Previously 12 months, musical theater has witnessed a notable rise within the illustration of R&B and soul acts on Broadway, whether or not on stage or backstage, gaining acknowledgment from the devoted group.
On the 67th Grammy Awards, the laborious work has led to nominations within the Greatest Musical Theater Album class for legendary artists, revered musicians, and rising stars.
Alicia Keys, Adam Blackstone, Deborah Cox, and Avery Wilson are among the many 2025 nominees on this class, which honors “albums containing better than 51% taking part in time of recent recordings.”
Blackstone, an award-winning music director, multi-instrumentalist, and bassist shares a nomination on this class with 16-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys.
Hell’s Kitchen (Unique Broadway Forged) is featured as considered one of 5 nominations. The album contains forged recordings of recent and reimagined songs by Keys which are carried out within the coming-of-age stage play impressed by her upbringing within the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.
The musical, written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz and directed by Michael Greif, debuted at Newman Theater at The Public in October 2023 and transferred to Broadway in March 2024, formally launching in April. Blackstone served as musical director.
Maleah Joi Moon, who performed the youthful model of Keys, is a principal vocalist nominated for Greatest Musical Theater Album.
She seems on a majority of the album, together with on recent variations of hits by Keys, akin to “Teenage Love Affair” and “If I Ain’t Acquired You”
One of many latest tracks, “Kaleidoscope,” the lead single from the Hell’s Kitchen (Unique Broadway Forged) album, was launched given an official video. It options Maleah Joi Moon and Keys.
A remix model of the aforementioned monitor was featured because the signature track for the US Open this 12 months.
Again to the forged album, Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon, and Kecia Lewis are additionally acknowledged as vocalists. Keys serves as composer, lyricist, and producer, alongside producers Blackstone and Tom Kitt.
On the 2024 Tony Awards, Hell’s Kitchen landed 13 nominations, together with Greatest Musical.
Maleah Joi Moon gained Greatest Efficiency By An Actress In A Main Position In A Musical. In the meantime, Lewis walked away with Greatest Efficiency By An Actress In A Featured Position In A Musical.
For added particulars in regards to the musical and its remaining exhibits, go to the official web site of Hell’s Kitchen.
Wilson and Cox had been featured as principal vocalists on The Wiz (2024 Broadway Forged Recording), a companion album for the revival of the 1975 Broadway manufacturing for which every starred.
Within the stage musical, Wilson starred as Scarecrow, a task beforehand portrayed by Hinton Battle and Michael Jackson. In the meantime, Cox took on the function of Glinda, the Good Witch of the South.
The compilation earns each Wilson and Cox their first-ever profession nominations.
It’s price noting Cox’s 2007 album, Vacation spot Moon, a tribute to Dinah Washington, was nominated for Greatest Engineered Album, Non-Classical, however she wasn’t nominated for the reason that award goes to the credited engineers.
On The Wiz (2024 Broadway Forged Recording), Wilson impresses with a jamming rendition of “You Can’t Win,” and Cox astounds together with her gorgeous variations of “He’s The Wizard” and “Imagine In Your self.”
Additionally nominated underneath the album as principal vocalists are Wayne Brady, who alternated as The Wiz, and Nichelle Lewis, who acted as Dorothy.
Jordan Joubert, Allen René Louis, and Lawrence Manchester are producers, with Charlie Wilson credited as composer and lyricist.
Following a profitable pre-Broadway tour in fall 2023, a North American tour will start in February 2025. Tickets can be found at wizmusical.com.
Catch the 67th Grammy Awards reside on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, from the Crypto.com Area in Los Angeles, airing on CBS and streaming reside and on-demand on Paramount+.
Hell’s Kitchen (Unique Broadcast Forged)
The Wiz (2024 Broadcast Forged Recording)
Greatest Musical Theater Album
For albums containing better than 51% taking part in time of recent recordings. Award to the principal vocalist(s), and the album producer(s) of fifty% or extra taking part in time of the album. The lyricist(s) and composer(s) of fifty% or extra of a rating of a brand new recording are eligible for an Award if any earlier recording of mentioned rating has not been nominated on this class.
Hell’s Kitchen — Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon, Kecia Lewis & Meleah Joi Moon, principal vocalists; Adam Blackstone, Alicia Keys & Tom Kitt, producers (Alicia Keys, composer & lyricist) (Unique Broadway Forged)
Merrily We Roll Alongside — Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez & Daniel Radcliffe, principal vocalists; David Caddick, Joel Fram, Maria Friedman & David Lai, producers (Stephen Sondheim, composer & lyricist) (New Broadway Forged)
The Pocket book — John Clancy, Carmel Dean, Kurt Deutsch, Derik Lee, Kevin McCollum & Ingrid Michaelson, producers; Ingrid Michaelson, composer & lyricist (Unique Broadway Forged)
The Outsiders — Joshua Boone, Brent Comer, Brody Grant & Sky Lakota-Lynch, principal vocalists; Zach Probability, Jonathan Clay, Matt Hinkley, Justin Levine & Lawrence Manchester, producers; Zach Probability, Jonathan Clay & Justin Levine, composers/lyricists (Unique Broadway Forged)
Suffs — Andrea Grody, Dean Sharenow & Shaina Taub, producers; Shaina Taub, composer & lyricist (Unique Broadway Forged)
The Wiz — Wayne Brady, Deborah Cox, Nichelle Lewis & Avery Wilson, principal vocalists; Joseph Joubert, Allen René Louis & Lawrence Manchester, producers (Charlie Smalls, composer & lyricist) (2024 Broadway Forged Recording)