For a few hours Wednesday night, the San Diego Civic Theatre traded its downtown skyline for the vibrant streets of 1990s Manhattan. Music pulsed, dancers soared and New York’s restless energy filled the stage as “Hell’s Kitchen” brought Alicia Keys’ hometown to life through music and movement.
Set in Hell’s Kitchen, the semiautobiographical musical draws from Keys’ experiences growing up in the Midtown neighborhood by following Ali, played by Maya Drake, a 17-year-old grappling with family tensions, first love and a growing desire for independence. The jukebox musical weaves songs from across Keys’ career into the fictional Ali’s story.
The musical ran on Broadway from April 2024 to February 2026, earning 13 Tony nominations and two wins. Its national tour is now bringing the story to cities across the country, with its San Diego run continuing through Sunday. Keys herself stepped onstage after the Tuesday-night performance to greet the opening-night crowd, a fitting moment for an artist who owns a home in the area and whose musical journey is so deeply woven into the production.
The primary setting of the show is Manhattan Plaza, a subsidized apartment complex populated by artists and musicians, where Ali finds a sense of community while navigating a strained relationship with her mother, Jersey, and a budding romance. She finds a mentor in Miss Liza Jane, played by Roz White, a building tenant and wise pianist who introduces her to the power of music as an outlet for self-expression.
Kennedy Caughell, who plays Jersey, was the musical’s standout vocalist. Her rendition of “Pawn It All” showcased the full breadth of her incredible vocal range, moving from rich vibrato to powerful high notes with remarkable ease. She later harmonized with Desmond Sean Ellington, who played Ali’s father, Davis, on an upbeat jazz rendition of “Fallin’,” giving the familiar song a playful new feel.
Maya Drake as Ali, left, and Kennedy Caughell as Ali’s mom Jersey, in the North American Tour of Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen,” playing through Sunday at the San Diego Civic Theatre. (Marc J .Franklin)
The dancers brought an infectious energy to every corner of the stage through versatile choreography. Under choreographer Camille A. Brown’s direction, the ensemble bounced between hard-hitting hip-hop, lyrical contemporary sequences and flashes of ballet, showcasing an impressive range of technique and individual personality. Even the prop piano became part of the choreography, with dancers climbing atop the instrument and turning it into a stage of its own.
That same fluidity carried into the musical’s implementation of Keys’ songs. Following a traditional jukebox format, the transitions between dialogue and song were seamless. Of the 22 songs, only three were written specifically for the musical, while the remaining 19 are Keys originals, a surprising fact given how naturally the songs fit into the story’s plot.
The music also carried a deeper current of social commentary. When Ali’s love interest, Knuck, is targeted by police, Liza Jane invites Ali into the Ellington Room, a performance space in Manhattan Plaza, where Ali finds solace through piano lessons. There, Liza Jane delivers a powerful rendition of “A Perfect Way to Die,” released by Keys on Juneteenth in 2020 amid protests against police brutality toward Black Americans. As White’s deep voice enveloped the theater, photographs of protests filled the screens behind her, creating the musical’s most poignant moment.
Maya Drake stars as Ali, left, and Roz White plays Miss Liza Jane in the national touring production of Alicia Keys’ Broadway musical “Hell’s Kitchen,” now playing at the San Diego Civic Theatre. (Marc J. Franklin)
The production does not shy away from the challenges minority communities face but rather places them squarely in the spotlight and confronts them through music. At the same time, the show leaves plenty of room for humor and lighter moments, balancing its heavier themes with joy and fun, such as in its finale, “Empire State of Mind,” where everyone comes together in celebration.
That is where “Hell’s Kitchen” is at its most powerful. Beneath the lights, movement and familiar songs is a story that finds joy in the everyday while making space for the struggles that shape its characters. The result is a production that can make an audience dance one moment and sit with something deeper the next, creating a vibrant celebration of music and community.
‘Hell’s Kitchen’
When: 7:30 p.m. tonight; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown
Tickets: $68 and up
Online: ticketmaster.com