Alicia Keys' new musical opened its world premiere Off-Broadway at The Public Theater November 19, and the reviews are in. Previews began October 24, and the run will continue through January 14, 2024.
Inspired by Keys' own life, the new show features music and lyrics by the 15-time Grammy winner and a book by Kristoffer Diaz. 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.
Leading the cast are Maleah Joi Moon as Ali, opposite Shoshana Bean as Ali's mother Jersey, Brandon Victor Dixon as Ali's father Davis, Chad Carstarphen as Ray, Vanessa Ferguson as Tiny, Crystal Monee Hall as Crystal, Jakeim Hart as Q, Chris Lee as Knuck, Jackie Leon as Jessica, Kecia Lewis as Ali's piano teacher Miss Liza Jane, Mariand Torres as Millie, and Lamont Walker II as Riq.
Read the reviews below.
CitiTour NYC (Brian Scott Lipton)
The Guardian (Lauren Mechling)
New York Magazine/Vulture (Sara Holdren)*
New York Post (Johnny Oleksinski)
New York Stage Review (Frank Scheck, Melissa Rose Bernardo)
New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell)
New York Theatre Guide (Gillian Russo)
The New York Times (Jesse Green)*
TheaterMania (Zachary Stewart)
The Washington Post (Peter Marks)*
*This review may require creating a free account or paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
The ensemble includes Reid Clarke, Chloe Davis, Nico DeJesus, Timothy L. Edwards, David Guzman, Raechelle Manalo, Sarah Parker, and Niki Saludez, with understudies Desmond Sean Ellington, Badia Farha, Gianna Harris, Jade Milan, Onyxx Noel, Susan Oliveras, Aaron Nicholas Patterson, William Roberson, Donna Vivino, and Oscar Whitney Jr. rounding out the company. Casting is by Heidi Griffiths and Kate Murray.
The musical features orchestrations by Adam Blackstone and Tom Kitt, with arrangements by Keys and Blacksone. Kitt is also music consultant, with music coordination by Kristy Norter and music direction by Dominic Fallacaro.
Greif's creative team also includes scenic designer Robert Brill, costume designer Dede Ayite, lighting designer Natasha Katz, sound designer Gareth Owen, projection designer Peter Nigrini, and hair and wig designer Mia Neal. Danny Maly is production stage manager with Anthony Rigaglia, Tiffany N. Robinson, and Luisa Sánchez Colón as stage managers.
Visit PublicTheater.org.
Kecia Lewis
Maleah Joi Moon and Kecia Lewis
Shoshana Bean and Brandon Victor Dixon
Maleah Joi Moon
Chris Lee and Maleah Joi Moon
Shoshana Bean and Maleah Joi Moon
Maleah Joi Moon and company of Hell's Kitchen
