Carole King is by far one of the most prolific female musicians of the latter half of the 20th century. Since writing her first number-one hit song at the tender age of 17, King has become a highly celebrated singer-songwriter, with over 100 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and over 400 compositions recorded by 1000-plus artists.
King’s amazing musical catalog and captivating life story will unfold on stage in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, NJ. Due to overwhelming demand, the production was extended and will now play from June 5 through July 3, 2024.
The Tony-nominated musical first opened on Broadway in 2014 and follows the early life and career of King—her journey from teenage songwriter to chart-topping solo artist. It appeals to audiences with an inspiring story of love, heartbreak, and empowerment.
Casey Hushion
Director Casey Hushion helms the latest rendition of “Beautiful,” which was licensed by Music Theatre International, with choreography by Jennifer Werner and music direction by Wendy Bobbitt Cavett. Working with some of Broadway's finest writers, producers, and creative teams, Hushion has established a successful directing career, having worked on such projects as “Mean Girls,” “Aladdin,” “The Prom,” and “In The Heights.”
“While the jumping off point is the show as it was built for Broadway, I think whenever you come to a piece, you bring to it what you see and feel, and what's different about your view of the characters, and your interpretation,” says Hushion. “I think (this production) will have its own life and spirit, based on having a lot of new eyes and voices around the show creatively. What I knew coming to the show, of course, were the most famous songs,” she adds. “I love (the album) 'Tapestry.' I used to sing 'You've Got a Friend' to my kids when I was putting them to sleep in bed at night. What I didn't know was all of the nuances and details of her story and her journey.”
King's 1971 multiplatinum classic, “Tapestry,” is regarded by critics as one of the greatest records of all time. It was her second solo studio album, garnering four GRAMMY Awards—Record, Song and Album Of The Year as well as Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. With more than 30 million units sold worldwide, “Tapestry” remained the best-selling album by a female artist for a quarter century. King’s critically acclaimed success landed her in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, inducted separately as a songwriter and a songstress.
“Beautiful” will feature Kyra Kennedy in the role of Carole King. “We searched long and hard for the perfect person to play Carole, because often when you're playing an iconic character and a historical character, it can be hard to find the right balance,” says Hushion. “What's so wonderful about Kyra is that she embodies the essence of Carole, and she sings with the soulfulness and the heart that Carole King sings with, yet she's not doing an impression. She's making it her own.”
Kyra Kennedy
Stepping into the iconic role of Carole King is a dream that Kennedy has been chasing since moving to New York 10 years ago. For her, this is very much a full-circle moment. “My first audition in New York was for the Broadway production of “Beautiful.” So, to finally be able to do it, especially at Paper Mill and with Casey, feels very kismet,” adds Kennedy, who was part of the “Waitress” first national tour. “I was raised on good 70s music, Motown, and Carole King, so it feels like just the utmost honor to be able to portray her.”
Kennedy already knew how to tickle the ivories like King, but she did extensive research to prepare for the role. To better understand the woman behind the legend, she read King’s memoir “A Natural Woman.” First published in 2012, the book chronicles her extraordinary life as a performer, mother, wife, and activist.
“It was really great to have the (book) side by side with the script, because it goes through her early years, pretty much as a toddler into the legend that she is now,” says Kennedy. “I learned a lot. In the musical, she goes from 16 to 29 over the course of two hours. It was nice to get a sense of who she was outside of the iconic Carole King (her stage name) and more so getting to meet Carole Klein (her birthname),” she explains.
Carole King’s memoir, “A Natural Woman.”
“What I admire and love most about her is just how brilliant she is. She's a scientist with music and with how she crafts songs so easily,” adds Kennedy. “I really connect with her humanity, how down to earth she is, and also her sense of humor. She had a great sense of humor.”
“Beautiful” is a jukebox musical with a book by Douglass McGrath and filled with numerous chart stoppers that King wrote the music to, while then-husband Gerry Goffin penned the lyrics, including “Will You (Still) Love Me Tomorrow” which was recorded by The Shirelles 1960 and released in 1961, becoming the first number one hit song from an all-Black female group. The dynamic duo also co-wrote “The Loco-Motion,” recorded in 1962 by Little Eva, the couple’s babysitter; “Up On The Roof” (The Drifters, 1962); and “One Fine Day” (The Chiffons, 1963). In 1967 King and Goffin’s soulful ballad “You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman,” was immortalized by Aretha Franklin and is often credited as cementing Franklin's status as a superstar—and the Queen of Soul. The musical “Beautiful” also features other contemporary songs by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, and Phil Spector, among others.
Rounding out the cast is Marrick Smith as Gerry Goffin, Samantha Massell as Cynthia Weil, Jacob Ben-Shmuel as Barry Mann, Bryan Fenkart as Don Kirshner, and Suzanne Grodner as Genie Klein. The ensemble includes Tavis Cunningham, Seth Eliser, Kevin Hack,Jana Djenne Jackson, Andrea Levinsky, Prentiss E. Mouton, Jay Owens, Olivia Palmer, Thomas Ed Purvis, Isaiah Reynolds, Tavia Riveé, Aaron Robinson, Danielle Summons, Bronwyn Tarboton, Giselle Amarisa Watts, and Mikayla White.
The production features scenic coordination and additional design by Kelly James Tighe, costume design by Jen Caprio, lighting design by Jess Creager, sound design by Sun Hee Kil, and wig, hair, and makeup design by Roxanne De Luna.
“I think for both Carole King lovers and fans and those who are maybe new to Carole, it will be without a doubt an amazing night of music and an amazing story to see. I still find myself, even though I've read her book and I've done extensive research on her work, going, "Oh my God, this is Carole King too. She wrote this as well?" The impact she had on music at that time was so incredible. And I think to have a musical about a woman with a female creative team behind it is also really special, and I'm excited to be a part of that.”
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” opens at the Paper Mill Playhouse on Wednesday, June 5, 7:30 p.m. To learn more or to purchase tickets visit https://papermill.org/.
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