In 2018, San Jose’s Maya Drake was just another “Hamilton”-obsessed 11-year-old when her parents surprised her with tickets to see Lin-Manuel Miranda’s epic musical at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco.
Now, Drake will take the Orpheum stage herself in the lead role of “Hell’s Kitchen,” the Tony Award-winning smash based on Alicia Keys’ songbook beginning performances Wednesday, May 6.
Speaking to the Chronicle by phone from a Denver “Hell’s Kitchen” tour stop, the 19-year-old recognized the full-circle moment…