GRAMMY NOMINEE: Alicia Keys

Summary

Summary of Podcast Episode: GRAMMY NOMINEE: Alicia Keys

Podcast Information

• Title: Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist
• Host: Willie Geist, Sunday TODAY
• Episode: GRAMMY NOMINEE: Alicia Keys
• Release Date: January 31, 2025

Introduction In this episode of "Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist," host Willie Geist engages in an in-depth conversation with renowned artist Alicia Keys. The discussion centers around Alicia's latest venture—a Broadway musical titled Hell's Kitchen—which draws inspiration from her own upbringing in New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. The episode delves into the creative process behind the musical, Alicia's personal journey, and her reflections on fame and artistry.

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1. Alicia Keys' Broadway Musical: Hell's Kitchen

Overview of the Musical Alicia Keys introduces Hell's Kitchen as a heartfelt coming-of-age story set in her beloved Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. Although the musical is loosely based on her life, Alicia emphasizes that it is not autobiographical. Instead, it captures the essence of her experiences growing up and the vibrant culture of 1990s New York City.

Key Insights:

• Development Journey: Alicia reveals that the musical has been in development for over 13 years, highlighting her dedication to the project. "I've been dreaming about and working on for more than a decade," she shares ([27:31]).

• Setting and Inspiration: The story centers around Ally, a 17-year-old girl navigating the challenges of adolescence in a tough neighborhood. Alicia draws parallels between Ally's journey and her own upbringing, albeit with creative liberties. "I grew up with a single mother. I learned how to love music while growing up in my building in Hell's Kitchen," she explains ([03:38]).

Notable Quotes:

• "This is a dream come true for her as she grew up just around the corner from the theater... it's incredibly well acted." — Alicia Keys ([01:07])
• "Remember where dreams begin. Everyone can remember where their dreams began, even if it was just yesterday." — Alicia Keys ([31:03])

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2. Creative Collaboration and Production

Collaborative Efforts: Alicia discusses the importance of her collaboration with key individuals who helped bring Hell's Kitchen to life. She credits book writer Chris Diaz and seasoned director Michael Greif for their invaluable contributions.

Key Insights:

• Choosing the Right Team: "Finding that partnership is really important. And he's been the most amazing partner in the process." — Alicia Keys ([10:09])

• Balancing New and Veteran Talents: Michael Greif's expertise blends with fresh perspectives, creating a dynamic production team. Alicia highlights the infusion of new talent, especially newcomers making their Broadway debut, which adds a vibrant energy to the show. "There's a spirit that comes out here with these newcomers." — Alicia Keys ([22:25])

Notable Quotes:

• "It's sacred. It’s a craft. It requires care and time... that's why the book writer, Chris Diaz, was such an intentional choice." — Alicia Keys ([10:09])
• "The choreography takes you to places that we wouldn't have been able to just say. It's those nuances that, you know, touch your spirit." — Alicia Keys ([23:24])

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3. Incorporation of Music and Storytelling

Musical Integration: Alicia emphasizes the seamless integration of her music into the narrative of Hell's Kitchen. Instead of a traditional sing-along format, the musical features rearranged versions of her hits that enhance the storytelling.

Key Insights:

• Reinventing Classics: Songs like "Fallen" are reimagined to fit specific scenes, adding depth and emotional resonance. Alicia notes, "We rearranged all of her hit songs so that they would fit into the show seamlessly with the dialogue." ([16:29])

• Original Compositions: In addition to her classic hits, Alicia contributes new songs tailored to the musical's narrative, enriching the storyline with fresh musical expressions. "There are so many ways that the songs are arranged and composed that tell the story of what you're experiencing." — Alicia Keys ([16:46])

Notable Quotes:

• "Fallen is actually sung by Brandon Victor Dixon... we purposefully created a sonic for it that is quite different from Fallen." — Alicia Keys ([18:23])
• "It's a love story between a mother and a daughter... and the songs mean something brand new to me." — Alicia Keys ([14:59])

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4. Casting and Authenticity

Authentic Representation: Casting for Hell's Kitchen prioritized actors who could authentically embody the spirit of New York City. Alicia discusses the meticulous process to ensure that the performers could convey the unique energy of Hell's Kitchen.

Key Insights:

• Capturing New York Energy: "You can't teach it. I can't teach you how to embody it... you do have to have that New York energy." — Alicia Keys ([24:12])

• Personal Connections: Alicia shares stories about casting individuals she has personally worked with, such as Vanessa Ferguson from "The Voice," highlighting the serendipitous nature of finding the right talent. "I know for a fact that I did the voice to meet Vanessa, to make for her to be a part of this show." — Alicia Keys ([23:54])

Notable Quotes:

• "There's a lot of how the notes or wow. I mean, just blowing the back out of this place." — Alicia Keys ([22:25])
• "Because it is so based on the experiences of growing up in New York... it's alive. It's real." — Alicia Keys ([25:07])

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5. Personal Reflections and Growth

Alicia's Journey: A key portion of the conversation delves into Alicia Keys' personal growth, her early life, and how her passion for music shaped her career.

Key Insights:

• Early Musical Beginnings: Alicia recounts starting piano at seven and how it became a foundation for her independence and creativity. "Playing the piano really started to make sense. It became this fusion of worlds that I could control almost." — Alicia Keys ([35:01])

• Balancing Fame and Self: She reflects on the challenges of maintaining her identity amidst the pressures of fame and the entertainment industry. "It was quite challenging to figure out how to maintain myself and also to maintain my own version for myself." — Alicia Keys ([36:37])

Notable Quotes:

• "I treasure the art. It's sacred... all the pieces have to come together perfectly." — Alicia Keys ([10:09])
• "You never know where life's going to take you." — Alicia Keys ([31:08])

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6. Opening Night and Emotional Milestones

Anticipation and Emotions: As Hell's Kitchen approaches its opening night at the Shubert Theater, Alicia shares her emotional journey and the significance of reaching this milestone.

Key Insights:

• Emotional Connection: Alicia expresses a deep emotional connection to performing at the very theater close to where she grew up. "Pulling up to this Shubert theater... I can't put into words what that feels like." — Alicia Keys ([27:52])

• Steadiness and Pride: She feels a sense of steadiness and pride, confident in the years of dedication that have culminated in this moment. "I feel steady because I know the time that we've taken to build this." — Alicia Keys ([27:52])

Notable Quotes:

• "I'm not a crier, but it gets me. It gets me." — Alicia Keys ([27:52])
• "This is crazy. And so I'm thrilled about it because it is such a solid, heartfelt, coming of age story." — Alicia Keys ([27:52])

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7. Final Thoughts and Legacy

Impact and Legacy: Alicia Keys concludes by expressing her hopes for the musical's impact, aiming to touch hearts and create lasting memories for audiences.

Key Insights:

• Creating Connections: She hopes Hell's Kitchen will resonate with diverse audiences, fostering connections across different backgrounds. "You can relate to it no matter where you're from." — Alicia Keys ([23:26])

• Legacy of Dreams: Alicia emphasizes the importance of remembering one's roots and the beginnings of their dreams. "Remember where dreams begin... your dreams begin somewhere, and that is something we have to hold onto forever." — Alicia Keys ([31:03])

Notable Quotes:

• "It's going to bring you together and it's going to fill you with spirit and love." — Alicia Keys ([40:03])
• "This is a new door being opened, and it is." — Alicia Keys ([31:08])

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Conclusion The episode offers a comprehensive look into Alicia Keys' multifaceted career, her unwavering dedication to her craft, and the personal experiences that have shaped her latest project, Hell's Kitchen. Through candid conversations, Alicia imparts valuable insights on creativity, collaboration, and the enduring power of music and storytelling. Her heartfelt reflections underscore the importance of staying true to oneself and the profound impact art can have on both the creator and the audience.

Notable Final Quote:

• "I would never have thought that when I sat down at the piano as a kid and had to play those skills a hundred thousand times... you don't know where life's going to take you." — Alicia Keys ([31:08])

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This summary captures the essence of Alicia Keys' discussion on "Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist," highlighting her journey, creative process, and the emotional depth of her new Broadway musical, Hell's Kitchen.

Transcript

[Willie Geist]

Our state has changed a lot in.

[Alicia Keys]

The last 140 years.

[Bridget Jones]

We know because Multicare has been here.

[Alicia Keys]

Guided by a single making our communities healthier.

[Willie Geist]

That comes from making courageous decisions, partnering.

[Alicia Keys]

With local communities to grow programs and services, and expanding healthcare access to those who need it most. Together, we're building a healthier future. Learn more@ multicare.org.

[Bridget Jones]

Bridget Jones it's time to live this Galentine's day. Make a date with Peacock. I've set you up on Tinder. What? You're welcome. You can call me Rockstar Bridget Jones, but you can call her Mummy. Experience the final chapter of Bridget's unforgettable journey. By all that's Holy, Bridget Jones, you.

[Chris Diaz]

Are a brilliant woman. Embrace the chaos.

[Bridget Jones]

Enjoy your weekend, Mrs. Dassa. Bridget Jones, Mad about the Boy Streaming only on Peacock February 13.

[Michael Greif]

Hey guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit down podcast. My thanks as always for clicking and listening along. So very excited to bring you my conversation this week with, for my money, one of the most talented people currently striding the earth. She is Alicia Keys, 16 Grammys to her name, more than 65 million records sold since her debut in 2001 when she was 20 years old. The song is Fallen. You know it, you love it. The album is Songs in A Minor. It went to number one. She won five Grammys and the rest has been history since then. She's got a musical out now on Broadway. It's called Hell's Kitchen, was a big hit off Broadway at the Public Theater in New York, and now is graduated and moving up to the Shubert Theater in New York. Alicia is not in the show. You don't go to the show and see her on stage. But the show is loosely based on her life. She says it's not autobiographical, but certainly inspired by it. She grew up herself in Hell's Kitchen. She grew up with a single mother. She learned how to love music while growing up in her building in Hell's Kitchen. And so the character Ally, the lead in the show, has a lot of that in her life too, but some different things, too. So many parallels with music at the center of it. It's not a big sing along to Alicia Keys music show, but Alicia Keys music is in the show. She rearranged all of her hit songs so that they would fit into the show seamlessly with the dialogue. So they do come in and the crowd screams. I can tell you I went to a show the minute they recognized some of those notes. So it is a beautiful show. It's incredibly well acted. The singers are unbelievable choreographers. Great. So I think people are going to love to see Hell's Kitchen. So Alicia and I got together the other day. We're sitting just to kind of get your head in the right place on stage at the Shubert Theater where this show is being performed, Hell's Kitchen. And it is a dream come true for her as she grew up just around the corner from the theater, four or five blocks, going to see Broadway shows with her mother. So very cool to catch her in this moment just before opening night of the show she's been dreaming about and working on for more than a decade. So I'll get out of the way and let you listen to the conversation right now with Alicia Keys on the Sunday sit down podcast.

[Chris Diaz]

Alicia, Yay. We're here.

[Bridget Jones]

We're here.

[Chris Diaz]

Congratulations.

[Bridget Jones]

Thank you.

[Chris Diaz]

What does it feel like to be sitting on the stage at the Shubert Theater of the show you've been working on for almost a decade and a half.

[Bridget Jones]

Right.

[Chris Diaz]

And now it's here.

[Bridget Jones]

Well, I definitely have not done an interview on this stage before, so this is for sure a first. I'm spending so much time out in the audience to make sure that everything's translating and feeling really good. So it's kind of incredible to be up here, to be talking about this show, Health's Kitchen, with you in the middle of New York City telling this New York story about Ally, a 17 year old girl who's trying to find her way, feeling quite rebellious, looking for her muse, her passion, being raised by a single mother who's quite overprotective in New York City, which you can understand why. So it's unbelievable. I don't have the words I've been saying.

[Chris Diaz]

I think I was too enthusiastic when you sat down about the show because.

[Michael Greif]

I saw it a couple of nights.

[Chris Diaz]

Ago and I think I gave away the whole interview before we started.

[Bridget Jones]

So that's okay.

[Chris Diaz]

We can start over.

[Bridget Jones]

Let's do it again.

[Chris Diaz]

But my gosh, I sat right there with my mom.

[Bridget Jones]

Wow.

[Chris Diaz]

And a lot of this show is about Ally and her mom. It is with some reflections about your relationship with your mother. Although this is not autobiographical. How important, how important was that relationship to this story?

[Bridget Jones]

This, you know, telling a mother daughter story is really, really important. And one of the things I think we've discovered along the lines of being off Broadway at the public and really developing the story is that there aren't that there are many father son stories. There are not many mother daughter stories. And so I was Very surprised to kind of think of that because Oscar brought that up from the public. And I said, wow, is that true? And if you think about it, it's such a special relationship, such a unique relationship. And so telling that story is really dynamic. And so whether you're actually a parent or whether you are a young person, you know, in that 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, and you're trying to find who you are, which all of us are in the process of finding, that those relationships around us are so influential, sometimes they get very rocky. And sometimes it forces you to have to discover who you want to be. And I think that's at the core of it. Who are you actually without everybody telling you who you're supposed to be? And how does your community help you find your way? And how do you find those sparks that help you realize that there is more for you out here than you might imagine? And the fear that we inherit from our. Our loved ones, because our loved ones go through so many difficulties or hard times, and they just want to protect you. They just want you to not feel that or not have to live through that. And that's what Jersey, who's played by Shoshana Bean, who is absolutely mind blowing.

[Chris Diaz]

Wow.

[Bridget Jones]

Not to mention Malia Joy Moon, who is a new discovery in the theater. This is her first Broadway. This is her introduction to Broadway, and she's stunning. But that you inherit the fear of those that love you sometimes. So how do you overcome that is some of what you are finding yourself thinking about.

[Chris Diaz]

So, Alicia, can we go back to the beginning of the idea of this? It's a long road, like I said, 13 years. I think it's been. Yeah, so I'm doing the math. You were a young woman thinking about a Broadway show. What were those early ideas? What did you see? And how does it compare to what's being performed on this stage?

[Bridget Jones]

It, you know, it began as a girl with. With my mother, who was, you know, the kind of quintessential New York story is she's living is the quintessential New York story. Thank God, because I love her so much. And she moved from Toledo, Ohio, begged her mom to come to NYU to study stage theater, and ended up coming here at 19. And so as our life progressed, she would always take me to the theater, which I think maybe you relate to.

[Chris Diaz]

Yes, I do.

[Bridget Jones]

And this was a special thing for us. We would stand on the TKTS line and get the inexpensive tickets so we could go to see different shows. And I remember seeing shows that really opened me up to so much of what Broadway is. I remember seeing Rent. I remember seeing Noise Funk. I remember seeing, you know, Chicago or. I just remember seeing so many films, so many pieces. So as I was starting to express my creativity and find my way as an artist, it was always something that I knew that there were these diverse stories that I'd experienced in my life, but I wasn't always seeing them translated out in the world. And so this building that I grew up in, Manhattan Plaza, which really is the set of where we're sitting right now, and it's the foundation of Hell's Kitchen. It really takes place in this building. These buildings are very famous. They're one of a kind. There's two towers that stand opposite each other on 42nd, between 42nd and 43rd, between 9th and 10th Avenues. And these buildings are the one place where it was subsidized living for artists. So my mother ended up moving into this building. I ended up growing up in this building. And those stories, those New York experiences, are really what has shaped Hell's Kitchen. And I just knew that I wanted to talk about these stories. I wanted to talk about these people. I wanted to talk about this girl, this time in life that's so precious. I wanted to talk about this culture in the 90s with music and fashion and what the world was like. Hell's Kitchen was a quite a dark place in the 90s. You know, it was actually very dangerous, very dark. It was a hard place to grow up as a kid and definitely as a girl, a young woman. And so these themes are what started to circle around. And that's what I knew. There was something special there. And I had to figure out, how can I bring that to life? And people would always ask me, will you do musicals? Will you do. Write music for films? Will you do a musical Film? A musical TV show, a musical? And I was like, maybe. And I was just trying to figure out what would I do? And so all of those inspirations and kind of pushed me to developing hell's kitchen ultimately, 13 years ago.

[Chris Diaz]

And knowing what I know about you is you weren't just going to hand this to somebody else and say, right, you guys make the show. Throw my name on it. No, that's not your style.

[Bridget Jones]

No, this is like. It's so important. I treasure the art. I treasure the art form, all of the art forms that I'm able to be a part of. It's sacred, you know, It's a craft. It's something that requires the care and the time and all of the pieces have to come together perfectly, which is why the book writer, Chris Diaz, was such an intentional choice. He and I have been together the longest on this road because finding the person to, you know, here was this idea. How do you bring it to life? So finding that partnership is really important. And he's been the most amazing partner in the process. And then identifying Michael Greif, who is a veteran in the space, you know, one of my first shows was Rent, you know, and so, you know, this. His expertise has been so important to be able to make sure that there's kind of this newbie energy mixed with this very, very veteran clear vision as well. And that's important. So all these pieces that I've been personally like, doctoring together and then with the help of an incredible team, make it feel. I mean, it's undeniable. You're going to love this. There's no way you come here and don't feel yourself and your community and your world inside of it.

[Chris Diaz]

And I have to say, you don't have to have grown up in Hell's Kitchen or come from this community being touched and moved. I grew up in Jersey, across the river, because there are pieces of the show about different relationships in your life that are gonna hit anybody sitting out there.

[Bridget Jones]

That's right. It's family, it's community, it's real life. It's those nuances that you relate to because everyone goes through them in their own way. So I agree, and that's what I love about it. You can come from France, you can come from Jersey, you can come from Alabama, it doesn't matter. You're going to find yourself here.

[Michael Greif]

Hey, guys, thanks for listening to the Sunday Sit down podcast. Stick around to hear more from Alicia Keys right after the break.

[Willie Geist]

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[Alicia Keys]

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[Chris Diaz]

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[Bridget Jones]

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[Chris Diaz]

Sneakers that make coffee runs look cool.

[Bridget Jones]

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[Chris Diaz]

Oh, yeah, did we mention they also.

[Michael Greif]

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[Chris Diaz]

Find a shoe for every you at your DSW store.

[Michael Greif]

And DSW.com welcome back. Now more my conversation with Alicia Keys.

[Chris Diaz]

So, to be clear, this is not autobiographical. People might come in and say, oh, I'm watching the story of Alicia Keys life. It's not right. There are elements of your experience and your story, of course, that are in this. So how, when I come to watch this, do I delineate between Alicia Keys and Ally? Like, where are the differences as you see them?

[Bridget Jones]

You know, there are differences. Actually, Ally is kind of a little bit more gullible, a little bit more naive even. You know, she's really been quite protected, and so she's just starting to find her wings in her space. But it's intentionally not autobiographical because this is a story that really takes the essence, that. That kind of New York experience, essence, and brings it into a way, into a storyline that really. That really. That really shows you what it takes to kind of find your way in the world. And that's why it becomes everybody's story. Because no matter what part of our life we're in, we're all looking for who we are now, who we're becoming and how do we get there, which is not always an easy road, you know. And I think ultimately what it really is, and this I can relate to very much, is a love story between a mother and a daughter.

[Chris Diaz]

Yeah.

[Bridget Jones]

And you really recognize a love story between a parent and a child. And you really recognize that no matter what, there is this deep, profound connection that you share. And even through the rocky parts of trying to figure out and the disconnection and the tension and the. All of those, the angst which we've all experienced, you know, there's no one you can trust more than your mother, you know, and it's incredible. So the songs, so many of the songs which I've written, new songs, and there's also some favorite songs in there, they're done in a way that even I never expected them to be portrayed. Of course, putting it together, I intentionally wanted to deconstruct the expectation of what you might get from the song.

[Chris Diaz]

Right.

[Bridget Jones]

So they don't want you to come in here and just kind of think you were going to get what you thought you were going to get. You're not musically, actually. And so there's so many ways that the songs are arranged and composed that tell the story of what you're experiencing, that even I'm like, why didn't I ever do this? Why didn't I think to do that song in that way before? I performed it like hundreds of times. But I never thought it never meant that to me before. And that's what I think has been thrilling as the songwriter, too. The songs mean something brand new to me. Not to mention the new songs, which I'm so excited for everyone to hear.

[Chris Diaz]

I'm glad you said that because I loved the way you rearranged the songs that we all know and love. Because this easily could have just been an Alicia Keys sing along and everybody's singing the songs they know, but you sort of subtly sneak him into a conversation. She's, you know, oh, that's.

[Bridget Jones]

Wait, wait.

[Chris Diaz]

This song I know by heart. It took me a second to get to it. So how did you think about incorporating that into the story and into the dialogue? Because it's so seamless, you know, I love that.

[Bridget Jones]

And I do love that. I love that you said that because it's very intentional and everyone had their eyes on the music. Chris did, Michael did. In fact, Michael brought some of the most. We would fight. I said, that song. No, that doesn't work. And we would do it in the scene. I said, look, I'll try it for you, Michael, but I don't think it works. We would do it and it would be perfect. And I would never have even thought that that belonged in that space because the music is so intentionally about pushing forward the storyline. And so it really. As opposed to it just kind of recapping whatever just happens, it really furthers the story and deepens it. And so that required. How does that fit to Nook, you know, who's played by Chris Lee, who's amazing. Unbelievable. He's so. This character has so much depth and he really anchors Allie. He's kind of her first love interest and so she's kind of baffled by the whole feeling. And he really anchors her in a lot of ways. And so how would they communicate knowing that she's quite naive and youthful and he's a little bit more Experienced. How would they communicate through this song? And so things like that were the expression. Fallen is one of my favorites. You will never expect Fallen when you hear it.

[Chris Diaz]

Exactly.

[Bridget Jones]

It's actually sung by Brandon Victor Dixon, who is another mind blowing actor voice artist. And when he sings it, no one can believe it. Yes, they're out there. They cannot believe not only how beautiful his voice sounds, but we purposefully created a sonic for it that is quite different from Fallen, although you recognize it and you can sing along with it. Brandon Victor Dixon CHARACTER Davis Each character is modeled after a musical vision. And so his has a bit of like a Sammy Davis Jr. Kind of. That's his anchor when I'm thinking musically. And so we wanted to make sure that he's a complex character. He hasn't been steady in Allie's life. You can tell that Jersey and Davis have a very passionate relationship, but it just doesn't work. And so they have to admit that. And when he. When he's around, everything is kind of magical and wonderful. And so it's quite. It has that sense to it. And that's what gave me the Sammy Davis Jr reference. And so when he sings Fallen, it has very jazzy elements to it and it's quite shocking. So that was one of my favorite things to do, to take songs that you think you know how they're gonna sound and to totally reinvent them. And my second favorite thing to do was to create these new songs.

[Chris Diaz]

I was gonna ask you about Kaleidoscope, which is the first single. It is right off the soundtrack, a great song. So you got to sort of come up with some new stuff to plug in.

[Bridget Jones]

Absolutely.

[Chris Diaz]

To your existing songs.

[Bridget Jones]

It needed it. It wanted to. You know, I remember we tried very hard to make a song, one of my songs, Superwoman, fit into this moment where kind of Jersey is expressing how frustrated she is with what a 17 year old is like, putting her through. And she's talking to her friends and she's like, it's driving me crazy. Tried to use Superwoman. And I had this whole way where I was imagining Ally and Jersey kind of, who's the superwoman? You know, they were in this tensioned place. And so this is me expressing myself as a woman. This is me expressing myself as a woman. And we tried it and tried it. And every time Micah would kind of and be like, okay, I think we need a new song. And I was like, I think we need a new song.

[Chris Diaz]

And you agreed?

[Bridget Jones]

I agreed. I agreed. And Chris wrote this line and he said at the Time in the workshops, he said, because she's 17 and her brain doesn't work. Because if you think about a 17 year old, it just. My brain didn't work at 17. I mean, it worked how I thought it was working, but it wasn't really rational or functioning to the best degree because I had to learn so much. And I knew that was the song 17. And so. And so that was when I started to write this song in the show that I would consider my first musical theater song, I think that I've written. It's called seventeen. It's one of my favorite songs in the show. It's Jersey song. She has all of this bravado and brass crass way she's saying it to me. It's very characteristic. Carol Burnett is very like some of my favorites. Bernadette Peters. It's very like. It has this energy to it that's so powerful. And I love this song and the way it falls in the show. It has kind of a fun, comical, but true expression.

[Chris Diaz]

Yeah. And such big voices and the performances. I mean, I was saying before we start, I mean, top to bottom, I mean, everybody on that stage shocks you at one moment or another. Where they go with the notes or wow. I mean, just blowing the back out of this place.

[Bridget Jones]

No, this place is electrified.

[Chris Diaz]

It is.

[Bridget Jones]

With the talent. Yeah, the talent is extremely undeniable. It's just. I mean, they are the best of the best. And there's so many newcomers, which I think infuses a certain thrill. So every night, you know, many of the choreography was done by Camille A. Brown, and she is stunning. I mean, the way the storytelling that the bodies add to it as well. Not only does the music further the story, but the choreography takes you to places that we wouldn't have been able to just say. It's those nuances that, you know, touch your spirit. And so many of the dancers, this is also their first time on Broadway. And so there's a spirit that comes out here with these newcomers. One of two of Allie's friends. They're both new. They're both newcomers. Vanessa Ferguson. I actually. She was my artist on the Voice.

[Chris Diaz]

Oh, I didn't realize that.

[Bridget Jones]

And when I heard her voice on the Voice, I was like, whoa, this artist is unbelievable. She rhymes, she sang, she had this beautiful husky. And as time progressed and I started putting together the workshops, we were looking for the tiny character. Her name is Tiny. She's kind of tough. She's from New York. She's like. And I said, vanessa. And I know For a fact that I did the voice to meet Vanessa, to make for her to be a part of this show.

[Chris Diaz]

Wow.

[Bridget Jones]

Like, that's how it's all divinely tied together.

[Chris Diaz]

And I love what you say that you can't fake New York. And this is New York.

[Bridget Jones]

It really is.

[Chris Diaz]

And you thought about that in casting, right?

[Bridget Jones]

Absolutely.

[Chris Diaz]

Did they have to be from New York or just be able to capture New York?

[Bridget Jones]

You know, it's tricky. It is a New York story in New York, but it's, you know, again, it's a. Because it's such a family story, you can relate to it no matter where you're from. But that New York energy is very important, and we're talking about a very specific time in New York which was different from now. You know, although it's timeless, when you come, you kind of don't know, is it today, is it? Then you don't really get caught up in that. But that undercurrent of the theme has to stay pure and true. So, yes, you do have to have that New York energy. You can't teach it. I can't teach you how to embody it. I can't teach you how to feel it. I can't teach you how to present it. And so you don't have to be from New York, but you do have to have a certain thing.

[Chris Diaz]

I actually even noticed the accents growing up around here. I was like, those are the right. Even if they're not from here, they don't.

[Bridget Jones]

They got it.

[Chris Diaz]

They got it. Maybe we're like, no, no, no. Keep working on it.

[Bridget Jones]

There's one guy. There was one person at that audition, and his. He was a phenomenal actor. I mean, so, so good. But I knew he wasn't. He just couldn't embody that spirit. I just knew it. And I was like, I don't want to be fighting him the whole time. Not that I would be fighting him. Don't worry. I'm not a fighter. I'm a lover. But, you know, I don't want to have to pull what's unnatural from someone. It should feel, like, easy, and that's what you get here. And that's why I think you feel the spirit of the city and the characters because of. Because it is so based on the experiences of growing up in New York. You really feel that truth. It's in here. It's alive. It's real.

[Michael Greif]

Stick around for more of my conversation with Alicia Keys, right after a quick break.

[Bridget Jones]

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[Alicia Keys]

And now a next level moment from AT&T business. Say you've sent out a gigantic shipment of pillows and they need to be there in time for International Sleep day. You've got AT and T5G so you're fully confident, but the vendor isn't responding. And International Sleep Day is tomorrow. Luckily, AT&T 5G lets you deal with any issues with ease, so the pillows will get delivered and everyone can sleep soundly, especially you. ATT 5G requires a compatible plan and device. Coverage not available everywhere. Learn [e-mail] 5G Network.

[Willie Geist]

Where'd you get those shoes? Easy. They're from DSW. Because DSW has the exact right shoes for whatever you're into right now. You know, like the sneakers that make office hours feel like happy hour, the boots that turn grocery aisles into runways, and all the styles that show off the many sides of you, from daydreamer to multitasker and everything in between. Because you do it all in really great shoes. Find a shoe for every you at your dsw store or dsw.com welcome back.

[Michael Greif]

Now to the rest of my conversation with Alicia Keys.

[Chris Diaz]

So given everything you've put into this for 13 years and every detail that you've just explained you are into and tweaking and fixing and getting right, what does it feel like to be sitting here now, just a few days from opening night of your Broadway show Hell's Kitchen? Is it exciting? Is it nerve wracking? All of those?

[Bridget Jones]

I don't feel nerve wracked. I feel quite steady. You know, which is such a nice thing. You know, I feel steady because I know the time that we've taken to build this. This is not a rush job. This is not a. You know, it's been years and years of development and I feel proud of that. And I feel like you can't rush greatness. And I'm good with that. When it's time, it's time. And I do feel now is the time. And so I feel steady. But what I'll tell you what. Growing up in New York City, I walked all of these streets, all of these blocks. They were unattainable to me. How could I ever imagine as a 7 year old or a 9 year old or a 10 year old that this could be possible. I couldn't, you know? And so when I pull up to this Schubert theater and there's a marquee that says Hell's Kitchen, the place I grew up, the place that raised me, that gave me the fire to become the woman that I am, I can't put into words what that feels like. And I say, I mean, it gets me a little. I'm not a crier, but it gets me. It gets me. And I say, I don't care how many times I pull up to this thing. This is. This is crazy. This is crazy. And so I'm thrilled about it because it is such a solid, heartfelt, coming of age story. And it works, and I'm so proud of it. So you should be.

[Chris Diaz]

And I feel exactly what you're saying for people who don't realize building you grew up in is, what, four or five blocks from here, but it's a different universe when you grow up here. You come in here and they got the theaters and tourists and all that. So I imagine for you, as someone who lined up at the TKTS booth with your mom to try to get into a show here and there, it's almost like you've stepped on the other side of the mirror and now you're ins. You're. You're on this stage.

[Bridget Jones]

We're literally on this stage.

[Chris Diaz]

That's heavy stuff. You know, it's true.

[Bridget Jones]

It's incredible. It's incredible. And I'm so proud of the artists that are part of it. I'm proud of the culture of Hell's Kitchen. We have this beautiful fellowship program that we created to really open the doors for up and coming creative people to find. To be able to study under some of the greatest in the business, which is tremendous because I think, you know, for me, I would have never had opportunities had, you know, there had not been new ways in, you know, And I think that this is a beautiful part of the culture and the promise of this show. And the tagline is remember where dreams begin. And I really love that because everybody can remember where their dreams began, even if it was just yesterday. Your dreams begin somewhere, and that is something we have to hold onto forever.

[Chris Diaz]

Did your dream begin when you first sat in front of a piano at 7 years old?

[Bridget Jones]

Yeah, because I was able to unlock a world that I had no idea what it was going to be able to, what doors it would be able to take me through. And, I mean, that's the Reason why I chose keys for my last name, because I played the keys and the piano keys, but because they open doors, and I want to forever open doors. And so this is a new door being opened, and it is. I would have never thought that when I sat down at the piano as a kid and had to play those skills a hundred thousand times, or I was learning a bunch of classical songs. And then I started to learn stride music and blues and jazz and soul, and I started to be able to create a gumbo of music, which is what you actually hear in Hell's Kitchen. You hear jazz, you hear classical, you hear soul, you hear. You know, you hear so many sonics that take you on a journey. And it all began at seven when I touched those keys, you know, so, man, you don't know where life's going to take you.

[Chris Diaz]

And it wasn't a casual hobby, was it? I mean, you were practicing hours a day to get good at it, right?

[Bridget Jones]

Classical music. I started studying classical and classical music. You cannot casually study. There's no such thing. You really have to know it, you have to learn it, you have to embody it. It's quite difficult. It takes. Takes not only hours, but days and months. When we would prepare for recitals in the Ellington room in Manhattan Plaza, which is a. You know, when Allie meets her mentor, the woman that will become her mentor is Ms. Liza Jane.

[Chris Diaz]

Oh, Liza Jane.

[Bridget Jones]

Unforgettable.

[Chris Diaz]

I mean, you.

[Bridget Jones]

Right. Played by Keisha Lewis, who is phenomenal. She's in that Ellington room. And so it's things like that, that tie the story to the personal New York experience. But when you're in the. When you're. When you're preparing for a recital, particularly a classical recital, you're playing 10 to 15 pages of music, you know, and so you obviously have to dedicate a lot of time. And I'm grateful for what the piano taught me in regards to dedication and patience and work diligence. The craft of how to become better, how to continue to grow, you know, how to get past your frustrations, your own personal doubts. You know, you feel like at one time I'm never gonna be able to play that piece. I can't even play the first six measures. How am I gonna play 18 pages? But you do.

[Chris Diaz]

So at what point, Alicia, did it go from, I enjoy playing the piano. I work hard at it. I'm getting pretty good at it. People seem to like it when I play, to this can be a career, like, this can be my life? Or was it always that for you because you watched your mom be a performer as well. In other words, did you ever think you'd be anything other than a musician?

[Bridget Jones]

Anything other than a musician, or was.

[Chris Diaz]

That it for you?

[Bridget Jones]

You know, I did. I started singing first, so I sang younger than I played.

[Chris Diaz]

You were in Cats.

[Bridget Jones]

I was in.

[Chris Diaz]

And wizard of Oz.

[Bridget Jones]

The wizard of Oz.

[Chris Diaz]

Dorothy, by the way.

[Bridget Jones]

Okay.

[Chris Diaz]

Cats first.

[Bridget Jones]

Thanks.

[Michael Greif]

Smaller, rolling cats.

[Chris Diaz]

And then they're like, she's good. Make her Dorothy.

[Bridget Jones]

Dorothy. So. And which, by the way, I do. I'm so excited for Hell's Kitchen to be everybody's school play.

[Chris Diaz]

Oh, yes.

[Bridget Jones]

Like, I'm really, really excited about that.

[Chris Diaz]

You've already gotten to that point.

[Bridget Jones]

I'm already there. I'm there. So. But. So I sang first, and. But in regards to piano, when I started playing piano, it really started to make sense. Then it became this fusion of worlds that I could kind of control almost, which I thought was one of my favorite things about being able to play the piano is it makes me quite independent. You know, I don't have to wait for other people to create something for me. And I'm really grateful. Although I fought my mother about staying, and I didn't want to play anymore. And no one else is doing it. I'm the only one stuck in the house. And all the things that you feel as a kid. And, you know, she had that gentle balance of kind of like, yeah, you're not gonna stop this at. And. Okay, you need a little break. She did a good job with that. Cause I was able to hang on.

[Chris Diaz]

I think we can say now that she was right, by the way. I think it turned out pretty well.

[Bridget Jones]

Thank God she didn't let me do something silly like quit? Could you imagine?

[Chris Diaz]

Could you imagine the world would not have Alicia Keys? Mm. Mm.

[Bridget Jones]

Wow.

[Chris Diaz]

Don't want to think about that world.

[Bridget Jones]

Well, you're the sweetest. That's super sweet.

[Chris Diaz]

But you.

[Michael Greif]

Your.

[Chris Diaz]

Your first time out, you know, you got your record deal, then you moved to Arista with Clive and all that.

[Bridget Jones]

Right.

[Chris Diaz]

Your first time out with Fallen.

[Bridget Jones]

Right.

[Chris Diaz]

In A minor.

[Bridget Jones]

Right.

[Chris Diaz]

Number one album, number one song, sells millions of copies. You win five Grammys.

[Bridget Jones]

Wow.

[Chris Diaz]

So you go from the Ellington room to the top of the music world. What was that time in your life like?

[Bridget Jones]

It definitely wasn't as linear as that. You know what I mean? It was so many years in between. And I started at 16, really, in this world of the entertainment world and being signed and et cetera. And so I was so young that it was just. I didn't even know if I was coming or going or how to get there or what to do. And I'd written some of these songs, but I'm like, well, how do I write anymore? How do I do anything else? So it was quite challenging to figure out how to maintain my self and also to maintain my. My own version for myself, my own vision for myself. Because people do try to make you who they want you to be. And again, back to Hell's Kitchen. That is a lot of what you're seeing Ali go through. People are telling her what she shouldn't do, where she shouldn't go, where she has to do better, you know? And you. You do. People do have a tendency to tell us who we're supposed to be, and I don't know how right that is. You know, we don't. They don't allow us to become who we're meant to be. They kind of scare us into becoming a version of who they think is best for us to be. And so went through a lot of that and kind of had the strength and the New York grit enough to say, like, no, I don't like this, and I'm not with that. And I want to express like this. And here's how I'm going to say it, and I'm going to do it through a bunch of fear, because I didn't know if I could, but I found my way through that with. And that gave me what I like to think is something different, you know, Something different. No one knew what to do with me. They didn't know how to. They were like, what is this? How do we break this? How do we get this on the radio? What do we do? So it was a journey of divine timing and people who cared to make it all come together, but you never know how it's going to happen.

[Chris Diaz]

But what an affirmation that you said, I'm going to do it my way. I'm going to trust that this is going to work. A lot of people say it isn't going to work. And for your way to be the.

[Bridget Jones]

One that worked, I think that as individuals, you do know who you are. You get cloudy, things get noisy, sometimes you're uncertain. But ultimately, no one knows you better than you. And as soon as we can know that and then know, yeah, is it going to not go exactly how you thought? Is it gonna maybe, you know, fall over? Sure. But at least it did so, because you made that choice. And I think that's what I've learned that I can live with that I can feel great about that, actually, and then I can keep going.

[Chris Diaz]

That's well said. And you bring all of that to this, which is just, I don't know if you're supposed to say this, does it jinx? I don't know. Maybe I should say it's cut up. But anyway, there's no jinx. All I'll say is people are going to love this show and I hope it's here for a very, very long time and in middle and high schools after that.

[Bridget Jones]

35 plus years. Phantom of the Opera.

[Chris Diaz]

Yes.

[Bridget Jones]

Chicago. Let's go. Hamilton, let's go. I just want to be in the company of some of the greatest because I'm humbly and truly thankful for the, for this experience, for the ability to create something that will touch people, move people, make people feel good, make you cry, make you call your mom after the amount of people that say I called my mom, or the amount of mothers that say, my child, they wrote me this thing after they saw this show. It's, it's going to bring you together and it's going to fill you with spirit and love. And I'm just grateful to be able to be a small part of that.

[Chris Diaz]

Well, it does that. It was a gift to watch that with my mom. So thank you for that. Congratulations.

[Bridget Jones]

Thank you.

[Chris Diaz]

It was great.

[Bridget Jones]

I appreciate it.

[Chris Diaz]

Thanks, Alicia.

[Michael Greif]

My big thanks to Alicia for a great conversation. Always wonderful to sit down with her. You can see the new musical Hell's Kitchen at the Shubert Theater on Broadway.

[Chris Diaz]

Thanks to all of you, of course.

[Michael Greif]

For listening again this week. To hear more of my conversations with our guests every week, be sure to click follow so you never miss an episode. And don't forget to tune in to Sunday Today every weekend on NBC. I'm Willie Geist. We'll see you right back here next.

[Chris Diaz]

Week on the Sunday Sit down podcast.

[Bridget Jones]

Now, they had the final answer. Or did they? Nothing has more suspense than a Dateline mystery. And no one wants to wait to find out what happens next. That's why everyone needs Dateline Premium, where listening is always ad free. You get the whole story and nothing but the story.

[Chris Diaz]

Or do you?

[Bridget Jones]

Yes, actually, you do. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or datelinepremium. Com.