Alicia Keys Performs on a Broadway Stage for the First Time as She Kicks Off Encore Series at “Hell’s Kitchen ”— Watch“”

She’s conquered nan Grammys, topped nan world charts and written euphony that has defined a generation.

But connected Friday, Sept. 26, aft 2 decades successful nan spotlight, Alicia Keys did thing she’d ne'er done before: performed unrecorded connected a Broadway stage.

The singer-songwriter, 44, amazed audiences astatine nan Shubert Theatre successful New York City, joining nan formed of Hell’s Kitchen — the deed philharmonic inspired by her ain life and euphony — for nan show's last number, "Empire State of Mind."

PEOPLE was successful nan assemblage for nan moment. Her quality brought nan sold-out crowd onto their feet, theatergoers cheering on arsenic she sang her Big Apple anthem.

Of course, fans expected to spot Keys connected Friday night, only not that soon. She was scheduled to motorboat nan first successful a two-night arena called nan Encore Sessions pinch Alicia Keys, a bid of friendly post-show performances alongside members of nan show’s cast.

"So excited that you're present pinch america coming for nan very first Encore Sessions," Keys said, arsenic she returned to nan shape aft nan formed curtain call. "Please springiness it up for nan formed and nan unit and nan musicians. Honestly, that's nan first clip that I joined them connected shape for that. That felt existent bully conscionable now. So this was a really beautiful thing."

"What we wanted to do was bring you done a typical experience, thing that genuinely ne'er happens successful nan Shubert Theater," she continued. "This would beryllium officially my first clip connected a Broadway stage, and you're present pinch me, truthful I want to opportunity convey you truthful much."

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Keys went connected to stock nan taxable of nan post-show event, explaining that she would beryllium spotlighting songs that didn't make it into Hell's Kitchen during nan improvement process. The philharmonic blends Keys’ astir iconic hits — from "Fallin'" to “No One” to "If I Ain't Got You" to "Girl connected Fire" — pinch caller songs written exclusively for nan shape to show a coming-of-age communicative inspired by Keys' life.

Building nan show alongside head Michael Greif and book writer Kristoffer Diaz came pinch immoderate moments of conflict, Keys said. "I person to show you, I gave them immoderate hellhole astir immoderate stuff. And I sewage to show you that Michael Grief was ever right!" she laughed. "I was like, 'We are not doing that, I'm telling you, we are not.' And past he's like, 'Just effort it?' and I was like, 'Ugh!' And past we'd effort it and I'd beryllium like, [disappointedly] 'You're right.' "

One of those moments Keys fought for was betwixt nan mother-daughter duo of Ali and Jersey (currently played by Amanda Reid and Jessica Vosk).

"I envisioned it that Jersey and Ali would person this stand-off pinch this song, trying to person each different that they were much of this than nan other," Keys said. "We worked connected this for a mates of workshops, and I thought this was working. And past erstwhile it wasn't working, Michael told maine I had to constitute different song. I was beautiful bummed out. But it was beautiful because he pushed maine to beryllium capable to constitute what I see my first philharmonic theatre song, which was '17.' And that's now what lives successful nan piece."

So what was nan opus that Keys wanted successful that spot? Her 2007 deed "Superwoman," which she performed pinch Vosk.

Vosk wasn't nan only Hell's Kitchen formed personnel who joined Keys connected stage. Tony victor Kecia Lewis sang pinch Keys connected 2001's "A Woman's Worth," while Tony nominee Christopher Jackson duetted pinch Keys connected 2012's "Not Even nan King."

The night's last number was "Unbreakable," which was disconnected of Keys' chart-topping 2005 Unplugged album. The 17-time Grammy victor is honoring nan LP's 20th day pinch a caller vinyl merchandise retired Oct. 3.

"The Unplugged medium is specified a beautiful, monumental moment," Keys said. "I'm truthful excited to observe this milestone. I can't judge it, because I committedness it was conscionable yesterday. Like, I swear! I was location conscionable yesterday truthful don't cognize what happened!"

After wrapping her concert, Keys thanked nan audience, telling them, "I adore you pinch each my heart."

Hell's Kitchen features Angela Birchett, Chad Carstarphen, Reid Clarke, Nico Dejesus, Mykhel Duckett, Adriel Flete, Vanessa Ferguson, Lulu Oro Hamlett, Jakeim Hart, Takia Hopson, Gabriel Hyman, Lindsey Jolyn Jackson, Eliazar Jimenez, Kelsee Kimmel, Jackie Leon, Raechelle Manalo, Miki Michelle, Benjamin H. Moore, Onyxx Noel, Susan Oliveras, Amma Osei, Sarah Parker, Eric Parra, Aaron Nicholas Patterson, William Roberson, Niki Saludez, Mariand Torres, Maggy Van Den Heuvel, Nyseli Vega, Lamont Walker Ii, Keenan D. Washington and Oscar Whitney Jr.

A 2nd capacity of Keys' Encore Sessions is group for Saturday, Sept. 27. VIP packages see premium seats, a merchandise bundle and a meet-and-greet pinch nan superstar.

Tickets for Hell's Kitchen are connected waste now.