Hell's Kitchen
Dates in Reno: July 1-5
Location: The Pioneer Center
100 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501
Music & Lyrics: Alicia Keys
Book: Kristoffer Diaz
Director: Michael Greif
Choreographer: Camille A. Brown
Genre/Type: Broadway musical & coming of age story inspired by the life & music of Alicia Keys.
Setting: Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City during the mid 1990s
Run Time: Approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes including one 15 minute intermission
Age Recommendation/Content: Recommended for ages 12 and up. Contains strong language, mature themes, references to sexuality, and brief depictions of cannabis use.
Awards & Accolades: Nominated for 13 Tony Awards. Winner of 2 Tony Awards, including Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical & Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.
Notable Songs: Fallin, If I Ain't Got You, No One, Girl on Fire, Empire State of Mind (Part II), Karma, Teenage Love Affair, plus new songs written specifically for the musical.
My favorite song & music video by Alicia Keys.
Are You Ready for Hell's Kitchen?
Take the Quiz
☐ Alicia Keys has been part of the soundtrack to my life.
☐ I love Broadway musicals that leave me feeling inspired.
☐ I enjoy coming of age stories with heart.
☐ Powerful mother daughter relationships always pull at my heartstrings.
☐ I love music that gives me goosebumps.
☐ I'm a sucker for standing ovations and crowd cheering performances.
☐ New York City has always fascinated me.
☐ I appreciate stories about finding your voice and chasing your dreams.
☐ I love Broadway productions.
☐ Soulful vocals and powerhouse performances are my kind of entertainment.
☐ I enjoy shows that make me laugh, smile, and tear up all in one night.
☐ I don't mind if a story is simple as long as it's told with heart.
☐ Live music rocks my world.
☐ I believe Broadway is at its best when music and storytelling become one.
If you checked at least three, congratulations! Hell's Kitchen is definitely your next must see Broadway show.
Every now and again, you come across someone who radiates pure joy and positivity. Every now and again, that person is also unbelievably talented. And every now and again, that person is a public figure who uses their light, voice, and gifts to uplift others and create real impact in the world. Alicia Keys is all of that and more. I feel incredibly lucky to exist in the same time as her and to witness her phenomenal Tony winning Broadway musical Hell's Kitchen, which is truly an honor and a dream come true to experience live.
Ever since making her first mainstream debut about 25 years ago with her hit "Fallin," Alicia Keys has been creating undeniable ripples in the world with her talent, beauty, voice, soul, and her advocacy to embrace oneself and be an ambassador for people of color, celebrating the Black community and elevating them alongside herself for as long as I can remember. Trust me, I know because I've been following her on TV since way back in the day during the MTV and BET days, both launched in the 1980s.
What I love most about Alicia is her relentless drive to pursue projects and take ideas she loves and believes in and make them into a reality. As the star saud herself, there's no "ceiling" to what can be achieved.
Alicia's mother frequently took her to Broadway shows in New York City, and through these moments Alicia was inspired to create Hell's Kitchen, a story loosely based on her life as a teen growing up in New York City with her mother. Note: Hell's Kitchen is the name of a real neighborhood on the West Side of Manhattan, known for its deep history and connection to theater and the arts. For Alicia, seeing this Broadway production come to life is a full circle moment, and is in many ways, a dream come true for both her and her mother.
Based on what some critics are saying, the play’s storyline seems to lack depth. I see it as a raw and simple story about life, its complications, and the never ending process of figuring it out with the ones we love and who matter to us most - timeless themes that carry on today and have a big impact on society. And can I just pause for a moment to let you know that there were just so many swoon worthy moments included in this mix?!?
Hell's Kitchen follows a seventeen year old Alicia as she struggles to navigate a love interest while her mother watches over her and carries her own emotional baggage. As much as parents love their children, they may not always make decisions that are best for them as individuals, which feels both understandable and relatable. Parenting does not come with an instruction manual, nor does life for that matter. That is the beauty of this play. It highlights the important truth that life is complicated. We fall, we learn, we pause and listen to one another, we get back up, and we persevere.
Where the story really comes to life is in the cast and setting, which make the audience feel as if we're in NYC, the tall buildings, the soulful neighbors, the struggle with stereotypes, and the undeniable passion to create and express oneself coursing through everyone's blood.
The play features an all star team that I think could play leads in their own shows. They were charismatic, lovable, and undeniably talented. There were so many outstanding numbers throughout the show that blew the crowd away, including myself - it was evident in the frequent cheering and silent moments. And the way the songs were integrated to support, magnify feelings, and move the story along was nothing short of brilliant. The energy in the theater never faded with the cast bringing so much authenticity to their roles that you feel completely pulled into their world.
Knowing about Alicia Keys and her songs isn't a requirement. Like every Broadway show, each story is sculpted in a way that even when you're unfamiliar with the music and story, you will still be able to enjoy the play.
Hell's Kitchen, at minimum, is a concert worthy production deserving of sold out showings. But beyond that lies 13 years of blood, sweat, tears, and dedication from Alicia Keys and her phenomenal cast & crew, who bring to life a fictionalized coming of age story inspired by Alicia’s upbringing in New York City, centered on a young girl and her mother navigating struggle, identity, and adversity in the heart of NYC.
Fun Facts
*A lot of Broadway musicals are performed with a live orchestra or a “pit band.”*Alicia signed her first record deal with Columbia at only 15/16 years old.
*Alicia’s MTV Unplugged album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in 2005.
*Maya Drake, who played Ali in the play, literally just graduated from high school.
*Kennedy Caughell, who played Ali’s mom, was the standby for Elphaba in Wicked and Elsa in Frozen. She’s such a vocal powerhouse.
The Camaraderie between the Broadway cast & team is evident in the way they support and cheer one another on. It brings an added layer of authenticity and energy to every performance.
NOTES
*Military Night: Veterans & active duty military members may purchase specially priced $50 tickets in person at the Box Office by showing Military ID for a specific nights. Limit four tickets per person. *Free parking is available at the lot across the street from the Pioneer Center. You cannot miss it. Park tail in first next to an exit for convenience. Or, you can hang around The Pioneer Center 10-15 minuets after the show while the parking lot clears out. Street parking is also a great idea if you get there early enough to snag a spot. More parking options.
*The show includes a 15 minute intermission. Take advantage of both levels of restrooms/concessions.
*Student rush tickets are available to students at discounted pricing (usually $25). Limit 2 per student with a valid ID. Available based on availability in person at the box office 2 hours before the start of the show.
*Single seat tickets are $40/ticket. Available online (w/ processing fee) or at the box office.
*Box office opens 2 hours before every show. Purchasing tickets at the box office to avoid online processing fees.
*Box Office hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
*Booster seats available
*Lines move swiftly at intermission
*Bring in your reusable Broadway cup to any show and receive $1 off your drink
*Enjoy a specialty cocktail & mocktail at every show
*Coffee available at every show for anyone needing a little pick me up
*The show includes a 15 minute intermission. Take advantage of both levels of restrooms/concessions.
*Student rush tickets are available to students at discounted pricing (usually $25). Limit 2 per student with a valid ID. Available based on availability in person at the box office 2 hours before the start of the show.
*Single seat tickets are $40/ticket. Available online (w/ processing fee) or at the box office.
*Box office opens 2 hours before every show. Purchasing tickets at the box office to avoid online processing fees.
*Box Office hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
*Booster seats available
*Lines move swiftly at intermission
*Bring in your reusable Broadway cup to any show and receive $1 off your drink
*Enjoy a specialty cocktail & mocktail at every show
*Coffee available at every show for anyone needing a little pick me up
Advertising Opportunities
Subscriptions
Want to secure your seats ahead of time for the Broadway season? Consider the Pioneer Center subscription bundle. It locks in your preferred seats for all shows in the season, offers discounted pricing compared to buying individual tickets, and gives you early access to additional performances and special events. This subscription option is available every Broadway season, making it a great way to guarantee your spot and enjoy a full lineup of incredible performances.
At the Pioneer Center, Broadway season usually runs from September through May, covering most of the fall, winter, and spring months. This timeframe typically includes 6-8 major Broadway touring productions, plus special concerts or events, giving audiences a full season of shows to enjoy.
PACKAGE PRICING
Price includes one seat for 4 Broadway Comes to Reno season productions:
Price Level 1 - $805
Price Level 2 - $610
Price Level 3 - $450
2025-2026 Broadway Productions at The Pioneer Center
& Juliet
October 21 to October 26, 2025
Stereophonic
December 2 to December 7, 2025
The Notebook
March 24 to March 29, 2026
Shucked
May 26 to May 31, 2026
June 30 to July 5, 2026
July 14 to July 19, 2026
Water for Elephants
October 20 to October 25, 2026
Elf The Musical
November 17 to November 22, 2026
The Outsiders
January 12 to January 17, 2027
Jersey Boys
February 9 to February 14, 2027
The Bodyguard
March 9 to March 14, 2027
SIX (Season Add On)
April 6 to April 10, 2027
Maybe Happy Ending
May 25 to May 30, 2027
Hamilton
July 20 to July 25, 2027
Mid‑August Dance Festival (three nights of free dance performances on the plaza).
*Free Family Concert. Explore the great state that we call home – through music! Early fall, held in September.
Free Family Concert. A free, fun-filled family concert with the Reno Phil! Spring (around May)
Golden Encore
Senior Series. Free performances tailored to older audiences. Usually in May.
Annual international magic show. Typically in November.
Free Family Series is part of Pioneer Center Youth Programs (PCYP). Brings top tier family‑friendly performances to the mainstage downtown.
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| Connecting Broadway with Northern Nevada's Theater Community! The Pioneer Center’s Broadway Comes to Reno series brings national touring productions to the community each year, while its Behind the Curtain program gives local students exclusive backstage access, workshops, and interactions with Broadway professionals. |
A special big thanks to The Pioneer Center for allowing me to be part of this art movement and allowing me to witness true human potential firsthand. <3
As part of the Pioneer Center Broadway Series, this production joins the citywide celebration of the arts that transforms Reno in Artown every July. It is dedicated to creativity culture and the incredible human spirit on stage. Check out the 2026 Artown Little Book for the incredible lineup of events (free & ticketed) in Reno.
***Information subject to change. All opinions are my own.***
Photography
© Katherine Fung,
All rights reserved.
Categorized under "Arts & Culture"
