Alicia Keys Talks 'Cathartic' Experience of Watching Her Life Story in Broadway’s Hell’s Kitchen (Exclusive)

• Alicia Keys' life story is featured in Broadway musical Hell's Kitchen
• The response from audiences has shown the musician just how universal her experience was
• "This is all of our stories," she told PEOPLE at the Tony Awards Meet the Nominees press junket

Alicia Keys has learned a lot watching her life story back in Broadway's Hell's Kitchen.

The Grammy-winning superstar's childhood tales of growing up in New York City inspired the new musical, with her catalogue of hits — including "No One," "Fallin'," "If I Ain't Got You" and "Empire State of Mind" — making up the show's score, alongside three new tunes she composed including the new single "Kaleidoscope."

But while the plot may be personal for Keys, 43, the response from audiences has shown her just how universal her experience was.

"This is all of our stories," she told PEOPLE at the Tony Awards Meet the Nominees press junket earlier this month. "That's what I've learned creating and watching Hell's Kitchen; that there's so much that connects us all. Even though we have different versions, we all go through things that are quite similar. Ultimately, we're just all trying to find where we belong and who we actually are."

"That's what I get from it; I get this ability to understand each other and to find our way ," Keys says. "And it's cathartic. You're laughing, you're singing, you're crying — you're a mess in this show. But you feel seen. And I think it's really, really beautiful."

Since opening to rave reviews at the Shubert Theatre last month, Hell's Kitchen has been a box office hit, and received a whopping 12 Tony Award nominations including best musical.

The success, though gratifying, has been far from the most reward thing about the process, Keys says. Instead, it's been the diversity of people coming to see the show.

"One of the goals of Hell's Kitchen was is to really open the door to those who have never stepped foot in a Broadway theater ever before," she explains. "So I'm excited that when I look around — because I am in that theater often — I see so many different people in so many different walks of life. I love that so much and that's really important."

"This story is meant to welcome you," she continues. "It's incredible to see a New York story in New York City, but no matter where you're from, you'll find yourself there. And there's something really special about that."

Hell's Kitchen stars Tony nominees Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon, Kecia Lewis and Maleah Joi Moon, the latter — a Broadway newcomer — who plays Ali, the role modeled after Keys.

They share the stage with Chris Lee, Chad Carstarphen, Vanessa Ferguson, Jakeim Hart, Jackie Leon, Nyseli Vega, Lamont Walker II and Rema Webb. The ensemble is made up of Reid Clarke, Chloe Davis, Nico DeJesus, Timothy L. Edwards, David Guzman, Raechelle Manalo, Sarah Parker and Niki Saludez.

Rounding out the company is standby Donna Vivino; understudies Desmond Sean Ellington, Badia Farha, Gianna Harris, Jade Milan, Susan Oliveras and Oscar Whitney Jr.; plus swings Takia Hopson, Onyxx Noel, Aaron Nicholas Patterson and William Roberson.

Directed by Michael Greif with choreography by Camille A. Brown, the show features a book by Kristoffer Diaz. All three are Tony nominated this year.

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Keys will have to wait until June 16 to find out Hell's Kitchen's awards show fate, when the 2024 Tony Awards take place at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater in New York City.

"We're in a dynamic season and I feel so grateful to be a part of it," Keys tells PEOPLE of the nominations.

Tickets to Hell's Kitchen are now on sale.