In her Broadway debut, Maleah Joi Moon is leading a brand new musical, inhabiting a character inspired by 16-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys. It’s a large ask of anyone, let alone a newcomer. Now, Moon has earned a Tony Award nomination for her performance.
“Hell’s Kitchen” chronicles a few summer weeks in the life of Ali, a 17-year-old living with her mother in Manhattan Plaza’s artists housing. When Ali stumbles upon pianist Miss Liza Jane, she begins taking piano lessons and finds a creative outlet and mentor.
The story is told through Keys’ music — songs from her established catalog as well as three new compositions penned just for the musical.
Here, Moon talks about her approach to Keys’ songs, bonding with her onstage mother (Tony nominee Shoshana Bean) and dancing Camille A. Brown’s Tony-nominated choreography.
