Alicia Keys is using her Broadway musical Hell's Kitchen as the springboard to a new initiative aimed at expanding access to the arts and support communities. She's launching Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation, a new non-profit named after one of the musical's new songs, and has appointed Asad Ali Jafri as the organization's inaugural executive director.
The program has created a fellowship program around Hell's Kitchen's soon-to-launch national tour, and there will also be new education and community initiatives in New York and across the country. The Foundation has built its work around four central pillars: free and curated access to Broadway shows, museums, and other cultural events; in-school arts education and classroom resources; fellowships, mentorship, internships, and creative training; and fostering belonging, joy, and connection through neighborhood programs.
The group was founded in 2024, with the July 23 official launch following some successful pilot programming. Those early programs include 10 fellows who trained in directing, choreography, music, design, and other production fields with the creative team of Hell's Kitchen; a cultural access program that saw 3,077 students receive free tickets to the Broadway musical; and an immersive arts education program that touched 183 students.
"With Kaleidoscope Dreams, we’re creating something that makes people feel seen, heard, and inspired to believe in their own stories," says Keys in a statement.
“Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation is rooted in the belief that creativity is a powerful force for connection, healing, and transformation," adds Jafri. "We’re proud to build programs that expand access to the arts and support communities that have long been left out of these opportunities. We’re creating spaces where dreams can take root and thrive."
Hell's Kitchen, inspired by the true life story of Keys and featuring a score made up of her most-loved songs, continues its run at the Shubert Theatre.
Visit KD-Foundation.org for more info on the initiative.
Phillip Johnson Richardson and Maleah Joi Moon in Hell's Kitchen
Maleah Joi Moon in Hell's Kitchen
Jessica Vosk in Hell's Kitchen
Lamont Walker II, Phillip Johnson Richardson, and Jakeim Hart in Hell's Kitchen
Kecia Lewis in Hell's Kitchen
Jessica Vosk and Maleah Joi Moon in Hell's Kitchen
