“Hell’s Kitchen” has revealed a temporary replacement for the role of Jersey. Donna Vivino, the current standby for the role, will play Jersey from Dec. 3 through Dec. 11, after which she will depart the production. Vivino will succeed Shoshana Bean, who received a Tony Award nomination for originating the role. As previously announced, Bean will play her final performance at the Shubert Theatre on Dec. 1. A permanent replacement will be announced.
Vivino’s Main Stem résumé spans over three decades, having made her inaugural performance as Young Cosette in the original Broadway company of “Les Misérables” in 1987. Since then, Vivino has appeared in “Saturday Night Fever,” “Hairspray,” “Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me” and as the standby for Elphaba “Wicked.” She also appeared as Elphaba on the road, in addition to touring turns in “Cats” and “Hairspray.”
In addition to Bean, the current principal company of “Hell’s Kitchen” includes Tony winners Maleah Joi Moon and Kecia Lewis as Ali and Miss Liza Jane, respectively, as well as Brandon Victor Dixon in a Tony-nominated turn as Davis and Chris Lee as Knuck (through Oct. 20); as previously announced, Phillip Johnson Richardson will succeed Lee on Oct. 22.
“Hell’s Kitchen” features a score of preexisting and original songs by Alicia Keys. In Kristoffer Diaz’s Tony-nominated book, rebellious New York City teenager Ali struggles to assert her independence from her mother while discovering her aptitude for piano playing.
Directed by Michael Greif and choreographed by Camille A. Brown, “Hell’s Kitchen” opened on April 20. The production received 13 Tony nominations, winning trophies for Moon and Lewis.
“Hell’s Kitchen” is produced by AKW Productions.
