The Public Theater Will Celebrate Broadway-Bound Hell's Kitchen at 2024 Gala

The Public Theater will celebrate its Broadway-bound musical Hell's Kitchen at the Off-Broadway company's 2024 gala, set for May 8. A pre-show reception at Mermaid Oyster Bar will be followed by a special performance of the Alicia Keys musical at its soon-to-be Broadway home, the Shubert Theatre. An afterparty is set at Bacall's.

The evening will honor the musical's creative team, including choreographer Camille A. Brown, book writer Kristoffer Diaz, director Michael Greif, and songwriter Keys.

The show, which made its world premiere at Off-Broadway's Public last year, begins performances at the Shubert March 28 ahead of an April 20 opening night.

“These four wonderful artists—Camille A. Brown, Kristoffer Diaz, Michael Greif, and Alicia Keys—are not only brilliant, exemplary New Yorkers, they have also given more to The Public Theater than words can express,” says Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis in a statement. “I am so lucky to work with these people, so deeply in awe of their talent, and so proud that they call The Public home.”

The gala co-chairs are Yrthya Dinzey-Flores and Mychal Harrison, while the Gala Benefit Committee comprises Jonathan D. Cohen, Ariana DeBose, Colman Domingo, Peter Fine, Renée Elise Goldsberry, John Gore, Ethan Hawke, Christopher Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, John Leguizamo, Judith Light and Robert Desiderio, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Erica Schmidt and Peter Dinklage, Liev Schreiber, Phillipa Soo and Steven Pasquale, Corey Stoll, Marisa Tomei, and Susan Kelechi Watson.

"Galas are a time to celebrate extraordinary triumphs of the past year and share future milestones with old and new friends," adds Board Chair Luis A. Miranda, Jr. "Galas are also a time to reflect; an annual reminder that donating to the arts is an investment in your community with countless ripples. As nonprofit theatres continue to struggle across the nation, we at The Public are tremendously thankful for all our supporters—from small one-off gifts to larger, lifelong donors. Without you, none of the art we create and the community of artists we nurture, would be possible."

Inspired by the 15-time Grammy winner's life, Hell's Kitchen 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.

Reprising their performances from the Off-Broadway run and leading the cast on Broadway will be Shoshana Bean (Wicked) as Jersey, Brandon Victor Dixon (Hamilton) as Davis, Kecia Lewis (Ain't Misbehavin') as Miss Liza Jane, Chris Lee (Hamilton) as Knuck, and Maleah Joi Moon as Ali. Casting is by Heidi Griffiths and Kate Murray.

The complete creative team is back for the Broadway run as well, including Brown, Diaz, Greif, and Keys. The music team includes music director Lily Ling, 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 will serve as production stage manager.