Beautiful Tickets

By: Music & Lyrics by Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, and a Book by Douglas McGrath
Director: Marc Bruni
Producer: Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Cast list: Sarah Bockel (as Carole King), Cory Jeacoma (as Gerry Goffin), Jessica Keenan Wynn (as Cynthia Weil), Jacob Heimer (as Barry Mann), Paul Anthony Stewart (as Don Kirshner), and Liz Larsen (as Genie Klein)
Design: Derek McLane
Lighting: Peter Kaczorowski
Costume: Alejo Vietti
Choreography: Josh Prince
Sound: Brian Ronan
Other info: Orchestrations and Music Arrangements by Steve Sidwell, Music Supervision by Jason Howland, Music Coordination by John Miller, Wig & Hair
Design: by Charles G. LaPointe

Carole King is basically the original Adele, and this jukebox tuner will have you feeling like a natural woman in no time. Before she was a multi-platinum singer-songwriter and recording artist, King was a 16-year-old piano player in Queens just longing to land a meeting with music publisher Donnie Kirshner at 1650 Broadway in Manhattan. After she sells her first song, she develops a crush on her Queens College classmate Gerry Goffin, an aspiring lyricist she begins to collaborate with in work and in life. At 1650 Broadway, Carole and Gerry meet Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, songwriting partners who (spoiler alert) become romantic partners. The pairs are fiercely competitive, writing hit after hit, but unfortunately, it’s not always beautiful, as Carole’s life takes a dark turn. However, sometimes the deepest sadness can become the most amazing music and Carole’s first solo album, Tapestry, cements her as one of the most influential artists of her generation.

Featuring hits like “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”, “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman,” and “I Feel the Earth Move,” Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is an honest, moving, and uplifting portrait of a genius on the rise who tackles life’s challenges head on and makes music for the world to celebrate. With a book by Douglas McGrath and directed by Marc Bruni, the musical is a “joyous celebration,” according to “Entertainment Weekly,” while the “Huffington Post” calls the show “irresistible.”Meet the woman, the myth, the legend, and learn the history behind the hits.

BEAUTIFUL is recommended for ages 11 and up. There is no foul language but there is talk about the use of drugs. Please be advised that children under the age of four will not be permitted into the theatre.

What to watch for

Jessie Mueller, who won the 2014 Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance as Carole King, took piano lessons so she could mime the songs she performed. (The piano onstage is empty, and the sound comes from a player in the orchestra pit.)

While Carole King authorized the musical, she did not see the show onstage until a few months into its Broadway run. She surprised the cast after the curtain call and sang “You’ve Got a Friend” with Jessie Mueller. She went on to perform with the company at the Tony Awards that year.

Many of the cast members make quick costume changes in less than 30 seconds, and the actress who plays Little Eva sings “The Loco-Motion” while wearing a costume that converts onstage mid-scene.

Tom Hanks is working to bring Beautiful to the big screen with his producing partner Gary Goetzman through Sony Pictures Entertainment. Paul Blake, who produced the musical, is also a producer on the film. Douglas McGrath, who wrote the musical’s book, is writing the screenplay.