming-of-age in 1990s Manhattan, drawing from Keys’ own experiences navigating first love, independence and relationships.
“The characters are definitely inspired by the city, inspired by my experiences of individuals and people,” Keys told VIBE about crafting the show’s story and portrayal of complex human experiences.
With its 13 nominations tying David Adjmi’s play “Stereophonic,” “Hell’s Kitchen” is now a frontrunner for the Tony’s biggest prize when the awards are handed out on June 16 in a star-studded ceremony.
