What makes Hell’s Kitchen the must-see Broadway show of the summer?

There’s a reason musicals built around songs you already love hit so hard—you know the songs, you sing along without meaning to, and suddenly, you’re back to a very specific time and place. Hell’s Kitchen, the Broadway show built around Alicia Keys’ biggest hits (plus a few new ones), does all that while doubling as a heartfelt love letter to New York City.

It’s 1990-something, and we’re inside Manhattan Plaza, the iconic artist housing complex in NYC’s Hell’s Kitchen. Seventeen-year-old Ali (Amanda Reid) is butting heads with her mom, Jersey (Jessica Vosk), who sets the tone with one line: “Because I’m your mother, that’s why.” From there, the show launches into a high-energy ride through the city as Ali, her friends and family chase identity, purpose and community—set to a soundtrack where “big lights will inspire you,” and yes, the choreography slaps.

Sure, Alicia Keys’ name alone is worth the ticket. But here are five more reasons Hell’s Kitchen is the Broadway show to beat this summer.

The ’90s fashion

Dede Ayite's costume design in Hell's Kitchen is a masterclass in ’90s New York streetwear. Drawing inspiration from icons like Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott, Ayite collaborated with FUBU to recreate vintage pieces, including the standout jersey worn by Maleah Joi Moon. The ensemble features oversized denim, graffiti-tagged Yankees gear and bold gold jewelry, capturing the era's vibrant energy. Ayite's work doesn't just dress the characters—it immerses the audience in the cultural heartbeat of the ’90s, making the fashion as integral to the storytelling as Alicia Keys's music.

The vocals. The ensemble. The music!

The music and lyrics come from Alicia Keys—undeniably one of the greats—which means the bar for vocals is sky-high. Fortunately, this cast doesn’t just reach it, they launch past it. Reid’s Ali lifts the roof with Kaleidoscope, Jessica Vosk brings sharp clarity with Pawn It All, and Durrell “Tank” Babbs gives Fallin’ a smooth, sly twist that hits in all the right places. But it’s Kecia Lewis, as Miss Liza Jane, who delivers a showstopper. A Tony winner for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, she brings stunning depth to Perfect Way to Die. This is an ensemble performance at its peak—unified, electric and unforgettable.

Know before you go. The original Broadway cast recording is streaming now, so here's your chance to catch up before you see the show.

Mothers and daughters

From the first scene, the tension between Ali and Jersey crackles—and let’s be honest, most of us know that dynamic all too well. Their relationship drives the show, and Milan and Vosk make every emotional turn feel earned. You feel for both of them, even as the audience audibly takes sides. But this isn’t a one-note “Mom doesn’t get it” story. Just like Ali, we’re given a glimpse into Jersey’s past—her early ambitions, her artistic dreams and the tight-knit circle that held her up. In the end, the show isn’t just about Ali finding herself. It’s about her finding her mother, too.

Choreography as bold as the city

The choreography in Hell’s Kitchen doesn’t just complement the music—it practically sings. Camille A. Brown’s movement direction turns city blocks into dance floors, fire escapes into stages and teenage angst into full-body storytelling. Whether it’s a heated kitchen-table showdown or a blissed-out subway daydream, the choreography pulses with the same energy as the streets outside the theater. It’s sharp, expressive and just chaotic enough to feel like real life. You’re not watching dancers perform Alicia Keys’ songs—you’re watching them live them. And in this city, that’s exactly how it should feel.

Hell’s Kitchen (the neighborhood)

New York City isn’t just a setting in this show—it’s a full-blown character. Hell’s Kitchen, in particular, captures the city’s ever-changing spirit: diasporic communities, working artists, small business owners and dreamers with big-city ambition. And no matter who’s in office, which generation is claiming the neighborhood or what’s trending as “peak NYC,” it will always be the “concrete jungle where dreams are made of” and its residents will always live their lives believing “there’s nothin’ you can’t do.” It’s a place where dollar-slice democracy thrives, subway philosophers hold court and sunsets over the Hudson still hit like a movie ending. Hell’s Kitchen—the neighborhood and the show—is New York City.

It’s no wonder Hell’s Kitchen has become one of Broadway’s hottest tickets. The show is part block party and part emotional reckoning—the kind of night where you laugh, tear up and maybe sing along without meaning to. Whether you're going with friends, family or someone you just swiped right on, it hits all the right notes. Because Hell’s Kitchen isn’t just about New York. It is New York.

Hell’s Kitchen is playing at the Shubert Theater, 225 West 44th Street. Get your tickets at HellsKitchen.com