The Paper Mill Playhouse production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical officially opens at the New Jersey venue June 9 following previews that began June 5. Performances continue through July 3.
Casey Hushion directs the limited engagement with choreography by Jennifer Werner and music direction by Wendy Bobbitt Cavett.
The cast is led by Kyra Kennedy (Waitress national tour) as Carole King, Marrick Smith (Fun Home) as Gerry Goffin, Samantha Massell (Fiddler on the Roof) as Cynthia Weil, Jacob Ben-Shmuel (The Book of Mormon national tour) as Barry Mann, Bryan Fenkart (Memphis) as Don Kirshner, and Suzanne Grodner (Beautiful) 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.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, featuring a book by Douglas McGrath and words and music by Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil, follows the early life and career of Carole King on her journey from teenage songwriter to chart-topping solo artist. Songs include “One Fine Day,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” and “Natural Woman.”
The original Broadway production played 60 previews and 2,416 regular
performances at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre from November 21,
2013-October 27, 2019. The musical was nominated for seven 2014 Tony
Awards, including Best Musical. The production won Tonys for Jessie
Mueller's performance in the title role and for Best Sound Design of a
Musical (Brian Ronan).
The Paper Mill production also 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. Casting is by Geoff
Josselson of JZ Casting.
Andrea Cibelli is the production stage manager. Scenery was originally designed by Roman Tatarowicz and built by Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre.
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