Applause -- Alicia Keys' Hell's Kitchen, April 14-26, 2026

APPLAUSE

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SIGHTLINE

BY JANICE SINDEN

WWelcome to the DCPA!

Thank you for joining us for Next to Norma , Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, or The Phantom of the Opera. Your presence here not only benefits the actors, artists, and administrators at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, it’s also a boon to our local economy.

In 2024/25 season, the DCPA had a $390 million economic impact on the region. That means hotel stays, full restaurants, busy parking lots, and packed theatres — all of which support jobs and contribute to the vitality of downtown Denver.

Now…let’s do it again! On pages 10–1 1, you will see the announcement of our upcoming Broadway season featuring the most anticipated tours on the road plus some returning favorites.

The lineup features BOOP! The Musical, The Great Gatsby, Buena Vista Social Club™ , and Death Becomes Her. We’ll also present THE BOOK OF MORMON, Legally Blonde - The Musical, Riverdance 30 - The New Generation, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and many more titles to fill your calendar.

Before we leap too far ahead, join us as we round out this season with The Outsiders, Hadestown, MJ, Somewhere, English, The Sound of Music, Beetlejuice, The Who’s TOMMY, and the Colorado debut of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

So much great theatre is in store. Subscribe today and get early access to the best seats, the best prices, and the best shows from Broadway!

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Warm regards,

Janice Sinden

Janice Sinden, President & CEO

H O N O R I N G O U R E L D E R S

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts honors and acknowledges that it resides on the traditional and unceded territories of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Peoples. We also recognize the 48 contemporary Indigenous Tribes and Nations who have historically called Colorado home.

APPLAUSE

VOLUME XXXVI • NUMBER 4 • MAR – MAY 2026

EDITOR: Suzanne Yoe

DESIGN DIRECTOR: Kyle Malone

DESIGNER: Paul Koob

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS: Lucas Kreitler, Kyle Malone

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Amanda L. Andrei, Lisa Kennedy, Collin Van Son

Applause is published six times a year by Denver Center for the Performing Arts in conjunction with The Publishing House, Westminster, CO. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Call 303.893.4000 regarding editorial content.

Angie Flachman, Publisher For advertising 303.428.9529 or sales@pub-house.com coloradoartspubs.com Applause magazine is funded in part by

Denver Center for the Performing Arts is a non-profit organization that engages and inspires through the transformative power of live theatre.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Ruth Krebs, Chair

Hassan Salem, Immediate Past Chair

Jerome Davis, Vice Chair

David Jacques Farahi, Secretary/Treasurer

Nicole Ament

Marco D. Chayet

Yosh Eisbart

Christopher Hayes

Elizabeth Hioe

Deb Kelly

Robert Kenney

Kevin Kilstrom

Lynn McDonald

Susan Fox Pinkowitz

Manny Rodriguez

Alan Salazar

Richard M. Sapkin

Martin Semple

William Dean Singleton

Sylvia Young

LEARN MORE

IN THIS ISSUE

Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen ......... pg 6

The Phantom of the Opera pg 14

Next to Normal pg 1 8 FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF UPCOMING SHOWS:

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Navin Dimond

Margot Gilbert Frank

Jeannie Fuller

Robert C. Newman

Cleo Parker Robinson

Robert Slosky

Dr. Reginald L. Washington

Judi Wolf

HELEN G. BONFILS

FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Martin Semple, President

William Dean Singleton, Vice President

Kevin Kilstrom, Secretary/Treasurer

Nicole Ament

Marco D. Chayet

David Jacques Farahi

Ruth Krebs

Susan Fox Pinkowitz

Hassan Salem

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT

Janice Sinden, President & CEO

Jamie Clements, Vice President, Development

Chris Coleman, Artistic Director, Theatre Company

John Ekeberg, Executive Director, Broadway & Cabaret

Angela Lakin, Vice President, Marketing & Sales

Glen Lucero, Vice President, Venue Operations

Laura Maresca, Chief People & Culture Officer

Lisa Roebuck, Vice President, Information Technology

Charles Varin, Managing Director, Theatre Company

Allison Watrous, Executive Director, Education & Community Engagement

Jane Williams, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer

BY LISA KENNEDY

A ALICIA KEYS’ CELEBRATION OF PLACE HELL’S KITCHEN SHARES A VERY DIFFERENT WEST SIDE STORY

A city. A neighborhood. A building. These are the geographies that feed 17-year-old Ali, our guide in Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, book by Kristoffer Diaz. Hell’s Kitchen is the piquant —and for decades, the rightly earned — name of the West Side Manhattan neighborhood where Ali lives with her mother, Jersey. Their home is in a towering apartment called Manhattan Plaza, a vertical abode Ali introduces in the show’s opener, “The Elevator Prologue.”

“All art has to have an address,” Oskar Eustis offers in Hell’s Kitchen: Making the Dream, a ridiculously instructive and enjoyable making-of book. Eustis, the artistic director of the Public Theater, attributes that quote to the late novelist Bernard Malamud, a Brooklynite. And it was the Public that produced Hell’s Kitchen before it headed to Broadway and 13 Tony nominations.

Given that notion of place, it’s easy to wonder which fanciful yarns about place spin our identities? (How many times have you, dear local, embraced Denver’s “Cowtown” brand?) And which concrete and rebar realities define us? (How many times has a new build downtown rebuffed that same moniker?)

Some beloved musicals evoke a place then deliver something slightly different. Oklahoma! Chicago West Side Story. Although that last one shares some discernable DNA with Hell’s Kitchen, as does Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Washington Heights love letter, In the Heights. But

there’s a special intimacy to Keys’ dynamic musical about a young woman edging toward a deeper understanding of herself.

Like onstage-Ali, Keys grew up in Manhattan Plaza with her single mother, Teresa, and a building filled with artists, theater-makers, musicians. (Famed tenants of that 46-story bastion adjacent to the Theater District include Jane Alexander, Giancarlo Esposito, Angela Lansbury, Dexter Gordon, Mary Jo Slater and her boys, Christian and Ryan; the list is long). Due to federal funding rules, 70 percent of the apartments are earmarked for people making their spare, passionate living in the arts.

Those involved with this hit Broadway musical, however, caution treating it as an autobiography or even that often beloved, and increasingly derided genre, the “jukebox musical.” For a good reason. Hell’s Kitchen is not the story of Keys’ big breaks: of her bold decision to leave Columbia Records for hitmaker Clive Davis and Arista, or Davis’ call to Oprah Winfrey, asking the talk-show diva to consider putting the young, piano-playing phenom on her show. She did and the girl from Manhattan Plaza took flight becoming over time one of the best-selling female artists of all time. No, it’s not that story. But if you want the full saga, brimming with lessons in seeking and finding, Keys’ 2020 memoir More Myself: A Journey is a terrific read — and even better with Keys reading it.

Instead of a career retrospective, Keys, Diaz, and director Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal) foreground a daughter-mother love story against the backdrop of the goings-on at Manhattan Plaza. That Ali and Jersey’s affection is vexed, tenacious, and snappish is par for the course. (Mothers of teenage daughters, can I get a witness? Daughters of cool but protective mothers, a “hell yeah”?) Although absent for too much of his daughter’s life, Ali’s father, Davis, figures into the musical crucially.

In eschewing an autobiography, the creative team also dodged making a show that goes from hit to hit to hit. Keys’ discography presented exciting challenges, recalls librettist Diaz. “There were five or six songs that had to be in the show, right?” he said on a video call in early January. “Where’s ‘Fallin’’ going to be? Where’s ‘No One’ going to be? Where’s ‘Girl on Fire,’ going to be?” Some of them were easy to figure out. “Empire State of Mind,” that hit Keys made with the rapper Jay-Z and then remade as a solo effort, “can only be the opening number of the show or the end number of the show,” he jokes knowing this doesn’t require a spoiler alert.

There were five or six songs that had to be in the show, right? Where’s ‘Fallin’’ going to be? Where’s ‘No One’ going to be? Where’s ‘Girl on Fire,’ going to be? Some of them were easy to figure out. — KRISTOFFER DIAZ, BOOK WRITER

Although Diaz grew up in Yonkers, a city north of the Bronx, he and Keys shared a cultural moment. Hip hop defined their youth and gave New York City its swagger. When Keys wanted to sing the praises of bucket drummers, he knew exactly who she meant. And during their first meeting, when he wondered aloud, gesticulating as he went on about a possible nontraditional structure for the musical, “for some reason the image of Nas’ ‘One Mic’ came to mind, which starts out a quiet verse that crescendos and then gets simple and quiet, crescendos and gets quiet again. We could do something like that.” She got it. Though in the end, they went for something mildly less ambitious. Time period is a place, too, it turns out. And the Manhattan of the 1990s in which the show is set was suffused with the spirit of Hip Hop. The genre was already a couple of generations in when Keys and Diaz were coming of age. But the thing about Hip Hop, especially during that era, was how utterly aware of its antecedents it could be: praising and quoting, sampling forebearers and doing them one better. And it wasn’t just music, it was style, street fashion, tagging, and graffiti. Keys relishes that place and its moment — and all of it gets its due in that city, that neighborhood, that building, this musical.

Read a Q&A with Kristoffer Diaz

ALICIA KEYS’ HELL’S KITCHEN

APR 14 – 26 • BUELL THEATRE

ASL Interpreted, Audio Described, and Open Captioned performance: April 26 at 1 pm

MJ

Michael Jackson’s iconic music and signature moves are taking the Buell stage in 2026. The Tony Award-winning musical MJ offers an insider’s perspective of the artistry that catapulted Michael Jackson to international superstardom and legendary status. MJ was created by Tony Award-winning Director/ Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and playwright Lynn Nottage.

The show takes audiences behind the scenes as Michael Jackson prepares for his 1992 Dangerous World Tour. As the team rehearses the setlist — packed with Jackson’s most famous tunes, including “Thriller,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and “Bad” — audiences witness the genius of Jackson’s creative process and are transported to pivotal moments in his career.

The Washington Post called MJ “a riveting adrenaline rush of a show.” WGN Radio said, “MJ is one of the best shows ever.” Don’t miss the biggest musical of the decade as it returns to Denver May 13–17. Sing along, dance in your seat, and flashback to the live performance of one of pop music’s most celebrated musicians.

Theatre Classes at the DCPA

CHILDREN, TEENS & ADULTS

MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL

PLAYWRITING

In Refreshed Legacy: The Phantom of the Opera (page 14), Director Seth Sklar-Heyn shares that his first experience with the show was as a teenage volunteer usher. Fast forward and now he’s directing one of the most legendary musicals of all time.

Falling in love with theatre can happen at any age, but aspiring for a career in theatre can be supported through participation (both on and off stage) and exposure to arts at an early age. That’s where DCPA Education comes in.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts has offered acting instruction and in-school programs for nearly 50 years and now engages upward of 150,000 students each year.

Of its many programs, Middle and High School Playwriting introduces students to scriptwriting. Now in its 14th year, this program encourages students to explore their own writing, which leads them to discover an aptitude that they didn’t know they possessed.

Finalist Liam McBride (The Grocery and the Clerk) said: “This assignment…gave me a first taste into the real process of independent playwriting at a professional level. I think that would just be so fulfilling.”

Featuring 159 in-school workshops followed by a statewide competition, six winners out of 288 submissions were named in January. The three high school winners worked with DCPA educators to refine their script — just like a professional playwright would work with a dramaturg. Then, these scripts received a reading in front of a live audience as part of the Colorado New Play Summit alongside scripts of four established playwrights.

This year’s winning plays included (high school) Bajo La Misma Luna by Flavia Armas, Number 47 by Carson McConathy and Kaylee Johnson, Scraps by Audrey Flege, and (middle school) The Case of the Missing Jewels (Emery Eun), The Daughter of the All-father (Miyu Hessel), and The Waiting Room (Taylor Hunt).

All six of the winners said that this writing project wouldn’t be their last. Miyu and Flavia are both interested in writing a film; Emery and Audrey each want to publish a novel; Carson, Kaylee and Taylor want to keep expanding their creative reach.

According to Miyu, “I learned that there are ways to express emotions and tell a story through acting, emotion, and engaging with an audience.” Skills, she says, she wouldn’t have learned without the opportunity to write a play.

An opportunity that may one day lead them to Broadway.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS AND FINALISTS, VISIT DENVERCENTER.ORG/NEWS-CENTER.

CHASE THE SPARK!

Experience the rush of Broadway’s biggest touring hits — from Tony Award-winning sensations to the season’s most electrifying new arrivals — as they burst to life with music, movement, and magnetic storytelling. Each performance delivers a spark worth chasing and a connection worth capturing. Your seat awaits.

SUPPORT IN STYLE

No long programs. No endless speeches.

SATURDAY NIGHT ALIVE

Just pure celebration of the arts and the people who make it thrive.

Step into an evening of glamour and excitement with cocktails, an unforgettable performance, exquisite dining, and a high-energy after-party at the DCPA’s most impactful fundraising event of the year.

Reserve

JUNE 13, 2026

BOOK MY SPOT

REFRESHED LEGACY: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

BY AMANDA L. ANDREI

MMaybe you saw the original performance on Broadway. Maybe you heard the music on a cassette or CD or through streaming — ripped a track to a mixtape or playlist to sing along to in your car. Or maybe a friend or sibling is a fan, wouldn’t stop talking about the chandelier, and brought you to the show. Whatever it may be, you’re swept up in the phenomenon that is The Phantom of the Opera

agency, autonomy, and presence of mind as opposed to just being a victim who’s seduced or manipulated.”

“Phantom has become cultural as opposed to just some theatrical musical event,” muses director Seth Sklar-Heyn. “It’s beyond the stage. It’s incredibly special.”

Since the debut of Cameron Mackintosh’s lavish production in 1986, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s haunting story of the mysterious musical genius and his obsession with a talented young soprano has exhilarated and electrified audiences worldwide. Forty years later, a new cast balances the tension of honoring the original while simultaneously refreshing the experience for today’s spectators.

“There’s an incredible power that comes from nostalgia,” notes Sklar-Heyn, who helms the tour performances, based on original direction by Harold Prince and with choreography by Gillian Lynne. “It doesn’t need to mean dusty or tired — there is something vital about it. And for me, the nostalgia that audiences have for the show increases their own investment in the show. They have their own memory, and it’s incredibly strong.”

Done right, nostalgia has the opposite effect of making something feel outdated or mimicked. “It gives a reason for the performance to feel renewed because people want to see it,” observes Sklar-Heyn. “They want to relive an experience, and hopefully we’re now delivering a production that is enhanced in some way, making it even better than they remember it.”

The challenge of staging Phantom today comes from respecting those memories, while also rejuvenating the experience — all while sparking and tending to the fiery feelings that arise from watching the show.

“People will always have criticisms and make some generalizations about how the show tells the story of a mysterious masked man luring an ingenue to the basement of the Opera House,” Sklar-Heyn relates. “But I can tell you there is more to it and we talk about how to frame these human relationships for today without changing the story. And people have noticed it, such as Christine having more

Part of crafting the experience is through making small, incremental changes that all add up to a different kind of elegance. Little costume changes that feel familiar but new. Hand gestures or postures that emanate differently from an actor’s body. Back stories and names — that the audience might never learn — make the performers more than ensemble dancers at a masquerade.

There’s an incredible power that comes from nostalgia…. For me, the nostalgia that audiences have for the show increases their own investment in the show.

— SETH SKLAR-HEYN, DIRECTOR

Sklar-Heyn tells a story about one ensemble actor who suggested maintaining the identity of a specific character during a scene transition which wasn’t previously in the staging, and how as a result, “He’s creating more story — which means for an audience, you’re not just seeing people put on costumes and letting the costumes be the show. You’re seeing people be these characters and bring this world to life.”

Of the process, he adds, “From day one, we say: Create. Invent.”

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

MARCH 18-APRIL 5, 2026

BUELL THEATRE

ASL Interpreted, Audio Described, & Open Captioned performance: April 4 at 2pm

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

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DML PRODUCTIONS MANDY HACKETT THE SUNSHINE GROUP SERENA WILLIAMS/NINE TWO SIX PRODUCTIONS THE JACOBS FAMILY JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION CLARA WU TSAI TODAYTIX ARGU SCORE 3 PARTNERS NO GUARANTEES PRODUCTIONS FRONT ROW PRODUCTIONS SHARPTON SWINDAL PRODUCTIONS GROVE ENTERTAINMENT JAMES L. NEDERLANDER CANDY SPELLING UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING INDEPENDENT PRESENTERS NETWORK DELLA PIETRA SPARK THEATRICALS CHUCHU NWAGU PRODUCTIONS TERRIA JOSEPH JULIE YORN ANDY NAHAS

AARON LUSTBADER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND THE PUBLIC THEATER

OSKAR EUSTIS PATRICK WILLINGHAM

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PRESENT

KENNEDY CAUGHELL ROZ WHITE DESMOND SEAN ELLINGTON JONAVERY WORRELL

STEMARCIAE BAIN MIYA BASS JAYLEN T. BRYANT RASHADA DAWAN SHERÉE MARCELLE DUNWELL ‘ZAIAH ELLIS MAE-LYNN FLORES DESTINI HENDRICKS SEAN HOLLAND II MARQUES FURR

ALFRED JACKSON GIGI LEWIS CHRISTOPHER MILLER USMAN ALI MUGHAL CHIKEZIE “CHIKE” NWANKWO SANGEETHA “SANG” SANTHEBENNUR MARLEY SOLEIL BEDA SPINDOLA ASTEN STEWART TEETEE SYDNEY TOWNSEND TIMOTHY WILSON ETHAN ZUNDELL AND INTRODUCING MAYA DRAKE

ROBERT BRILL DEDE AYITE

CHOREOGRAPHER

NEAL MICHAEL CLIFTON MONET RICKEY TRIPP

TOM KITT LILY LING TOM KITT EMILY ORR

AGLOW JUNIPER STREET DOUG RODGERS

CAST

(in order of appearance)

Ali MAYA DRAKE

Jersey KENNEDY CAUGHELL

Crystal and others RASHADA DAWAN

Millie, Opera Singing Neighbor and others BEDA SPINDOLA

Ray, Opera Singing Neighbor, Club Manager and others CHIKEZIE “CHIKE” NWANKWO

Tiny and others GIGI LEWIS

Jessica and others ............................................................................................................... MARLEY SOLEIL

Knuck ............................................................................................................................ JONAVERY WORRELL

‘Riq and others .................................................................................................................. SEAN HOLLAND II

Q and others ................................................................................................................................. ‘ZAIAH ELLIS

Dance Ensemble, “Unthinkable” Dancer, “Work on It” Dancer ................. DESTINI HENDRICKS

Dance Ensemble, “Unthinkable” Dancer CHRISTOPHER MILLER

Dance Ensemble, “Work on It” Dancer, Police Officer USMAN ALI MUGHAL

Dance Ensemble, “Hallelujah” Dancer MARQUES FURR

Dance Ensemble SANGEETHA “SANG” SANTHEBENNUR

Dance Ensemble MAE-LYNN FLORES

Dance Ensemble ETHAN ZUNDELL

Miss Liza Jane ROZ WHITE

Davis DESMOND SEAN ELLINGTON

UNDERSTUDIES

Understudies never substitute for the listed performers unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the appearance. for Ali—MARLEY SOLEIL, SYDNEY TOWNSEND; for Crystal, Millie—MIYA BASS, SHERÉE MARCELLE DUNWELL; for Davis—ALFRED JACKSON, CHIKEZIE “CHIKE” NWANKWO; for Jersey—SHERÉE MARCELLE DUNWELL, BEDA SPINDOLA; for Jessica, Tiny—SANGEETHA “SANG” SANTHEBENNUR, TEETEE, SYDNEY TOWNSEND; for Knuck—JAYLEN T. BRYANT, SEAN HOLLAND II; for ‘Riq—ETHAN ZUNDELL; for Miss Liza Jane—MIYA BASS, RASHADA DAWAN; for Q, ‘Riq—JAYLEN T. BRYANT, USMAN ALI MUGHAL, ASTEN STEWART; for Ray—JAYLEN T. BRYANT, ALFRED JACKSON, USMAN ALI MUGHAL

SWINGS

STEMARCIAE BAIN, MIYA BASS, JAYLEN T. BRYANT, SHERÉE MARCELLE DUNWELL, ALFRED JACKSON, ASTEN STEWART, TEETEE, SYDNEY TOWNSEND, TIMOTHY WILSON

DANCE CAPTAIN TIMOTHY WILSON

ASSISTANT DANCE CAPTAIN STEMARCIAE BAIN

FIGHT CAPTAIN ALFRED JACKSON

CAST

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT I

“The Gospel”

“The River” “Seventeen”

“You Don’t Know My Name” “Kaleidoscope” “Gramercy Park”

“Not Even the King” “Teenage Love Affair”

“Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)”

“Girl on Fire”

“Perfect Way to Die”

ACT II

“Heartburn”

“Love Looks Better”

“Work on It”

“Authors of Forever”

“Fallin’”

“If I Ain’t Got You”

“Pawn It All”

“Like You’ll Never See Me Again” “Hallelujah/Like Water”

“No One”

“Empire State of Mind”

THERE WILL BE ONE 15-MINUTE INTERMISSION.

MUSICIANS

Music Director/Keyboard 1—EMILY ORR Assistant Conductor/Keyboard 2—JOY BROWN

Music Associate/Keyboard Swing—DARRICK BROWN; Guitar 1—AZANA HIGHTOWER; Bass—JAMICKA JOHNSON-HECTOR; Percussion—ADAM BAILEY; Drums—BRANDON BROOKS.

Synthesizer Programming: RANDY COHEN; RANDY COHEN KEYBOARDS LLC

Ableton & Electronic Drum Programming: ENRICO DE TRIZIO

Drum Programming: CHRIS SUTHERLAND

Bucket Drumming Consultant: JARED “CHOCLATT” CRAWFORD

Music Assistant: JASON BELANGER

Music Copying: EMILY GRISHMAN

Music Preparation: TIMOTHY HANSON

FOLLOW THE SHOW

hellskitchen.com

@hellskitchenbway

#HKTour

MAYA DRAKE (Ali) is thrilled to make her professional stage debut in Hell’s Kitchen! As a recent high school graduate, this is a dream come true! Television: Law & Order: SVU. Huge thanks to CMTSJ, Paradigm, and love to my family. @mayaadrake

KENNEDY CAUGHELL (Jersey) is thrilled to join Hell’s Kitchen! Broadway/Tours: Beautiful (Carole), Wicked (Elphaba Standby), Paradise Square, Great Comet. Regional: Waitress (Jenna), Frozen (Elsa; MTWichita & Fulton), Great Comet (Sonya; PCLO), 9 to 5 (Judy; Fulton). TV: Law & Order:SVU. Debut album: Just the Beginning. This performance is dedicated to her mom. Reps: DGRW/Schachter. @KennedyCaughell | To God be the glory!

ROZ WHITE (Miss Liza Jane) is ecstatic to join the Hell’s Kitchen tour, and celebrates 40 years as an arts professional and educator. A Howard University BFA and Northcentral M.Ed. graduate, she’s earned a Helen Hayes Award, starred as Billie Holiday, toured in TINA and Dreamgirls, and performed with Yolanda Adams and Stevie Wonder. Proud mom of two.

DESMOND SEAN ELLINGTON (Davis) Fresh from his Broadway debut, Desmond is thrilled to continue with the First National Tour of Hell’s Kitchen. Broadway: Hell’s Kitchen (OBC), Hamilton. Tours: Hamilton (Philip and Peggy). OffBroadway: Hell’s Kitchen (The Public Theater). Grateful to God, family, team, and Alicia Keys. IG: @desmondseanellington

JONAVERY WORRELL (Knuck) is a dynamic actor, singer, and dancer with credits spanning TV, film, and stage. He’s appeared in BMF (STARZ), The Night Before Christmas (Lifetime), and The Despaired (BET+). On stage, his standout performances include the national tour of Jason’s Lyric and The Wiz

STEMARCIAE BAIN (Swing, Assistant Dance Captain) Proud island girl from The Bahamas and AMDA graduate. She has performed in In the Heights, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tootsie, 42nd Street, Footloose, and West Side Story

WHO’S WHO

Thrilled to make her swing debut in Hell’s Kitchen, she thanks God, family, and friends.

MIYA BASS (Swing, u/s Miss Liza Jane, u/s Crystal, u/s Millie) is a vocalist and actor from Jamaica, NY. She has been a contestant on The Voice, working with coaches Alicia Keys and Adam Levine. Miya has also performed leading roles in: Waitress, Aida, Sister Act, Rent, and The Wiz

JAYLEN T. BRYANT (Swing, u/s Ray, u/s ‘Riq, u/s Q, u/s Knuck) starred in productions of Hairspray (Seaweed), Sweat (Chris), and Bring It On (Twig). TV: Chicago Fire and Sirens. Enjoys sharing his gifts with the world and creating safe spaces for BIPOC people to develop their artistry.

RASHADA DAWAN (Crystal, u/s Miss Liza Jane, Ensemble) Lion King (Las Vegas, Gazelle National Tour), The Chi (Showtime), 61st St (AMC). Love to Genesis and Journey, my parents, my Village and family, Paonessa Talent, AEA, this cast and crew, audience and Chitown! Bfliproductions.org

SHERÉE MARCELLE DUNWELL (Swing, u/s Jersey/u/s Crystal, u/s Millie) is thrilled to make her national tour debut with Hell’s Kitchen! Hailing from Boston, select credits include: Next to Normal (Diana, Elliot Norton Award), Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Light in the Piazza. She is grateful to her family for their support!

‘ZAIAH ELLIS (Q, Ensemble) Making his professional debut in Hell’s Kitchen. Born and raised in Charlotte, NC. Rapper/Poet. BFA Hartt School of Music. @zaiah.nz For Marva, Larry, and Nic.

MAE-LYNN FLORES (Ensemble) Broadway national tour debut! Select dance: LaHa Dance Group, Miami DanceMakers. TV: “La Banda” (Univision). Proud Latina, Miami raised artist, and NWSA alumni. Infinite love for my family, blood and chosen. Con amor. @maelynnn_

MARQUES FURR (Ensemble) Nashville, TN native. Off-Bway: Oscar Micheaux. Tour: Hell’s Kitchen, Ragtime. NBC’s The Voice with Alicia Keys. Regional: Bridgerton Exp. Company Dancer: Dallas Black,

Ballethnic. UARTS alum. Thanks to God, my village and BLOC.

@_marquesfurr

DESTINI HENDRICKS (Ensemble) Orlando native with a BFA in Commercial Dance from Pace University. Credits: The Wiz (Broadway), Tootsie, Cher and Nile Rodgers, NYFW. Company member of Camille A. Brown & Dancers. Excited to join Hell’s Kitchen! @destini.hendricks

SEAN HOLLAND II (‘Riq, u/s Knuck, Ensemble) is an accomplished vocalist and actor whose roles include Seaweed J. Stubs, Orpheus, Prince Topher, Nicely Johnson, and Nakawa in the Festival of The Lion King. Notable venues include Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City Center, The Town Hall, and Perelman Arts Center. He has also performed and recorded with Wynton Marsalis, Alvin Ailey Revelations, Denyce Graves, and Disney on Ice. @seanhollandII

ALFRED JACKSON (Swing, u/s Davis, u/s Ray, Ensemble) South Central LA native, singer, writer, director, producer and Indie Recording Artist. Theatre: Book of Mormon, Beautiful, Dreamgirls TV/Film: “General Hospital,” Hulu’s “Mahalia Jackson Story.” NAACP Award winner.

GIGI LEWIS (Tiny, Ensemble) Leading into her Tina debut on the First National Tour of TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, GiGi made her theatrical debut as Pearl in Hairspray abroad RCL. She’s blessed to share her journey and love for her Dad for always believing in her.

CHRISTOPHER MILLER (Ensemble) LA native making his Broadway National Tour debut! Trained at Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and The Ailey School; 2023 Towson graduate. Credits include Ravel Dance Company and INVINCIBLE. Thanks to family, friends, mentors. Jesus is King! Matthew 28:19-20 @chrismillerrr

USMAN ALI MUGHAL (Ensemble, Police Officer, u/s ‘Riq, Q, Ray) B’way: Life of Pi (OBC). Tour: &Juliet (OTC). Regional: ART, Old Globe, Signature, Transcendence, CRT. TV: We Crashed, WW ‘84,

Kringle Time. BFA MT IC. I’m nothing without Ammi. For Abbas, Ayaan, Aydin, & Zaina. @usman.ali. mughal

CHIKEZIE “CHIKE” NWANKWO (Ray, u/s Davis, Ensemble) Bronxraised with Nigerian roots. UB Chemistry grad, AMDA alum. Credits: Ragtime, Royal Caribbean, Met Opera (Moby Dick, Il Trovatore, Roméo et Juliette).

SANGEETHA “SANG”

SANTHEBENNUR (Ensemble, u/s Jessica, u/s Tiny) HYPE to join First National Tour of HK! Credits: ‘Twas The Night Before (Cirque du Soleil), The Karate Kid (Pre-Broadway), WTBTITR (Raveena), Best Of The Best (Netflix). IMGE Dance. Eternal thanks, Santhebennurs and LWC. For you PLL. @sangsanthebennur

MARLEY SOLEIL (Jessica, u/s Ali, Ensemble) Thrilled to make her National Broadway Tour debut! She’d like to thank the Norwalk Conservatory. She’s obsessed with the cast and sends endless love to family, friends and teachers for all their support. @MarleySoleil

BEDA SPINDOLA (Millie, u/s Jersey, Ensemble) Grateful to be part of the Hell’s Kitchen family. Credits: Jenna in Waitress (Red Mountain), I Can See Your Voice (FOX), and Celebrity Undercover Boss (CBS). Endless thanks to my family & team. @ bedaspindola bedaspindola.com

ASTEN STEWART (Swing, u/s Riq, u/s Q) Thrilled to be hitting the road again. Select Credits: Elf (B’way 2024), Aladdin Tour, Hairspray (RCL). He credits his Love of dance and theater to his Supportive Family! #AMDAALUM #Clearishere @Asten21

TEETEE (Swing, u/s Jessica, u/s Tiny) A rose that grew from concrete in Washington, DC, where arts opportunities were scarce but her passion never dimmed. From church pews to festival stages, she found her voice in performing. @itsxteetee

SYDNEY TOWNSEND (Swing, u/s Ali, u/s Jessica, u/s Tiny) A recent graduate from the University of Arizona, Syd obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree this May. This is her first Broadway National Tour and she would like to thank her family, friends, and mentors for all their love!

@Sydney_townsend

TIMOTHY WILSON (Swing, Dance Captain) Thrilled to be joining the Hell’s Kitchen family! Credits: The Jungle Book (Goodman Theatre), The Grammy Awards, A Jazz Man’s Blues (Tyler Perry), Cleopatra (Off-B’way), Malvolio and The Wiz (B’way).

ETHAN ZUNDELL (Ensemble, u/s Riq) is a street styles dancer from NH, trained in hip hop, breaking, popping, and commercial choreography since 2013. He’s performed nationwide with roots in the RI community. Credits: “Kids Choice Awards” 2024, NBC’s “The Voice,” “The Monsters Show 2025.” @ethanzundell

ALICIA KEYS (Book, Music & Lyrics) Seventeen-time Grammy Awardwinning singer, songwriter, musician, producer, founder of Keys Soulcare, New York Times best-selling author, film/TV and Broadway producer, accomplished actress, entrepreneur and powerful force in the world of activism. Since the release of her monumental 2001 album Songs in A Minor, Keys has sold over 65 million records and over five billion streams, built an unparalleled repertoire of hits and accomplishments and become the #1 RIAA certified female R&B artist of the millennium.

KRISTOFFER DIAZ (Book) Pulitzer Prize finalist for The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Tony nominee for Hell’s Kitchen. Other titles (produced at The Public, Second Stage, The Goodman, and many more nationwide) include Welcome to Arroyo’s, Reggie Hoops, Hercules, Things With Friends, and The Unfortunates. Awards include Guggenheim, Jerome, Van Lier, NYFA, and Gail Merrifield Papp Fellowships; New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award; Lucille Lortel, Equity Jeff, OBIE. Screen: GLOW, Rent (Live on Fox). NYU alum (twice!), Brooklyn College alum, NYU Professor. New Dramatists alum and board member. Dramatists Guild Council Officer. Husband to Joanne, father to Leo and Oscar. IG: @saymorediaz

MICHAEL GREIF (Director) Five-time Tony nominated director with three new musicals in the 2024 Broadway season: Days of Wine and Roses, The Notebook and Hell’s Kitchen. Broadway: Rent, Next to Normal, Grey Gardens, Dear Evan Hansen, If/Then, War Paint. Other: Make Believe (Second Stage); Our Lady of

Kibeho and Angels in America (NY’s Signature Theatre); The Low Road, Machinal, Dogeaters, Romeo and Juliet (The Public).

CAMILLE A. BROWN (Choreographer) Five-time Tony Award nominated Director / Choreographer. Drama Desk nominee, Chita Rivera and Obie Award winner. Upcoming: Directing and choreographing the new Broadway revival of Dreamgirls. Broadway: Hell’s Kitchen, for colored girls… , Choir Boy, Once on This Island, A Streetcar Named Desire. The Metropolitan Opera: Fire Shut Up in My Bones (co-director/choreographer), Porgy and Bess, Champion Film/TV: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live. Founder & Artistic Director, Camille A. Brown & Dancers.

ADAM BLACKSTONE (Music Supervisor, Co- Orchestrator, CoArranger) is a multi-faceted musician, Emmy and Grammy Award winner, and CEO of BASSic Black Ent. He is the music mastermind behind the live shows of today’s biggest artists and shows, including Super Bowl halftime, The Oscars, and NBC’s “That’s MY JAM.” His debut Album “LEGACY” was critically acclaimed, and his newest release “HUMBLE MAGIC” seems to be following suit.

ROBERT BRILL (Scenic Designer) Broadway: Hell’s Kitchen, How to Dance in Ohio, Dancin, Ain’t Too Proud, Thoughts of A Colored Man, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Assassins, Cabaret, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, Design for Living, Buried Child, and others. Four-time Tony nominee and member of design faculty at UC San Diego. @brill_robert

DEDE AYITE (Costume Designer) Select Broadway: Buena Vista Social Club, Othello, Purpose, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (Tony Award), Appropriate, Topdog/Underdog and Slave Play. Numerous Off-Broadway and Regional. Opera: X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (MET). TV: Netflix, Comedy Central. Awards: 6 Tony Noms, TDF/Kitty Leech Award, Obie, Drama Desk, Henry Hewes, Lucille Lortel, Helen Hayes, Audelco, Jeff awards.

NATASHA KATZ (Lighting Designer) Recent Broadway and Off-Broadway: Sweeney Todd, Here We Are, Grey House, MJ, Some Like It Hot, Springsteen on Broadway, Aladdin,

and Hello, Dolly! Recent dance: Like Water for Chocolate at the Met. She is a TDF Wendy Wasserstein Project Mentor and was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.

GARETH OWEN (Sound Designer) Boop!, Back to the Future (Olivier nom), MJ (Tony win), & Juliet (Tony nom), Bad Cinderella, Summer, Come From Away (Olivier win), End of the Rainbow (Tony nom), Bat Out Of Hell (Olivier nom), A Little Night Music (Tony nom), Memphis (Olivier win), Top Hat (Olivier nom), Merrily We Roll Along (Olivier win). www.garethowensound.com @garethowensound

PETER NIGRINI (Projection Designer) His work includes MJ, Here Lies Love, Ain’t Too Proud, Beetlejuice, Dear Evan Hansen and Fela! Other credits include Grounded (The Public Theater); Hans Zimmer Live, Grace Jones—Hurricane, and Deep Blue Sea (Bill T. Jones/Park Avenue Armory). He has three Tony nominations and won a Lortel, Drama Desk and Obie.

MIA NEAL (Hair & Wig Designer) Broadway: The Notebook, Shucked, KPOP, 1776, West Side Story, The Iceman Cometh, A Raisin in the Sun. Past credits: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Academy Award, BAFTA Film Award), “Annie Live!” (Emmy Award), “Pose” (Emmy Award nomination), Shuffle Along… (Drama Desk), Ain’t No Mo’ (Drama Desk). Film: White Noise, Hustle, The Humans, Uncut Gems, Ghostbusters, “Younger.”

MICHAEL CLIFTON (Makeup Designer) Broadway: The Last Five Years, Othello, Purpose, BOOP! The Musical, Gypsy, Hell’s Kitchen, and New York, New York.  Off-Broadway: Goddess, Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares.  Other: The Outsiders, West Side Story.  Some Film & Television: Sara Bareilles at Kennedy Center, Elsbeth, Girls5Eva, The Other Two, American Horror Story, Tick, Tick… Boom!, Come From Away. IG: mikeyclifton

TOM KITT (Music Consultant/ Co-Orchestrator) is a Tony, Grammy, Emmy and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, arranger and orchestrator whose credits include Next to Normal, Almost Famous, Flying Over Sunset, If/Then, Bring It On: The Musical, High Fidelity, Jagged Little Pill, The SpongeBob Musical, American Idiot, Head Over Heels, Everyday Rapture, The Visitor, Superhero, Dave and Disney’s Freaky Friday.

MONET (Associate Director) is a Director and Creative Producer across mediums. She works with the likes of Black Thought, Andrew Lippa, John Leguizamo and countless other distinguished artists. Endless gratitude to David and Patty for their friendship and support in life and art. @askformonet

RICKEY TRIPP (Associate Choreographer). A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical (Broadway), X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (The Met), TV/Film: “Legs” Vanessa Williams, “Eileen” and “A Thousand and One” (Universal Pictures). Jer. 29:11.

LILY LING (Associate Music Supervisor) is a Chinese Canadian music director and educator. Broadway: Hell’s Kitchen, Hamilton, Moulin Rouge!, How to Dance in Ohio. Regional: Nine (Kennedy Center). International: The Lion King (Shanghai). Utmost gratitude to Tom, Alicia, Adam, Monet, Kristy, and the entire music team for their tireless work and endless support.

KRISTY NORTER (Music Coordinator) Music coordinator and freelance musician. Credits include Some Like It Hot; Cabaret; Water for Elephants; The Outsiders; Lempicka; SIX; New York, New York; Back to the Future; Merrily We Roll Along; Mr. Saturday Night; Cyrano; Black No More; and Suffs

RANDY COHEN (Synthesizer Programming) Cohen Keyboards has programmed keyboards or provided electronic music tech services for over 100 Broadway shows including Hamilton, The Book of Mormon, Kinky Boots, Dear Evan Hansen, In the Heights, Grey Gardens and Rock of Ages. Film/ TV: In the Heights, “Sesame Street,” “The Electric Company.” Thanks to Tim, Sam and Nick.

ENRICO DE TRIZIO (Ableton Programmer) Italian-made and NYCbased award-winning composer, sound designer and music producer. Featured in 2017 Tony-winning Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen.

BOND THEATRICAL (Tour Booking, Marketing & Publicity) An independently owned company representing award winning Broadway shows and live entertainment. BOND connects artists and audiences by forming strategic, authentic and profitable partnerships between producers and presenters across

North America. View current projects at BondTheatrical.com

DOUG RODGERS (Company Manager) has been touring for over 25 years, and is thrilled to be a part of HELL’S KITCHEN. Some favorites include Jersey Boys, Matilda the Musical, Smokey Joe’s Café with Gladys Knight, Blast!, CATS, and Riverdance to name a few.

VERONICA AGLOW (Production Stage Manager) (she/her) Ready to bring a little NYC to the road. Tours: Parade, Jagged Little Pill, Jersey Boys, The Lightning Thief. Broadway: The Lightning Thief, A Strange Loop Off-Broadway: N/A (Lincoln Center), Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, Jersey Boys, Avenue Q, The Mad Ones. Love to T.E. Dedicated to her super-supportive family.

HOLLACE JEFFORDS (Stage Manager) Broadway: Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, The Lightning Thief, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Kinky Boots, The Last Ship, Violet, Doctor Zhivago. National Tours: Falsettos, Kinky Boots. New York: A Man of No Importance, Assassins, A Chorus Line, Avenue Q, Little Miss Sunshine. Love to Derek and my family. Proud member of AEA.

JASMIN HOLTON (Assistant Stage Manager) Estatic to join the Hell’s Kitchen National Tour! Grateful for this incredible journey—BFA in Stage Management and Hospitality from UCF. Tours: TINA, On Your Feet, Million Dollar Quartet, Cocomelon. Thank you to God, Family, and all my love to Alicia Keys!

HAI ALVAREZ-MILLARD (Sub Assistant Stage Manager). Thrilled to be here! Tour: The Kite Runner Regional: Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical, Bridges of Madison County, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Sunset Boulevard. All my love to my family and friends!

AMBER DICKERSON (Sub Assistant Stage Manager). Broadway: Motown, the Musical. National Tour: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Moulin Rouge, Falsettos, Kinky Boots, Dreamgirls. Regional: Arena Stage, Hartford Stage, Center Stage and many others. Thanks to God, her family, and friends for their love and support!

CAROLINE INCHES (Sub Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be in the Kitchen! Broadway: Take a Banana for the Ride (PA), National Tour: Hell’s Kitchen (PA), Off

Broadway: The Pansy Craze (ASM), Conversations with Mother (ASM). Many thanks to the team!

KATE MURRAY, CSA & HEIDI GRIFFITHS, CSA (Casting) have been collaborating for over a decade at The Public Theater in New York where they cast Shakespeare, new plays and musicals. Broadway collaborations include Suffs, for colored girls…, The Crucible, A View From the Bridge, A Delicate Balance and A Raisin in the Sun.

JUNIPER STREET PRODUCTIONS

(Production Manager) Formed in 1998, JSP has managed more than 150 Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours and events. Selected productions include: Purple Rain, The Buena Vista Social Club, The Outsiders, Kimberly Akimbo, Parade, & Juliet, MJ the Musical, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Moulin Rouge, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen and The Producers www.juniperstreet.com.

FORESIGHT THEATRICAL (General Manager) Partners: Aaron Lustbader, Mark Shacket, Nick Ginsberg, and Jalaina Ross and Founding Partner Allan Williams. Currently oversee Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Broadway & Tour); The Great Gatsby (Broadway & Worldwide); Maybe Happy Ending (Broadway); Buena Vista Social Club (Broadway); Hell’s Kitchen (Broadway & Tour); Kinky Boots (Worldwide).

DML PRODUCTIONS (Co-Producer)

DML Productions is comprised of DJ Martin and Aaron Lustbader. With huge thanks to Alicia for the opportunity. Big love to Dylan.

MANDY HACKETT (Co-Producer) is thrilled to be making her co-producer debut with Hell’s Kitchen. Previously, Mandy served as associate artistic director and director of public theater productions at The Public Theater. Love and endless gratitude to Jason, Kiera and Miranda.

THE SUNSHINE GROUP

(Co-Producer) Drs Shakha and Scott Gillin, Julie Klaus, Dan Ryan, Steve and Lisa Altman, and Fernanda Whitworth are thrilled to support Alicia—from her debut on Broadway as a lead producer with this exceptional show and now with Hell’s Kitchen on its North American tour.

SERENA WILLIAMS/NINE TWO

SIX PRODUCTIONS (Co-Producer)

Serena Williams founded Nine Two Six Productions to amplify female and diverse voices through awardwinning documentaries, series,

films, and podcasts with projects at ESPN+, Amazon, Netflix, Tristar and X. Hell’s Kitchen marks an exciting expansion into theatrical producing.

THE JACOBS FAMILY

(Co-Producer) The Jacobs Family members—Irwin, Joan (*now deceased), Hal, Debby, Paul, Jeff, and Annie—are actively involved in the La Jolla Playhouse. We’re thrilled to be part of the Hell’s Kitchen team.

JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION

(Co-Producer) is a leading presenter, distributor, and marketer of Broadway theatre worldwide. Under the supervision of Chairman and CEO John Gore, the family of companies includes Broadway Across America and Broadway.com.

CLARA WU TSAI (Co-Producer)

Vice chair of BSE Global and an owner of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty. Executive producer of films including Blue Bayou, Unfinished Business and Into the Okavango. Trustee of Lincoln Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital and Stanford University.

TODAYTIX ARGU (Co-Producer)

The partners of ARGU and TodayTix are thrilled to support exceptional investments with impactful missions. Through Hell’s Kitchen, the team is energized to support the incredible work of Keep a Child Alive.

SCORE 3 PARTNERS (Co-Producer) Rashad Moore, Cherine E. Anderson, Duane Rollins, Nicole L. Streeter, Xavier R. Cunningham, East Chop Capital, Jocelyn Moore, and Charles Jackson, Jr. are humbled to share this beloved production with audiences across the country.

NO GUARANTEES PRODUCTIONS

(Co-Producer) is a Tony Awardwinning co-producer of Sunset Blvd. (2025), Merrily We Roll Along (2024), Stereophonic (2024), Hadestown (2019), Company (2022), The Lehman Trilogy (2022) and Leopoldstadt (2023).

FRONT ROW PRODUCTIONS

(Co-Producer) Stephen C Byrd and Alia Jones-Harvey Founders of Front Row Productions, Inc, are 10-time Tony nominated and Olivier Awardwinning Broadway and West End Producers. Shows: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, A Streetcar Named Desire, Hell’s Kitchen, Eclipsed, Trip to Bountiful, Romeo + Juliet, MJ, Buena Vista Social Club and Purple Rain.

SHARPTON SWINDAL

PRODUCTIONS (Co-Producer)

Dominique Sharpton and Haley Swindal are best friends. Their Broadway producing credits together include: Hell’s Kitchen, Sunset Boulevard (Tony Award), and Redwood

GROVE ENTERTAINMENT

(Co-Producer). Current/recent: Hell’s Kitchen, Buena Vista Social Club, Ceilidh (Baltimore), Water for Elephants, Good Night, Oscar (Broadway/West End), Dorian Gray, A Strange Loop, Upcoming: Unleashed by Bill Rosenfield. www.groveentertainment.com

JAMES L. NEDERLANDER (Co-Producer) Credits include Kimberly Akimbo, An Enemy of the People, Titanique, MJ, Some Like It Hot, Mr. Saturday Night starring Billy Crystal, Tina—The Tina Turner Musical, The Lehman Trilogy, On Your Feet!, and many others.

CANDY SPELLING (Co-Producer). Producing credits: Boop!, The Great Gatsby, Hell’s Kitchen, Suffs, MJ, Moulin Rouge!, TINA, The Color Purple, Tootsie, The Iceman Cometh, Nice Work If You Can Get It, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Promises, Promises.

UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING (Co-Producer) is a leading global music publisher. The company represents music across every genre from some of the world’s most important songwriters and catalogs.

INDEPENDENT PRESENTERS NETWORK (Co-Producer). Consortium of over 30 leading presenters of touring Broadway in the U.S., U.K., and Asia. Recent/ Upcoming: The Outsiders, Moulin Rouge!, The Devil Wears Prada, & Juliet, Purple Rain.

DELLA PIETRA SPARK THEATRICALS (Co-Producer). Collective credits include Clybourne Park, The Color Purple, Jitney, Moulin Rouge!, The Prom, Stick Fly, Water for Elephants, and Whoopi as well as The Harlem Arts Alliance Award, eight Tony Awards.

CHUCHU NWAGU PRODUCTIONS (Co-Producer) is a London-based production company. Credits: Dear England (UK Tour), Burlesque, RETROGRADE, The Roommate, SHIFTERS, Red Pitch, Death of a Salesman, Dreamgirls! (UK Tour), The Wiz

TERRIA JOSEPH (Co-Producer)

Producer. NYU. Roles at Café LaMama, New Federal Theatre, The Public Theater, Blessed Unrest, The NBTF, Billie Holiday Theatre; her 1WS at 54Below; guest starred in NBC’s “Empire.”

JULIE YORN (Co-Producer) is an Academy Award-nominated film/TV producer whose credits include Hell or High Water, The Other Woman and Unstoppable. Born and raised in New York, she’s excited to bring Hell’s Kitchen to Broadway.

ANDY NAHAS (Co-Producer) is a philanthro-activist, singer, and investor. He created MusicPower to advance musical solutions to societal problems. Raised in Rochester, NY, Andy attended UC San Diego and founded The Prospect Fund.

AARON LUSTBADER (Executive

Producer). Partner and general manager at Foresight Theatrical for more than 20 years. Broadway: Moulin Rouge! The Musical (co-producer, Tony Award), Hell’s Kitchen and the pre-Broadway engagement of Purple Rain. National tour: Moulin Rouge! and The Phantom of the Opera. Aaron also managed the Tony Award-winning production of Kinky Boots (incl. nine international companies).

THE PUBLIC THEATER (Originating Theater) is a civically engaged institution that believes theater is a force for change. It opened in 1967 with Hair and is currently represented on Broadway with the Tony Award-winning musicals Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hell’s Kitchen by Alicia Keys and Kristopher Diaz and on tour with Suffs by Shaina Taub. PublicTheater.org

OFFICIAL TOUR OPENING NIGHT

October 15, 2025

STAFF FOR HELL’S KITCHEN

GENERAL MANAGEMENT FORESIGHT THEATRICAL

Nick Ginsberg Steve Greer

Aaron Lustbader Jalaina Ross Mark Shacket

Lane Marsh Andrew Joy Alexandra Wolfe Jessie Douglas

Cathy Kwon Laura Kay Amanda Harper

Founding Partner: Allan Williams

COMPANY MANAGER

Doug Rodgers

Assistant Company Manager

Samantha Womack

TOUR BOOKING, MARKETING & PUBLICITY BOND THEATRICAL bondtheatrical.com

Temah Higgins Mollie Mann DJ Martin

Marc Viscardi Wendy Roberts

Jenny Bates

BOOKING & OPERATIONS

Mary K. Witte Madison St. Amour Laura Rizzo

Jesse Daniels Kolten Bell Jordan Ivezaj

MARKETING & PUBLICITY

Linda Stewart Alexandra De La Cerda

Harrison Mootoo

Melissa Cohen Caroline Frawley Bridget Gross

Tony Joy Steph Kelleher Deborah Mann

Scotland Newton Elisabeth Reyes Katelyn Wenkoff

TICKETING & REVENUE MANAGEMENT

STANDING ROOM THEATRICAL SOLUTIONS

Thomas Laub

Oliver Roth Simon de Carvalho Jessica Siegel

CASTING

Kate Murray, CSA

Heidi Griffiths, CSA

Chalin Tulyathan, Casting Associate

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT JUNIPER STREET PRODUCTIONS

Hillary Blanken Victoria Bullard Sadie Alisa

Burkett Horrigan Guy Kwan Ana Rose Greene

Ross Leonard Hannah Wilson Abby Filiaggi

Carolyn Bonaccorsi Chris Childs Laura Zamsky

Z Zurovitch Kara Kennedy

LEGAL COUNSEL

LAZARUS & HARRIS LLP

Scott Lazarus, Esq. Robert C Harris, Esq.

Emily Lawson, Esq. Carter Anne McGowan, Esq.

Diane Viale Patrick Wilcox

Production Stage Manager Veronica Aglow

Stage Manager Hollace Jeffords

Assistant Stage Manager Jasmin Holton

Sub Assistant Stage Manager Hai Alvarez Millard

Sub Assistant Stage Manager Amber Dickerson

Sub Assistant Stage Manager Caroline Inches

Assistant Director Rebecca Aparicio

Assistant Choreographer William Roberson

Associate Scenic Designer .......................... Mike Kaukl

Associate Costume Designer David Kaley

Assistant Costume Designer Audrey Petersen

Costume Department Coordinator Izzy Fields

Costume Production Assistant Georgia Evans

Associate Lighting Designer Joel Shier

Assistant Lighting Designer Amina Alexander

Associate Sound Designer Scott Kuker

Assistant Sound Designer Tye Hunt Fitzgerald

Associate Projection Designer Robert Figueira

Animators Zoey Crow

Associate Hair & Wig Designer Cassie Williams

Associate Makeup Designer Rose Eubanks

Fight Director Tom Schall

Intimacy Coordinator Rocio Mendez

Production Carpenter Chad Woerner

Advance Carpenter Billy Kimbley

Head Carpenter Austin Phillips

Flyman David Burgdorf

Advance Carpenter/Crew Swing Scott Halstead

Deck Automation Christopher Warren

Sub Deck Automation Nicole Reed

Assistant Carpenter (Deck) Blake Shepard

Sub Deck Carpenter Nate Lewis

Production Electricians Dan Coey, Oliver Read

Moving Lights Programmer Jackson Miller

Head Electrician Daniel Meltzer

Deck Electrician/Video Jacob Grebber

Advance Electrician/Crew Swing Taylor Ellsworth

Lead Followspot Meghan Hong

Production Video Asher Robinson

Advance Video Jordan Brown

Projection Programmer Benjamin Keightley

Sub Electrician Matt Hrinko

Production Sound Supervisors Phillip Lojo, Simon Matthews

Head Audio (A1) Tanner Elker

Deck Sound (A2) Amanda Majed Hanna

Production Props Ray Wetmore, JR Goodman

Assistant Production Props Vicki Ayers

Head Props Glenn Calhoun

Assistant Props Meghan Calhoun

Wardrobe Supervisor Gillian Austin Clifton

Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor Renee Jones

Sub Wardrobe Theresa-Rose Loebl

Hair & Makeup Supervisor ...................Nathaniel Jones

Assistant Hair & Makeup Supervisor Sheena Barfield

Sub Assistant Hair & Makeup

Supervisor Dakota Blankenship

Technical Production Assistant Kenedy Brooks

Music Contractor Kristy Norter

Drum Programming Chris Sutherland

Rehearsal Pianist Patrick Fanning

Rehearsal Drummers Jaylen Petinaud, Derek Stoltenberg

Music Clearance and Licensing Loudspeaker Music Group/Janet Billig Rich, Lisa Moberly

Assistant to Adam Blackstone ..............Marshay Monet

Investor Relations Associates Sam Levine, Xiaohua (Andre) He-Cohen

General Management Office Jennifer O’Connor, Edward Maar, William T. Harris, Ashley Kristeen Vega, Zarifa Adiba

Stage Management Production Assistants Hai Alvarez-Millard, Molly Foy, Caroline Inches

Human Resources Consultant K+K Reset/Kiah Jones, Karen Robinson

Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion The Inkwell Collective/ Alexa Smith

Accounting & Bookkeeping CBIZ Marks Paneth LLP/ Christopher Cacace, Petrina Bryan

Banking City National Bank/Michele Gibbons, Roberto Larrinaga-Yocom

Insurance Dewitt Stern/Peter Shoemaker

Payroll Checks and Balances Payroll Inc./ Sarah Galbraith

Merchandising Creative Goods Merchandise

Housing ABA/Elizabeth Helke, DebCo/Debbie Greenfield

Physical Therapy Neurosport Physical Therapy/ Sarah Hartsell, DPT

Production Photographer Marc J. Franklin

Production Videographer HMS Media Rehearsal Studio New 42nd Street Studios

CREDITS

Scenery fabricated by Global Scenic Services, INC., Bridgeport, CT, PRG Scenic Technologies, a division of PRG Broadway L.L.C., New Windsor, NY, and Daedalus

Design & Production, Brooklyn, NY. Show control and scenic motion control featuring Stage Command Systems by PRG Scenic Technologies, a division of PRG Broadway L.L.C., New Windsor, New York. Lighting equipment provided by PRG Lighting. Audio equipment from Sound Associates. Video equipment from 4Wall Entertainment. Props by Brenbri Properties, Prop & Paint Creative Studio, Rob McFadyen. Rigging by Black Paint Productions. Trucking by Rossi Delivery Services and Clark Transfer.

FOR AK WORLDWIDE MEDIA, INC

Chief of Staff Ana Lara

Head of Music .......................................... Ann Mincieli

Executive Creative Director Cole Cook

Executive Assistant Kristin Tillman

Assistant to Ms. Keys Chante Turner

Oven Studios Kez Khou

Oven Studios Brendan Morawski

Dean Family Office Donna Webster

Publicity, Full Coverage Kristen Foster

Publicity, Full Coverage Erica Gerard

Publicity, Full Coverage Melissa O’Toole

International Publicity, Edge Shoshanna Stone

International Publicity, Edge Evie Ranscombe

Head of Digital Jasmine Byrne

Digital Management Rene Gupta

Digital Creative Jamie Wallace

LBI Julie Yorn

Legal Carroll Guido Groffman Cohen Bar & Karalian, LLP/Ira Friedman

HK Original Creative Susan Lewis

Roc Nation, Management Jessica Pereira

Roc Nation, EVP TV/Film Lori York

FOR THE PUBLIC THEATER

Artistic Director Oskar Eustis

Executive Director Patrick Willingham

Associate Artistic Director/

Resident Director Saheem Ali

Associate Artistic Director/

Director of Cultural Transformation Alexa Smith

General Manager Jeremy Adams

Chief Marketing Officer Tom McCann

Chief Financial Officer Murray Abeles

Director of Producing & Artistic Planning Chiara Klein

Director of Production Peter Dean

Directors of Casting Jordan Thaler and Heidi Griffiths

Administrative Chief of Staff Rosalind Barbour

Senior Director, Development Kristina Hoge

Senior Director, Human Resources Sarah Rosen

Director of New Work Development Amrita Ramanan

Director of Civic Artistic

Programs Pablo Hernandez Basulto

Director of Joe’s Pub Alex Knowlton

Director, Public Theater Productions Leah Matthes

KALEIDOSCOPE DREAMS FOUNDATION

Executive Director Asad Ali Jafri

FELLOWS

Community Engagement Fellow Karl Michael Iglesias

Costume Design Fellow....................... Brianca Jeffery

Scenic Design Fellow Sydney Lynne

Music Direction Fellow Jenia Marquez

Sound Design Fellow Alyssa Marrero

Lighting Design Fellow Adrienne Miikelle

Projection Design Fellow Doaa Ouf

Directing Fellow Dominique Rider

Choreography Fellow Autumn Robinson

Company Management Fellow Herbert Welch

Special thanks to the Hell’s Kitchen Broadway teams: Marketing Direction Brand Nexus/Michele Groner

Press Representatives Polk & Co.

Cultural Press Representatives Fifteen East Media Group

Advertising/Marketing/Social Media AKA

Digital Advertising Arthouse

MUSIC CREDITS

“The Gospel” by Alicia Keys, Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, Mark Christopher Batson, Dennis D Coles, Kasseem

“Swizz Beatz” Dean, Lamont Hawkins, Shawn L Martin, and Corey Todd Woods. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Ramecca Publishing Inc./ Universal Music Careers (BMI), BAT Future Music/ Songs of Kobalt Publishing (BMI), MCF Music Publishing Inc./ Universal Music Careers (BMI), Swizz Beatz/ Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Tahj Malik Music (SESAC), MGB Songs/ Universal Music (ASCAP), Beautiful Sekai Publishing Inc. (BMI). “The River” by Alicia Keys and Johnny McDaid. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP) and Spirit B-Unique JV S A RL(BMI).

“Seventeen” by Alicia Keys. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP).

“You Don’t Know My Name” by Alicia Keys, Kanye Omari West, Ralph Bailey, Melvin Kent, Harold Spencer Lilly, and Kenneth Williams. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/ Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Ye World Music/ Sony Music Publishing (ASCAP), A Dish-A-Tunes Ltd/ Roynet (BMI), A Dish-A-Tunes Ltd (BMI), Uncle Bobby Music/Sony Music Publishing (BMI). “Kaleidoscope” by Alicia Keys, Breyan Isaac. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP); BMG Platinum Songs/THE THIRTIES SONGS (BMI). All rights administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC; and Billions Enterprises (BMI) and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI), all rights administered by WarnerTamerlane Publishing Corp. Gamal Lewis/Lunchmoney/ LEWIS GAMAL KOSH Where Da Kasz At/Kobalt.

“Gramercy Park” by Alicia Keys, James John Napier, and Samuel Elliot Roman. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Jimmy Napes/ Salli Isaak Songs Ltd/Universal Publishing (PRS), Songs of Roc Nation Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI). “Not Even the King” by Alicia Keys and Emeli Sande. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Stellar Songs Limited/EMI Blackwood Music Inc (BMI). “Teenage Love Affair” by Alicia Keys, Jack Splash/(Matt Kahane), Carl Mitchell Hampton, Harold Spencer Lilly, Josephine Bridges, Tom Nixon. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Jacks Love Emporium/ Admin by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing (BMI), Irving Music, Inc./ Stripe Music (BMI) (SAMPLE), Uncle Bobby Music/Sony Music Publishing (BMI). “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)” by Alicia Keys, Kerry D Brothers, Noah James Shebib, and Aubrey Drake Graham. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Book Of Daniel Music/Sony Music Publishing (ASCAP), Mavor & Moses LLC (SOCAN/BMI), LW Music GMR/ Universal Music Works. “Girl On Fire (feat. Nicki Minaj) –Inferno Version” by Alicia Keys, William H Squier, Jeffery Nath Bhasker, Onika Tanya Maraj, and Salaam Remi. Tiny Verse written by Vanessa Ferguson. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/ Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Songs of The Night/Spirit Two Music, INC (ASCAP), Money Mack Music/Ken & Barbie Music/Universal Music Corp (BMI), Analog MetaverseAdmin by Warner Chappell (BMI). “Perfect Way to Die” by Alicia Keys and Coleridge Gardner Tillman. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/ Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Songs of Universal Inc (BMI). “Heartburn” by Alicia Keys, Timothy Z. Mosley, Candice Clotiel Nelson, Walter Worth Milsap, and Erika Rose Santoro. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/ Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Virginia Beach Music/W. B. Music Corp. (ASCAP), Bootleggers Stop/ Universal Music Corp (ASCAP), Conjunction Music Publishing/ EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP), and Phoenix Rose Music Publishing/Soaring Music Publishing/EMI Music Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP). “Love Looks Better” by

Alicia Keys, Ryan B Tedder, Lorrance Levar Dopson, and Noel Zancanella. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/ Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Write Me A Song Publishing (GMR), Blue Nike Publishing/Songs of Volume Ventures administered by Peermusic III Ltd. (BMI), Songs of Patriot Games/Blastronaut Publishing (BMI). “Work on It” by Alicia Keys and Pharrell L Williams. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), More Water From Nazareth Publishing/Emi Pop Music Publishing (GMR). “Authors of Forever” by Alicia Keys, Johnny McDaid, and Jonny Coffer. Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Spirit B-Unique Polar Patrol Songs obo Spirit B-Unique Polar Patrol (BMI), and Spirit B-Unique JV S A RL (BMI), Sony ATV Songs. “Fallin” by Alicia Keys. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP). “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP). “Pawn It All” by Alicia Keys, Mark Batson, Harold Lilly, Swizz Beatz. Published by: Lellow Productions Inc /Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Ramecca Publishing Inc./Universal Music Careers (BMI), Stories Included/Songs Of Universal, Inc. (BMI), Swizz Beatz/ Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP). “Like You’ll Never See Me Again” by Alicia Keys and Kerry D Brothers. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP). “Hallelujah” by Alicia Keys and James John Napier. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/ Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Jimmy Napes/Salli Isaak Songs Ltd/Universal Publishing (PRS). “Like Water (Originals)” by Alicia Keys, Sia Kate I Furler, and Mark Batson. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Pineapple Lasagne/Emi April Music Inc/Sony/ATV Music Publishing (ASCAP), Dynamic Reality Music (BMI). “No One” by Alicia Keys, Kerry D Brothers, and George Michael Harry. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Book Of Daniel Music/Sony Music Publishing (ASCAP), D Harry Prod/Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP). “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down” by Alicia Keys, Alexander William Shuckburgh, Angela Ann Hunte, Bert Keyes, Janet Andrea Sewell, Shawn Carter, and Sylvia Robinson. Published by Lellow Productions Inc/Universal Music Corporation(ASCAP), Al Shuckburgh/Global Talent Publishing (PRS), Masani El Shabazz Music/ EMI/Foray Music, Gambi Music, Inc/ Twenty Nine Black Music/ Songs Of Universal, Inc/BMI, J. Sewell Publishing/EMI April Music, INC. (ASCAP), Warner Chappell Music Publishing, Gambi Music, Inc/ Twenty Nine Black Music/Songs Of Universal, Inc/BMI.

SPECIAL THANKS

Nicholas Ponting, Tzu Tu Su, The Public Theater Costume Department, Meriwether Snipes, Audrey Peterson, Jason Goodwin, Roland, PRS Guitars, Jackson Guitars

Ms. Keys would like to thank Terria Joseph, Kasseem Dean, Egypt Dean, Genesis Dean, Nasir Dean, Kasseem Dean Jr., Nicole Dean, Craig Cook and Oven Studios

THE ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS EMPLOYED IN THIS PRODUCTION ARE MEMBERS OF ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, THE UNION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Backstage and Front of the House Employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or I.A.T.S.E.).

The musicians employed in this production are members of the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians.

ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers (IATSE Local 18032), represents the Press Agents, Company Managers and Theatre Managers employed on this production.

United Scenic Artists • Local USA 829 of the I.A.T.S.E. represents the Designers & Scenic Artists for the American Theatre

This production is produced by a member of The Broadway League in collaboration with our professional union-represented employees.

DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT IN ITS 2025/26 BROADWAY SEASON

PLEASE BE ADVISED

• LATECOMERS and those exiting the theatre are seated at predetermined breaks in designated areas.

• PHOTOS, RECORDING & CELL PHONE USE are prohibited.

• CHILDREN 6+ are welcome in our theatres and must be ticketed.

• DRINKS are allowed in provided containers.

• ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES, LARGE PRINT PROGRAMS & BOOSTER SEATS are available in most theatres. Ask an usher to direct you.

• BRAILLE PROGRAMS are available with 2 weeks’ notice to accessibility@dcpa.org.

Members of Denver Theatrical Wardrobe, Wigs, Hair and Make-up, IATSE Local 719

Appleton, Robin Asselin, Lauren Bassignani, Julie Clough, Vonnie Cory, Craig Cory, Cyndie Davies, Steve Davis, Anne Dore, Carolyn Elwood, Liz Guess, Deborah Gunter, AnnSue Holabird, Judy Holabird, William Knabb, Amoreena Krimbel, Amber LaCasse, Lauren Lambert, Kelsey

Lambert, Leslie Lambert, Sarah Martin, Loren Millikan-Hale, Sharon Morrow, Callie Nelson, Timothy Parsons Wagner, Lisa Payne, Laura Poole, Dave Richards, Alan Schmidt, Abby Sorce, Marisa Spadi, Elisa Tepel, Amy Vlasova, Eliza Watts, Nicole Williams, Kami Wilson, Barbara

DPAC House Crew

Mark Anthony

Thomas Berning

Perry Elliott Allen Olmstead

Albert Sainz Sr. Amanda Short Josh Thurman Derek Tovar

The Denver Performing Arts Complex is owned and operated by Denver Arts & Venues for the City and County of Denver. City and County of Denver

Mike Johnston, Mayor Denver Arts & Venues

Gretchen Hollrah, Executive Director

Jen Morris, Deputy Executive Director

Tariana Navas-Nievas, Deputy Executive Director

Denver Arts & Venues, Arts Complex Operations

Jody Grossman, Venue Director

Todd Medley, Facilities Superintendent

Kelly Graham, Safety, Security and Garage Operations Manager

Carol Krueger, Patron Services Manager

artscomplex.com | (720) 865-4220

For immediate assistance & security (720) 865-4200

GO BEHIND THE SCENES

Find out how costume designers, set builders, propmakers, and technical specialists create our shows from scratch.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours take place Mondays and Saturdays at 10am

During these walking tours, you will experience recent updates to our storied performance spaces and discover the people and processes that bring theatre to life.

$12 • 2-hour guided tour

LEGACY GIVING

Leave a legacy. Make a pledge that safeguards the future of theatre. By doing so, you’ll become a member of the Encore Society, a dedicated group of patrons who have made long-term commitments to the DCPA in their estate plans.

HERE’S HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Take advantage of tax-wise giving: Speak with your tax advisor about transferring appreciated stock directly to the DCPA, or direct part or all of the RMD from your IRA directly to us. We pay no capital gains, so your direct transfer contributions often go further than personally taking your distribution and making donations out of the proceeds.

Make a gift in your will or revocable trust: Give a tax-free gift for any DCPA designation that can be updated at any time.

Designate the DCPA as a beneficiary: Name the DCPA as a beneficiary of a retirement plan, IRA, insurance policy, or other account.

As a member of our Encore Society, you’ll receive invitations to special events, access to discounted show tickets, and more member-only perks!

A BIG STAGE FOR BIG EMOTIONS BRINGING NEXT TO NORMAL TO THE WOLF THEATRE

BY COLLIN VAN SON

TThere are many things in life that we want to be normal. Morning commutes. Dental exams. Parents when they first meet our significant others. But there are also certain contexts where we like to be surprised — the theatre being one of them. So when director Nancy Keystone admits that “I honestly don’t know what the hell normal is,” that might be a good thing. Especially when directing the emotional, musical, and pharmacological rollercoaster that is Next to Normal

Set in an anonymous American suburb, Next to Normal follows the highs and lows of the Goodman family as they navigate mother Diana’s severe bipolar disorder. For Keystone, who directed an earlier production of the rock musical with the Los Angeles-based East West Players, the story’s volatile mood swings are part of the appeal. “What’s great,” she says, “is there will be a really funny thing, and then it turns on a dime and it’s just devastating…. [It shows how] people in the most dire circumstances find the humor and the absurdity.”

Next to Normal also marks Keystone’s return to the Denver Center, where in 2019 she directed the Paula Vogel play Indecent in the Kilstrom Theatre. This time, however, she is working with a larger — and as she describes it, a more challenging — canvas. “The Wolf Theatre is a three-quarter thrust,” explains Keystone, in reference to the way the stage extends into the audience, “which is, I think, the hardest configuration to work in.”

Compared to the radial symmetry of the Kilstrom, a three-quarter thrust like the Wolf produces very different sightlines for different parts of the audience. Extra care is required to ensure that every seat affords a good view of the action. “I try to figure it out with the actors,” says Keystone. “With the physical bodies in space.”

But it’s not just its shape that sets the Wolf apart from other Denver Center spaces — it’s also its size. “It’s really big for the actors,” says Keystone. “They have to be in wildly different places on the stage and appear and disappear.”

Adding to the difficulty is Next to Normal’s rapid-fire pacing. “A lot of stuff happens simultaneously,” says Keystone. “The scenes have to flow very quickly. There’s not a lot of transition time.” That means mapping out routes that the actors can follow up, down, behind, and under the stage while saving enough breath to launch back into song.

Fortunately, Keystone is no stranger to demanding environments. As the founding artistic director of Critical Mass Performance Group, she’s put on shows in bars, basements, and abandoned military barracks. While the Wolf’s large size may pose its own challenges, Keystone has learned to appreciate the little things. “It already has lights,” she says of the Wolf. “It has a sound system. It has ways to fly things in and out — it’s a theatre.”

As Keystone sees it, the physical scale of the Wolf is a natural fit for the emotional scale of Next to Normal. Though the story takes place against the familiar backdrop of American suburbia, the characters’ interior landscapes are far more sweeping and exotic. “The human psyche is very epic,” says Keystone. “The places that the characters go, especially Diana’s character — she has all these kind of delusions and fantasy sequences…. I love the epicness of the characters’ journeys.”

Finding those journeys, what Keystone calls “each path through the play,” is no small task. “I liken it to sculpting,” she says. “You keep chipping away at detail, and the more you chip the more detail you get.” In this case, however,

Keystone’s tools aren’t chisels but questions: “You keep asking questions, and you keep pushing to find a more truthful moment.”

Much like actual sculpting, it can be a time-consuming process. “I tend to push and push and push and not stop until basically an hour before we open. That’s one of the first things I tell people is we’re going to rehearse on opening night and there might even be changes.”

Changes on opening night? “I mean, probably there won’t be,” admits Keystone. “But you never know. It’s a constant process of discovery.”

Asked what she hopes to discover in her second production of Next to Normal, Keystone points to Diana and the challenges of understanding a character who so often struggles to understand herself. It’s a “psychological, physical, spiritual conundrum,” she says. “She has so many different kinds of moments onstage.”

The human psyche is very epic. The places that the characters go, especially Diana’s character — she has all these kind of delusions and fantasy sequences…. I love the epicness of the characters’ journeys.

— NANCY KEYSTONE, DIRECTOR

Ultimately, however, “it’s as much about the family as it is about Diana.” And among the members of the Goodman family, each struggling and striving in their own ways, Keystone observes that there is no single version of what normal looks like. For daughter Natalie, “it’s like, ‘Can we just have dinner where there’s not a major crisis?’ ” Whereas for husband Dan, a normal life is one where his wife is capable of driving herself around town.

As for Nancy Keystone, director and storyteller, normal may simply be another work of fiction. “I’ve never felt normal in my life,” she says. “The longer I live, the more I really wonder if anything is normal or anybody is normal.”

In other words, feelings of abnormality might just be the most normal thing of all.

NEXT TO NORMAL

APRIL 3 – MAY 3, 2026 • WOLF THEATRE

ASL Interpreted, Audio Described, & Open Captioned performance: April 19 at 1:30pm Stay for a post-show discussion: April 23 & 29

6 CORE VALUES. 1 DENVER CENTER.

1.BELONGING

We build a respectful and empathetic culture through our active commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

2.COLLABORATION

We produce our best possible work together by engaging people with diverse perspectives, lived experiences and talents around our shared goals.

3.COMMUNITY

We cultivate open, responsive, affirming relationships and partnerships for a greater collective impact.

4.CREATIVITY

We embrace innovation and imagination in our daily work to advance our mission.

5.INTEGRITY

We act responsibly, with honesty, accountability and transparency.

6.SUSTAINABILITY

We prioritize the wellbeing of our team, our finances and the environment to ensure our thriving future.

Learn more about what drives the DCPA, and where we’re going, at denvercenter.org/plan

DaVita is a proud member of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and is grateful for the opportunity to support the Theatre for Young Audiences program and the local arts.

PREMIERE ACCESS MEMBER AND PROUD SPONSOR OF THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES

HHeadquartered in Denver, DaVita is a health care provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality of life for patients globally. As a comprehensive kidney care provider, DaVita has been a leader in clinical quality and innovation for more than 25 years, caring for patients at every stage of their kidney health journey — from slowing the progression of kidney disease to helping to support transplantation, from acute hospital care to dialysis at home.

With more than 20 care locations in the Denver metro area, DaVita is dedicated to improving health for people with chronic kidney disease and fostering vibrant communities in Colorado, across the nation, and around the world. The DaVita Giving Foundation is a national, impact-driven foundation focused on healthcare career pathways, kidney disease prevention and education, and social drivers of health. Its work helps to drive a positive influence on the communities the company serves.

DaVita is a proud member of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and is grateful for the opportunity to support the Theatre for Young Audiences program and the local arts.

PROUD PARTNER OF THE DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

“At CBS Colorado, we shine a spotlight on what’s happening at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and across Colorado’s vibrant arts and cultural communities. We recognize the powerful role the arts play in shaping our state — bringing people together, strengthening local economies, and enriching everyday life. CBS Colorado is proud to support and celebrate the creativity that helps make Colorado a place where people want to live, work, and thrive.

– Kristine Strain VP Station Manager and News Director, CBS Colorado

Breaking News, First Alert Weather & Your Reporters... Covering Colorado First.

IN DOWNTOWN DENVER

Three-course Pre-Theatre Menu for $60 per person with an optional wine pairing for $30

range

Complimentary valet parking and dessert with purchase of entrée

EVENTS

THAT MAKE A

DIFFERENCE

FUNDRAISERS AT DCPA

As a mission-driven non-profit organization, we know firsthand how to craft memorable breakfasts, luncheons, black-tie galas, and retreats.

Take advantage of our special non-profit rates for your organization’s next event.

We are so grateful to our partners and to the thousands of donors and event participants over the years that have helped to improve and enrich the lives of those in our community.

— THE DENVER POST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

PROUD SEASON SPONSOR OF THE DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

TThe Denver Post is proud to support the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, both through sponsorship of its acclaimed theatre productions as well as with grant funding through The Denver Post Community Foundation. The longstanding partnership with DCPA has given countless individuals of all ages, the opportunity to experience and develop a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

The Denver Post Community Foundation believes in giving back to the communities in which it serves and proudly supports hundreds of nonprofits’ programs and events. Support is given in many ways: through The Denver Post Community Foundation, employee volunteering, and inkind advertising.

The Denver Post Community Foundation, a recognized 501 (c)(3) nonprofit agency, raises funds through individual and corporate donations, through its unique Signature Events and Programs and through the annual holiday Season To Share campaign. The overall mission is to improve and enrich the lives of those in the Denver community through support of programs that benefit arts and culture; children and youth; education and literacy; and the provision of basic human services. To date, more than $13,250,000 has been raised and distributed.

• Signature Events and Programs

These well-established events and programs have become staples in the community. They offer partners, participants and volunteers something unique each year. They include: Pen & Podium Literary Lecture Series, Passport To The Arts, and the Colorado State Spelling Bee

• The Denver Post Season To Share

The Denver Post Season To Share holiday fundraising campaign supports metro Denver nonprofit organizations that help low-income children, families, and individuals move out of poverty toward stability and self-sufficiency. Each year, grants are awarded to more than 50 deserving nonprofits with programs focused on children and youth, health and wellness, homelessness, and hunger. These grants are made possible through the generosity of Denver Post readers, the broader community, corporate donors, and our valued partners. Donations are matched and accepted year-round. To learn more, visit seasontoshare.com .

Together We Can Make A Difference denverpostcommunity.com

DCPA TEAM

DCPA

Janice Sinden President & CEO

Donna Hendricks Executive Assistant, President & CEO

Julie Schumaker Manager, Board Relations

ACCOUNTING & FINANCE

Jane Williams CFAO

Sara Brandenburg Director, Accounting Services

Jennifer Jeffrey Director, Financial Planning & Analysis

Kristina Monge Associate Accountant

Jennifer Siemers Director, Accounting

BROADWAY & CABARET

John Ekeberg Executive Director

Administration

Ashley Brown Business Manager

Alicia Bruce General Manager

Lisa Prater Operations Manager

Garner Galleria Theatre

Abel Becerra Technical Director

Jason Begin+, Anna Hookana+ Core Stagehands

DEVELOPMENT

Jamie Clements Vice President

Sarah Darlene Manager, Grants & Reports

Julia Dunn Manager, Donor Engagement & Legacy Giving

Kara Erickson-Stiemke Manager, Annual Giving & Stewardship

Emily Kettlewell Director, Operations

Caitie Maxwell Senior Director, Major Gifts

Marc Ravenhill Director, Donor Relations

Sarah Smith Coordinator

Megan Stewart Associate Director, Special Events

Jazzmin Bonner Yale Management Fellow

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Allison Watrous Executive Director

Stuart Barr Technical Director

Leslie Channell Director, Business Operations

Lyndsay Corbett Teaching Artist & Manager, Bobby G

María Corral Director, Community Engagement

Heather Curran Teaching Artist & Manager, Playwriting

Elliot Davis Evening Registrar & Office Coordinator

Rachel Ducat Executive Assistant & Business Manager

Rya Dyes Registrar & On-Site Class Manager

Gavin Juckette Teaching Artist & Manager, TYA Engagement & Music

Timothy McCracken Head of Acting

Rick Mireles Manager, Community Engagement

David Saphier Teaching Artist & Manager, In-School Programming

Charlotte Talbert Librarian

Rachel Taylor Teaching Artist & Manager, Literary Engagement & Resiliency

Justin Walvoord Teaching Artist & Manager, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot

Samuel Wood Director, Education & Curriculum Development

EVENT SERVICES

Tara Miller Event Sales & Operations Director

Brook Nichols Event Technical Director

Aidan Gagner Video Engineer

Michael Harris Lighting Designer

Stori Heleen-O’Foley Event Technical Manager

Shane Hotle Audio Engineer

Kris Lawan, Savannah Singleton Event Captains

Danielle Levine, Blair Quiring Senior Sales & Event Managers

Jacob Noon, Phil Rohrbach Sales & Event Managers

Benjamin Peitzer Event Technical Lead

Kaden Richter Audio Engineer

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Lisa Roebuck Vice President For security purposes, the IT team has been omitted.

MARKETING & SALES

Angela Lakin Vice President

Whitney Testa Executive Assistant, Marketing & Broadway

Communications

Suzanne Yoe Director

Heidi Bosk, Brittany Gutierrez Associate Directors

Todd Metcalf Media Producer

Creative Services

Kyle Malone Director

Sofia Contreras,

Lucas Kreitler Graphic Designers

Paul Koob Senior Graphic Designer

Noelle Norris Traffic Coordinator

Digital

Michael Ryan Leuthner Director

Erin Bunyard Senior Strategist

Harper Anne Finch Manager, Social Media

Hannah Selwyn Manager, Email

Sergio von Kretschmann Manager, Web

Insight & Strategy

Emily Kent Director

Dan McNulty Analyst

Marketing

Claire Graves Director

Emily Lozow Associate Director

Maddie Lamb, Emmy VanLangevelde, Julie Whelan Managers

Mikayla Woods Coordinator

Ticketing & Audience Services

Jennifer Lopez Director

Jessica Alverson*, Zeah Edmonds*,

Lauren Estes*, Amanda Foust*, Jen Gray*,

Noah Jungferman*, Oliver Knight*, Reagan Luchte*, Alix Maulitz*, Claudia Ruizesparza*, Holly Stigen*, Asheala Tasker*, Rob Warner* Ticket Agents

Kirsten Anderson*, Scott Lix*, Liz Sieroslawski*, Greg Swan* Subscription Agents

Jon Collins, D.J. Dennis Manager, Subscription

Edmund Gurule*, Brett O’Neill*

Hayley Solano*, Andrew Sullivan*, Bronwen VanOrdstrand*, Alfonso Vazquez*, Max McCord* Counter/Show Leads

Billy Dutton Associate Director, Operations

Katie Davis, Claire Hayes,

Ella Mann Managers, Box Office

Chris Leech VIP Ticketing Associate

Katie Spanos Associate Director, Subscriber Services

Group Sales

Jessica Bergin Associate Director

Elias Lopez,

Valery Owen Associates, Group Sales & Education

OFF-CENTER

Charlie Miller Founder

OPERATIONS

Sarah Arzberger,

Danielle Freeman Managers

Aaron Chavez Lead

Ruben Cruz, Jordan Latouche Engineers

Simone Gordon Director

Kyle Greufe Senior Analyst

Maria Herwagen Junior Analyst

Brandon LeMarr Associate Director

Alison Orthel, Tara Perticone Analysts

Joseph Reecher Senior Engineer

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Laura Maresca CPCO

Equity & Organization Culture

Seán Kroll Specialist

Human Resources

Brian Carter Senior Business Partner

Andrew Guilder Recruiter & HR Generalist

Michaela Johnson Mailroom Assistant

Paul Johnson Manager, Payroll & Compliance

Jocelyn Martinez Business Partner

Kinsey Scholl Manager, Operations

THEATRE COMPANY

Administration

Charles Varin Managing Director

Emily Diaz Business Admin./ Asst. Company Manager

Jessica Eckenrod Line Producer

Alex Koszewski Company Manager

Ann Marshall General Manager

Artistic

Chris Coleman Artistic Director

Grady Soapes Artistic Producer & Casting Director

Leean Kim Torske Director, Literary Programs

Madison Cook-Hines Literary Assistant

Costume Crafts

Kevin Copenhaver Director

Chris Campbell Assistant

Costume Shop

Janet MacLeod Director/Design Associate

Meghan Anderson Doyle Design Associate

Katarina Kosmopoulos First Hand

Ingrid Ludeke, Carolyn Plemitscher Drapers

House Crew

James Berman+, Will King, Dave Mazzeno+, Kyle Moore+, Heather Sparling+, Matt Wagner+ Stagehands

Joseph Price+, Kelley Reznik+ Technicians

Lighting Design

Charles MacLeod Director

Connor Baker+ Production Electrician

Lily Bradford Assistant

Paint Shop

Kristin Hamer MacFarlane Charge Scenic Artist

Melanie Rentschler, Sasha Seaman Scenic Artists

Production

Jeff Gifford Director

Julie Brou Administrative Assistant/ Office Manager

Matthew Campbell Production Manager

Peggy Carey Production Manager

Prop Shop

Meghan Markiewicz Supervisor

Sara Pugh Associate Supervisor

Bennet Goldberg, Ashley Lawler Artisans

Adena Rice.

Scene Shop

Eric Moore Technical Director

Albert “Stub” Allison, Robert L. Orzolek, Josh Prues Associate Technical Directors

Jeremy Banthoff, Tyler D. Clark, Kyle Scoggins Scenic Technicians

Wynn Pastor Scenic Technician & Purchasing Agent

Louis Fernandez III Lead Scenic Technician

Brian “Marco” Markiewicz Lead Carpenter

Scenic Design

Lisa Orzolek Director

Nicholas Renaud Assistant

Sound Design & Technology

Alex Billman Supervisor

Meagan Holdeman+, Timothy Schoeberl+, Dimitri Soto+ Technicians

Elijah Ruddick Sound & Technology Assistant

Stage Management

Anne Jude Supervisor

Chandra R.M. Anthenill, Wayne Breyer, Corin Davidson, Kristin Dwyer, Elizabeth Ann Goodman, Harper Hadley, Sage Hughes, Nick Mason, Melissa J. Michelson, Christine Rose Moore, Nick Nyquist, Brooke Redler, Malia Stoner Stage Managers

Sage Goetsch, Dylan Hudson, Hannah Iverson, Casey Pitts Apprentices

Wardrobe

Heidi Echtenkamp Supervisor

Robin Appleton^, Amber Krimbel^, Lauren LaCasse^, Lisa Parsons Wagner , Nicole Watts^, Kami Williams^ Dressers

Wigs

Diana Ben-Kiki Supervisor

Abby Schmidt^, Marisa Sorce^ Hair/Wig Technicians

VENUE OPERATIONS

Glen Lucero Vice President

Kristi Horvath Director

Merry Davis Financial Manager

Jane Deegan Administrator

Samantha Egle Manager, Event Operations

Facilities

Craig Smith Director

Dwight Barela, Mark Dill, Bryan Faciane, John Howard, Iver Johnson Engineers

Ana Esparza, Saleem As-Saboor, Adriana Fuentes, Carmen Molina, Juan Loya Molina, Judith Primero Molina, Blanca Primero Custodians

Michael Kimbrough Manager, Engineering

Oscar Fraire Manager, Custodial

Brian McClain Supervisor, Custodial

Patron Experience

Kaylyn Kriaski Manager

LeiLani Lynch, Aaron McMullen, Stacy Norwood, Wendy Quintana, Kelci Rigsby, Valerie Schaefer, Ashli Townsend Managers on Duty

Kelly Breuer, Nora Caley, Robin Lander, Melanie Mason, Barbara Pooler, Ayden Smith House Managers

Safety & Security

Quentin Crump Director

Timothy Allen, Jodi Benavides Lead Security Officers

David Bright, Ariana Cuevas, Acura Holt, Ethan Kemberlin, Jack Leatherwood, Ian Nelson, Glenn Powell, Ashley Skillman, Zach Stemley, Pamela Winston, Tori Witherspoon Security Specialists

Prop Carpenter