Alicia Keys‘ “Hell’s Kitchen,” which opened on Broadway last April, will serve as the soundtrack to this year’s U.S Open.
The USTA and ESPN announced today a multi-layered collaboration with the 13-time Tony-nominated musical, which will see the music from the show cascade across channels and platforms throughout the three-week tennis championship. The U.S Open officially kicks off on Aug. 26.
The headlining feature of the collaboration will be a custom remix of the broadway show song’s “Kaleidoscope,” created for this year’s event. The remix will first be played in the U.S Open Manifesto Video, narrated by Tony-winning “Hell’s Kitchen” star Kecia Lewis. The video will officially debut on Opening Night of the Main Draw on the 26th before being broadcast on both ESPN and the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center through the two-week event. In addition, actor Shoshana Bean, who also stars in “Hell’s Kitchen,” will perform the National Anthem on Opening night.
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“We are thrilled to bring this unique collaboration to life for the 2024 US Open,” Rachel Epstein, the VP of Marketing, Live Sports and Audience Expansion at ESPN, said in a statement. “Collaborating with the USTA and the ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ team to integrate ‘Kaleidoscope’ into our marketing efforts and broadcast allows us to elevate and celebrate all that is so powerful about the US Open – the electric tournament experience, the world-class tennis and the unmatched vibrancy of the US Open’s home, New York City.”
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In addition to the manifesto video, ESPN will feature the custom “Kaleidoscope” remix and footage from the USTA shoot in other promotional content to drive viewers to the 2024 US Open. The unique musical collaboration falls in line with this year’s US Open’s marketing campaign “Spectacular Awaits,” and theme “Celebrating the Power of Tennis” which sees the USTA making a concerted effort to reach new and different audiences.
“Hell’s Kitchen,” a jukebox musical inspired by Keys’ New York upbringing, opened on Broadway last April. The show is currently playing at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre, featuring a “powerhouse cast” cast led by Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon, Kecia Lewis, Chris Lee and and Maleah Joi Moon. Shop tickets to the show here.
Stream the 2024 U.S Open on ESPN+, DirecTV, Sling TV, Fubo TV and Hulu + Live TV. Buy tickets to the 2024 U.S Open here.
