“Hell’s Kitchen,” the Alicia Keys musical that has landed at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in a blaze of rousing sound, deploys the R&B star’s glorious treasure trove of work in the service of a semi-autobiographical version of her coming-of-age story in the Manhattan neighborhood that gives the show its title.
The Hell’s Kitchen of Alicia Keys’ story, set in the 1990s, isn’t the gang-ridden Hell’s Kitchen of West Side Story, set in the 1950s. Keys grew up in Manhattan Plaza, a federally subsidized residential complex that provides affordable housing for artists. But for a teenager in rebellion from her watchful mother, the vibrant, music-filled street life comes with its share of dangers.
Kennedy Caughell as Jersey and Maya Drake as Ali in the North American Tour of Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen” at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.
(Marc J. Franklin)
Ali (Maya Drake, who’s making her professional debut in this North American tour production) is a 17-year-old ready to break out of the cage her mother, Jersey (Kennedy Caughell), has placed her in. Jersey, a single mom, isn’t a tyrant. She just doesn’t want to see her daughter make the same mistakes that she did, namely get pregnant at a young age before she’s had a chance to realize her own dreams.
The book by playwright Kristoffer Diaz (“The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity”) is structured around a loving but combustible mother-daughter relationship amid the creative ferment of New York. This artistic neverland is crystallized in the apartment building that has music pouring out of every floor when Ali rides the elevator.
Maya Drake as Ali and the company of the North American Tour of Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen” at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.
(Marc J. Franklin)
The story isn’t the strong suit of “Hell’s Kitchen,” which is powered by Alicia Keys’ versatile catalog, which has been supplemented with original material. The hits — “You Don’t Know My Name,” “Girl on Fire,” “Fallin’,” “If I Ain’t Got You,” “Like You’ll Never See Me Again,” “No One” and “Empire State of Mind,” among them — reverberate inside the Pantages with a thrilling exuberance.
What’s most impressive, however, is the way these tracks have been arranged both musically and dramatically. Jukebox musicals are notorious for shoe-horning in beloved songs without regard for storytelling integrity. “Mamma Mia!,” which crammed in as many ABBA hits as possible, hardly even bothered to find pretext for their inclusion. The lucrative example paved the way for more than two decades of musical theater shamelessness.
The company of the North American Tour of Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen” at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.
(Marc J. Franklin)
“Hell’s Kitchen,” directed by Michael Greif, takes a more dignified approach, raiding Keys’ greatest hits in a way that doesn’t cause dramatic offense and better yet, adds a layer of surprise to music that is so well known.
The songs are allocated in unexpected ways. Numbers that you might think belong to Ali are divided among the company. Jersey is first in line, and Caughell makes the most of her opportunities. But sharing in the bounty are Davis (Desmond Sean Ellington), Ali’s mostly absent and chronically unreliable father; Knuck (Jonavery Worrell), Ali’s forbidden love interest; or Miss Liza Jane (Roz White), a pianist who lives in the building and becomes Ali’s formidable mentor.
There are other characters who offer luminous assistance, but these are the principals in a musical tale built around Ali’s central relationships. Keys’ origin story is more dynamic on an atmospheric than dramatic level. A mother having difficulty with her boy-crazy teenage daughter isn’t exactly breaking any ground, and Diaz avoids venturing into more turbulent territory. Ali’s divided identity, stemming in part from an all-too-present white mother and all-too-missing Black father, sets up issues that are touched on but never deeply engaged.
Desmond Sean Ellington as Davis and Kennedy Caughell as Jersey and the company of the North American Tour of Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen” at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.
(Marc J. Franklin)
Miss Liza Jane spots Ali’s musical gift right away and fills her with a sense of pride and responsibility in her Black heritage. But her character’s role is somewhat earnestly compartmentalized. Knuck recognizes that Ali’s fascination with him stems in part from the way she sees him, much as her mother does, as a “thug.” But their tentative affair is secondary to the complex bond between Ali and Jersey, whose troubled connection with Davis helps Ali understand why her mother is so paranoid about her romantic choices.
But these concerns fall away when the performers start singing. Drake has a beautiful voice, but her Ali is slighter than that of Maleah Joi Moon, who won a Tony for her Broadway debut performance. I didn’t mind that Davis sings “Fallin’,” as Ellington has a voice of luscious thunder. Worrell’s Knuck more than holds his own with his duets with Ali. (In fact, I was more taken by his velvety interpretation of “Like You’ll Never See Me Again” than Ali’s more straightforwardly pretty version.) White’s Miss Liza Jane takes the Pantages audience to church in her numbers. And when Caughell magnificently directs “No One” to Ali, I can’t imagine there’s a dry eye in the house.
Desmond Sean Ellington as Davis and Maya Drake as Ali in the North American Tour of Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen” at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.
(Marc J. Franklin)
This tour production isn’t crisp in all areas. The dancing isn’t always smooth, the costumes struck me as a road show idea of New York cool, and the acting didn’t do much to compensate for some of the book’s less subtle moments.
But the energy of the production is infectious. “Hell’s Kitchen,” a New York story of a wunderkind discovering her gift, helped me get over my allergy to the jukebox genre. The soaring quality of the orchestra and the delectable company of voices pay exhilarating homage to a singular artist, who seems right at home at the Pantages.
‘Hell’s Kitchen’
Where: Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. (Check for exceptions.) Ends June 21
Tickets: Start at $57
Contact:BroadwayInHollywood.com or Ticketmaster.com
Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 871 Palestinians since the so-called ceasefire began last year.
Published On 17 May 202617 May 2026
Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip have killed at least five Palestinians, including three in Deir el-Balah, and others in Khan Younis and Beit Lahiya.
Sunday’s attack on the central city of Deir el-Balah targeted a community kitchen and all three victims were charity workers, according to Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Gaza City.
“This shows that Israel is not only targeting people, but also organisations serving the community across Gaza,” Khoudary added.
Reacting to the same attack, Hamas said it was “a deliberate war crime and a renewed scene of the ongoing genocide against our people in the Gaza Strip”.
“This occurs amid an unjustified international silence and inaction that emboldens the occupation to continue its massacres, in blatant disregard for all international values, norms, and laws,” said the armed group’s statement.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry’s statistics published on Sunday, Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has killed at least 72,760 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, including at least 871 since the so-called ceasefire started last October.
Israel’s military occupies about 60 percent of Gaza’s territory, demarcated by a so-called “yellow line” buffer zone.
In that zone on Sunday, the Israeli army said its forces killed a person saying, without providing evidence, that the victim was armed and posed an imminent threat to soldiers.
The army statement also said a Hamas commander was killed, identifying the man as Bahaa Baroud. There was no immediate confirmation from the group.
He introduced Gary Lamont, Lisa McGrillis and Emily Atack from the series and asked them all about their characters and what they get up to in the Jilly Cooper adaptation.
After speaking to the Rivals cast, Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt addressed viewers, explaining one star’s absence from the line-up.
Helen McGinn, wine expert and presenter, had not been able to take part in the show as Matt said: “Now, Helen McGinn had to stay at home today because last night she had a binge-watch party with her neighbours in the leafy gated community of Hampshire.
“And seriously, she is too much of a fangirl to sit here today; her jaw would be on the floor. She can’t believe she’s missing out on our Rivals special.”
“So guys, please say hello to Helen.” The cast then waved and blew kisses, with Lamont saying, “Wish you were here.”
“Are you hungover, Helen?” McGrillis added cheekily as Matt joked, “Probably is. Helen, drop us a text, let us know what you are up to.”
Viewers took to X noticing her absence, with one sharing: “Rivals dropped last night, and Helen is not doing the wine this morning. Coincidence? #SaturdayKitchen”
Will Murray, Jake Croft and Kate Jenkins were on hand to serve up some culinary delights inspired by 80s classics in homage to Rivals.
Ollie Smith served up some classic cocktails, which were also in tribute to the Disney+ “bonkbuster” series.
Tebbutt and Smith spoke to the Rivals cast about the new season with the show’s host bingeing the first two episodes.
“It’s absolutely brilliant,” Tebbutt said. “And I have to say, none of you looks anything like you do.” Later in the episode, Tebbutt expressed his surprise at the stars’ transformations in the series.
Saturday Kitchen airs on BBC One on Saturdays at 10am
TWO retired RAF rescue helicopters have been transformed into luxury glamping pods.
The old aircraft have been given a new life after decades spent carrying out dramatic search-and-rescue missions across Britain.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Two RAF helicopters have been turned into glamping podsCredit: SWNSThe cockpit was cleverly transformed into a dining areaCredit: SWNS
The bright yellow Sea King helicopters are now parked at North Yorkshire Water Park, at Wykeham Lakes, near Scarborough.
ZE369 and XZ589 have had their specialist rescue interiors ripped out and replaced with cosy living spaces complete with a double bed, bunk beds and a mini kitchen with a microwave, kettle, toaster and fridge.
However, the aircraft hasn’t lost all of its original charm with some parts still preserved.
Parts of the cockpit, including the switches and controls, have been kept intact and reworked into a dining area.
Inside features bunk beds, a double bed and a small kitchenCredit: SWNSKitchen is equipped with a kettle, toaster, microwave, and fridgeCredit: SWNS
Guests enter through the original sliding helicopter door, which opens onto a gravel landing pad complete with a picnic bench.
The water park says the unusual stays are designed to offer couples and families a “unique” and “memorable” experience.
The pods only became available to book from May 1 with prices starting from around £130 a night.
The demand has already gone through the roof with the first four weeks sold out on Airbnb.
Guests will have plenty to do nearby too as the 250-acre waterpark offers inflatable aqua parks, kayaking, paddleboarding and open-water swimming.
James Whitehead, Operations Manager at North Yorkshire Water Park, said: “Both helicopters have an extraordinary history, having spent decades carrying out life-saving search and rescue missions across the UK.
“It was important to us that the original character and charm is preserved as much as possible while making them a cosy place to relax after a day of fun.”
