Jessica Vosk is returning to Hell's Kitchen on Broadway following a leave of absence. The former Wicked actor plays Jersey, mother of the rebellious teenager Ali in the Alicia Keys musical. 

Vosk had been out since June 18 in order to recover from back surgery. Last summer, Vosk suffered a back injury during a show that led to one of the disks in her vertebrae breaking. Vosk had surgery last August to remove the broken disk, but she'd been suffering back pain since February—which has led her to call out of shows. Vosk took time off in June in order to have a revision surgery to fix the herniated disk in her back. Vosk has been documenting her recovery on Instagram.

In a message posted to Instagram, Vosk wrote, "My surgery was a big success. We learned that my first surgery was not done properly, and left a lot of scar tissue, making this healing process a bit more painful than it normally would be. Because my sciatic nerve was 100 percent compressed, I will still feel soreness and pain likely for the next 12 months as it comes back to life... So bear with me as I figure things out, this is new territory for me!"

Recently, a number of Broadway actors have taken breaks from their shows in order to recover physically from injuries (showing just how strenuous an eight-shows-a-week schedule can be). Megan Hilty recently took a leave of absence from Death Becomes Her due to a vocal injury, and Jean Smart is taking some days off from Call Me Izzy due to a knee injury. Hilty returns July 9 while Smart is scheduled to return July 12.

Hell's Kitchen features music and lyrics by Keys and a book by Kristoffer Diaz. Inspired by the 15-time Grammy winner's life, the story centers on 17-year-old Ali and her mother, sharing a cramped apartment near Times Square. Ali wants to live out her NYC dream, but Mom is scared her daughter will repeat her own mistakes. Ali is further confused when her estranged father—Davis, who is a musician—comes back into her life.

The show opened at the Shubert Theatre April 20, 2024, after beginning previews March 28—read the reviews here. Michael Greif directs the work, which features choreography by Camille A. Brown.

The current cast also stars newcomer Amanda Reid as Ali, Christopher Jackson as Davis, Phillip Johnson Richardson (The Wiz) as Knuck and Tony-winning Broadway veteran Kecia Lewis (Ain't Misbehavin') as Miss Liza Jane, along with Angela Birchett, Chad Carstarphen, Reid Clarke, Chloe Davis, Nico DeJesus, Timothy L. Edwards, Desmond Sean Ellington, Badia Farha, Vanessa Ferguson, Gianna Harris, Jakeim Hart, Takia Hopson, Gabriel Hyman, Lindsey Jolyn Jackson, Eliazar Jimenez, Kelsee Kimmel, Jackie Leon, Raechelle Manalo, Jade Milan, Onyxx Noel, Susan Oliveras, Sarah Parker, Eric Parra, Aaron Nicholas Patterson, Amanda Reid, William Roberson, Niki Saludez, Nyseli Vega, Lamont Walker II, and Oscar Whitney Jr. Casting is by Heidi Griffiths and Kate Murray.

The music team includes music director Lily Ling and orchestrators Adam Blackstone and Tom Kitt with arrangements by Keys and Blackstone. The creative team also includes scenic designer Robert Brill, costume designer Dede Ayite, lighting designer Natasha Katz, sound designer Gareth Owen, projection designer Peter Nigrini, hair and wig designer Mia Neal, and makeup designer Michael Clifton. Foresight Theatrical is general manager, and Danny Maly serves as production stage manager.

The Broadway production was nominated for 13 2024 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It won Tonys for Maleah Joi Moon and Lewis' performances, and also took home the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

Visit HellsKitchen.com.

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Photos: Jessica Vosk Backstage at Hell's Kitchen

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