Hell's Kitchen, Stereophonic Are Lucky 13 with Tony Noms

Hell's Kitchen dominates the 2024
Tony noms.
Credit: Joan Marcus

Hell's Kitchen, Alicia Keys' semi-autobiographical musical, and Stereophonic, David Adjmi's play about a Fleetwood Mac-like band recording a crucial album, are tied for the most 2023-24 Tony Award nominations with 13 apiece. Both are transfers from Off-Broadway productions earlier this season. The nomination announcement was made by Tony winners Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Renee Elsie Goldsberry on April 30, first on CBS Mornings with six major categories and then the remainder on the Tony Awards' YouTube channel. The awards will be presented on June 16 on CBS in a ceremony at the David Koch Theater in Lincoln Center hosted by Oscar winner Ariana DeBose. A pre-show will air on Pluto TV.

Hell's Kitchen and Stereophonic are followed by The Outsiders with 12, Cabaret with 9 and Appropriate with 8. Among currently running shows, The Wiz and The Heart of Rock and Roll were shut out completely. 

Sarah Pidgeon, Juliana Canfield, and Tom Peckina
are all Tony-nominated for
Stereophonic which received 13 noms.
Credit: Julieta Cervantes

There were some oddities in the list. Mary Jane, Amy Herzog's play about a single mother dealing with medically changed child, was considered a new play while Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Appropriate, concerning a white family finding disturbing racist artifacts in their late father's home, was deemed a revival, even though both have had previous productions Off-Broadway. 

Several designers were double or triple nominees for their work on multiple productions. David Zinn received three nods for the sets of Jaja's African Hair Braiding and Stereophonic and the costumes for An Enemy of the People. Another triple nominee, Dede Ayite was recognized for her costumes for Hell's Kitchen, Appropriate and Jaja's African Hair Braiding.

Here's a complete list of the nominees:

Best Musical
Hell’s Kitchen
Illinoise
The Outsiders
Suffs
Water for Elephants

B'way Update: Hell's Kitchen Transfers; Busch and Izzard Off-B'way

Maleah Joi Moon (right) in Hell's Kitchen.
Credit: Joan Marcus

Hell's Kitchen, the new musical employing the songs of and inspired by the life of pop singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, is transferring from its current home at the Public Theater to Broadway. Previews begin March 28 at the Shubert Theater with an opening set for April 20. The show runs at the Public until Jan. 14, 2024. Featuring a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz, direction by Michael Greif (Rent) and choreography by Camille A. Brown (for colored girls), Hell's Kitchen focuses on 17-year-old Ali, living in a cramped apartment with her single mom in Manhattan Plaza, finding love with an older boyfriend and discovering her musical talent with the aide of a commanding mentor. The score includes several Keys' biggest hits including "Fallin'," "Girl on Fire" and "Empire State of Mind" as well as four new songs.