Alicia Keys' Life Comes to the Korean Stage

Autobiographical Musical "Hell's Kitchen" Premieres in Korea

Alicia Keys Leads Project from Planning to Production Over 13 Years

"The fact that my songs are being sung in Korean truly feels like a tremendous gift to me."

American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys shared this sentiment in a written interview with The Asia Business Daily ahead of the Korean premiere of the musical "Hell's Kitchen," which will open at GS Art Center on July 24. "Hell's Kitchen" is a jukebox musical that tells an autobiographical story based on Keys' own songs. Keys led the project from planning to production over 13 years to bring it to completion. The Korean premiere marks the first licensed production in a non-English-speaking country.

Keys stated, "It is an incredibly beautiful and moving experience to see this story conveyed in various cultures and languages," adding, "Even when the songs are sung in another language, the meaning and emotions of the story remain fully intact."

Alicia Keys. S&Co (c) Warwick Saint

Hell's Kitchen refers to the west side of Manhattan, New York, adjacent to the Broadway theater district. Until former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's clean-up campaign in the 1990s, the area was notorious for drugs, prostitution, and violence. In fact, director Martin Scorsese chose Hell's Kitchen as a filming location for his 1976 movie "Taxi Driver" to depict the darker side of New York.

Keys was born in Hell's Kitchen in 1981. Raised by a single mother in this dangerous neighborhood, she grew up dreaming while looking out at the theaters across the street.

"I always walked past the Broadway theaters. Thanks to my mother, I was able to see countless performances. I was captivated by the energy on those stages and knew that someday, I wanted to be part of that world."

Although it was a dangerous place, New York left a special mark on Keys because it was where she was able to nurture her dreams. Keys recalled, "When I was growing up, New York was bold, intense, beautiful, and a city with a very distinct character," adding, "Through this work, I want to show that New York is not just a place name, but an emotion in itself."

"Hell's Kitchen" premiered Off-Broadway in 2023, and in April of the following year, it opened on Broadway, performed at the 1,500-seat Shubert Theatre. The Shubert Theatre is located just one block from where Keys grew up. At last year's Tony Awards, "Hell's Kitchen" garnered attention by receiving nominations in 13 categories and went on to win Best Actress and Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

Musical 'Hell's Kitchen' Broadway Performance. S&Co (c)Marc J Franklin

Musical 'Hell's Kitchen' Broadway Performance. S&Co (c)Marc J Franklin

"Hell's Kitchen" tells the story of a 17-year-old girl named Ali, who is full of passion for music and a longing for freedom. She meets her mentor, Liza Jane, and grows as she pursues her dreams. Keys said, "It deals with a very universal theme that many people can relate to: chasing your dreams, discovering family and community, and finding your own voice."

She added, "The story of love between a mother and daughter also plays a significant role. My mother has always been like my closest friend throughout my life, and she is the person who introduced me to the world of art, music, and performance." Keys continued, "Ali discovers music, falls in love, and, like many teenagers, sometimes rebels against her mother. But as the story unfolds, Ali comes to understand the power and meaning of her mother's love, experiencing much growth and maturity along the way."

Keys explained that the love story between mother and daughter is the true theme of this work. She said, "The bond between mother and daughter is one of the most important values, yet surprisingly, not many shows focus on this theme. I hope that audiences will remember that family and community are precious elements that shape who you are today."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.