LOS ANGELES — When Marley Soliel sings “This Girl is on Fire” in the Alicia Keys musical “Hell’s Kitchen,” she may as well be singing about herself.

She first lit up the Pantages stage during the Jerry Herman Awards — a regional high school musical theater competition held in the historic Hollywood theater. The then-senior, who went by Marley Garner, wowed the judges with her rendition of Maria from “West Side Story” and was named Best Actress, earning her a trip to New York to compete in the Jimmy Awards — a national competition that has launched a number of successful careers. While there, the students got to attend the Tony Awards.

“It was just a phenomenal experience,” Soleil recalled. “And funnily enough, I saw ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ perform at the Tony Awards, and I sat there in my seat and I was like, I really have to be a part of this show.”

What You Need To Know

Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen” is a semi-autobiographical jukebox musical inspired by the artist’s own experiences coming of age in New York in the 1990s

Marley Soleil, a Canyon High School graduate, plays Jessica and covers the lead role of Ali for Saturday night performances

In 2024, Soleil was named Best Actress at the Jerry Herman Awards, a regional high school musical theater competition held at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, and went on to compete nationally at the Jimmy Awards

“Hell’s Kitchen” is running at the Pantages through June 21

And now, just two years later, here she is touring the country in the show which has brought her back to the stage where it all started.

Soleil normally plays Jessica, Ali’s best friend, but steps into the lead role on Saturday nights. She’s thrilled to be back in SoCal and back in the building where her love of musical theater was first sparked during a 10th-grade class trip to see “Hamilton.”

“’Hamilton’ completely changed my perception of what theater was and that I could do it myself,” she said.

Even though she had never even done a stage production, she left her high school in the middle of her sophomore year and transferred to Canyon High School in Santa Clarita specifically to get involved in the theatre program led by Art Miller.

On a recent Saturday, he brought a group of students to the Pantages to watch her shine.

“Just to see that this is an option,” he explained. “This can happen if you put in the hard work, the time and effort, and then put your passion for this artform into full play.”

(Photo courtesy of Marc J. Franklin)

After the show, he and the group waited at the stage door for Soleil to greet fans. She beamed when she spotted her former teacher.

“I literally wouldn’t be here without you,” she said as the two shared a tear-filled embrace.

“I’m so proud of her,” Miller said. “And to know that this is just the beginning of her journey…just so, so proud.”

Every artist has mentors like Miller who nurture their talent and fan the flames of their passion. That’s part of the story told in “Hell’s Kitchen,” a semi-autobiographical jukebox musical inspired by Alicia Keys’ own experiences coming of age in the 1990s. For Soleil, who is biracial, those experiences are not unfamiliar.

“Unfortunately, a lot of what occurred in the 90s in still occurring today,” she said, pointing to specific scenes involving racial tensions, like an interaction between a young Black man and police officers. “We see that within this young girl [who] is navigating having a white mom who doesn’t know how to raise a Black daughter, and you know, who is having trouble finding her identity.”

“We’re all just trying to figure out at the end of the day where we belong,” she continued, “and this musical has a wonderful sense of doing that.”

Looking up at the marquee, Soleil knows she’s exactly where she belonged. On stage, singing her heart out, beaming through bows with a smile that shines brighter than the stage lights.

“It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of,” she gushed. “I’m so thankful.”