Beautiful, the Carole King musical, tells the story of a young King and her rocky rise to stardom. Before she became Carole King, celebrity, she was Carol Klein, an enthusiastic teenage songwriter.

The musical chronicles King’s journey as a teenager, following her ups and downs in the business of rock ‘n’ roll. She clawed her way into the record trade, creating some of the biggest hits of the 1960s alongside her songwriting partner and husband, Gerry Goffin. As her personal life began to crumble in her mid-twenties, the independent voice of King began to flourish.

The show features an array of songs including: “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “One Fine Day,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Locomotive,” and the main song, “Beautiful”. They originate from King’s own discography, played by a live orchestra.

The Broadway musical won two Tony awards in 2014, along with a Grammy for the Best Musical Theater Album in 2015. Under the direction of Marc Bruni, choreography by Josh Prince, and writing by Douglas McGrath, the musical has become a sensation among theatre lovers everywhere.

Sarah Bockel (Carole King) and Andrew Brewer (Gerry Goffin) worked together exceptionally well, showing the real push and pull relationship that Goffin and King really

had. Sarah Goeke (Cynthia Weil) and Jacob Heimer (Barry Mann) mirror this chemistry, contrasting King’s deteriorating relationship with their own thriving one. The songwriting duos show a lighthearted competition, each person trying to top the other.

Bockel’s performance was especially compelling, she provided intense emotion to a dynamic character. The ensemble additionally contributed a realistic aspect by impersonating famous groups from the 1960s and 70s, including the Drifters, the Shirelles, and the Righteous Brothers.

The set mostly focused on a recording studio in a Brooklyn neighborhood, where King and Goffin created their songs. The grand piano on stage in many scenes served as a constant reminder of King’s roots. A living room, complete with a sofa and end table, provided insight into the personal lives of the characters.

The musical revolves around King’s creation of songs, showing the process in how she wrote and the way it was performed or recorded. As a result, the first act was composed mainly of songs, drowning the storyline. The continuous output of songs downplayed the

personal narrative of King’s life. This created a superficial narration, making the musical fun yet artificial.

As the story progresses over time the character’s costumes change along with it, keeping with the time period. A young King switches out her poodle skirt for bell-bottomed jeans, and close friend Cynthia Weil dons a variety of colorful fitting dresses. 

Beautiful is a family friendly true story, perfect for the family and musical theatre admirers of all ages. The cast continues to tour across North America, their next show being held in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Performances are held from Nov. 28 – Dec. 3 before the crew moves on to Chicago. The show is currently sold out at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Broadway.

Upcoming shows at William Saroyan Theatre in Fresno include The Nutcracker (Nov. 25-26) and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Nov. 28-29). Tickets can also be purchased online through the Ticketmaster website or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

For more articles, read: Let’s Talk: Depression

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