Hell's Kitchen: Behind the Dream

by Alicia Keys, Lise Funderburg

A stunning behind-the-scenes look into Alicia Keys’s hit Broadway musical, Hell’s Kitchen, featuring never-before-seen photographs, exclusive interviews, and insights from Keys herself.

Hell’s Kitchen debuted on Broadway in 2024—and the show has been electrifying audiences ever since. With plenty of awards attention, the musical has drawn sold-out crowds to the Shubert Theatre for Alicia Keys’s coming-of-age tale that shows us where dreams begin. Based on Keys’s own story of growing up in New York City's Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in the 1990s, the show follows Ali, a headstrong teen searching for her independence, her voice, and her place in the world. Stifled by an overprotective mother, Ali is lost until she meets her a neighbor who opens her heart to the power of music.

Featuring many of Keys’s greatest R&B hits, along with songs created especially for the musical, the story is an inspiring mother-daughter tale about finding yourself and your purpose, and the community that lifts you.

The Hell’s Kitchen book shares an intimate look inside the show’s creation, from the first spark of an idea through the musical’s thirteen-year journey to Broadway, where it continues to thrill audiences today. The book includes exclusive interviews with key cast and creative team members; first-person notes from Keys on her original songs; stunning stage photography and behind-the-scenes images; insights into costume creation, set design, choreography, and casting; and much more. This beautiful tribute answers every burning question a fan of the musical may have. Ultimately, it’s a triumphant celebration of Alicia Keys and New York City.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

240 pages, Hardcover

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

Passionate about my work, in love with my family and dedicated to spreading light. It's contagious! ;-)

Reviews

[William Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell’s Kitchen: Behind the Dream is more than a companion book, it’s a love letter to New York, to music, and to the journey of turning life into art. Alicia Keys opens the curtain not just on her Broadway hit, but on her own story of resilience, creativity, and community. The mix of behind-the-scenes photography, personal reflections, and interviews with cast and crew makes you feel like you’re part of the process, watching this dream take shape from the ground up. What I loved most is how it captures both the grit and the glory: the years of work, the sparks of inspiration, the neighborhood heartbeat that infused every note. If you’ve seen the show, this book is a treasure chest; if you haven’t, it will make you desperate to experience it live. A stunning, soulful celebration of Alicia Keys’s artistry and the city that raised her.

[Tina Panik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Library Journal; full review appears there.

[ELISA C. LYNCH - Lis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Finished This Book By @lkfunderburg and @aliciakeys @hellskitchenbway I Enjoyed It A Lot, HK Forever, Go See It!!