Broadway News
Christopher Jackson to Depart Broadway’s Hell’s Kitchen; Durrell ‘Tank’ Babbs Sets Return
The Tony-nominated Alicia Keys musical continues at the Shubert Theatre.
Christopher Jackson and Durrell “Tank” Babbs
Tony nominee Christopher Jackson will play his final performance in the Alicia Keys musical Hell’s Kitchen November 9 at the Shubert Theatre.
Stage and screen star Jackson stepped into the role of Ali’s estranged dad Davis in June. The performance marked Jackson’s first full Broadway run since creating the role of George Washington in the original company of Hamilton in 2015. He has since made cameo appearances in both Broadway engagements of Freestyle Love Supreme.
Jackson will be succeeded by current Davis understudy Benjamin H. Moore November 11-13, and Davis understudy Chad Carstarphen November 14-16.
READ: Christopher Jackson on What He’s Looking Forward to at 50
Beginning November 18, nine-time Grammy nominee Durrell “Tank” Babbs
will return to the role for a limited engagement through November 30 (he will not appear at the November 22 and November 28 performances). Tank returns to the role following
a Broadway debut in the hit musical last spring.
The current cast is led by Amanda Reid, Jessica Vosk, Tony winner Kecia Lewis, and Phillip Johnson Richardson.
The company also currently features Angela
Birchett, Chad Carstarphen, Reid Clarke, Nico DeJesus, Mykhel Duckett,
Adriel Flete, Vanessa Ferguson, Lulu Oro Hamlett, Jakeim Hart, Takia
Hopson, Gabriel Hyman, Lindsey Jolyn Jackson, Eliazar Jimenez, Kelsee
Kimmel, Jackie Leon, Raechelle Manalo, Miki Michelle, Benjamin H. Moore,
Onyxx Noel, Susan Oliveras, Amma Osei, Sarah Parker, Eric Parra, Aaron Nicholas Patterson, William Roberson, Niki Saludez, Mariand Torres, Maggy Van Den Heuvel, Nyseli Vega, Lamont Walker II, Keenan D. Washington, and Oscar Whitney Jr.
Hell’s Kitchen features music and lyrics by Keys and a book
by Kristoffer Diaz. Inspired by the recording artist’s life, 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 Jersey is
scared her daughter will repeat her own mistakes. Ali is further
confused when her estranged father—Davis, who is a musician—comes back
into her life.
The show opened at the Shubert Theatre April 20, 2024, after beginning previews March 28—read the reviews here. Michael Greif directs the work, which features choreography by Camille A. Brown.
The music team includes music director Lily Ling and 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 serves as production stage manager.
The Broadway production was nominated for 13 Tony Awards in 2024,
including Best Musical. It won Tonys for Maleah Joi Moon and Lewis’
performances, and also took home the Grammy Award for Best Musical
Theater Album.
Visit HellsKitchen.com.
