I confess that I was not a fan of Alicia Keys before attending Thursday's production of "Hell's Kitchen" at Broadway's Shubert Theatre. I never disliked her music, but I was born too early to be her target audience, and I never caught up.

"Hell's Kitchen" tells the story of a young girl growing up in the lower Manhattan neighborhood from which the show derives its title. The girl's name is "Ali," but her story may or may not accurately reflect Alicia's teen years. Ms. Keys's music threads its way throughout this jukebox musical. The daughter of a musician, Ali's single mother raised her while working two jobs. Left on her own for much of the time, Ali skips school and begins an affair with a young man in the neighborhood. She is saved from delinquency when Miss Liza Jane, an elderly neighbor in her apartment building, discovers her and begins teaching her piano. Ali's aptitude (presumably inherited from her father) inspires and focuses her. She begins to grow up and take responsibility.

Newcomer Amanda Reid is brilliant as Ali, but Kecia Lewis as Miss Liza Jane steals the show each time she appears on stage. Shoshana Bean is also excellent as Ali's stressed and overprotective single mother.

But, after seeing this show, I have been listening to Keys's music a lot. And I like it!