By: Sandi Margolis @SandiMargolis
July 5, 2016
Hollywood Pantages Theatre – Hollywood, CA
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus for Hollywood Pantages Theatre
Photo Credit for Celebrity Red Carpet: Chelsea Lauren for Shutterstock
“BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical,” the Tony® and Grammy® Award winning North American touring company arrived at The Hollywood Pantages Theatre on Friday, June 24th to thunderous applause and standing ovations. What a night! What a celebration! Glamorous stars from the world of music, theatre and television hitting the red carpet included Christine Russell (Executive Producer – “Beautiful”), Marc Bruni (Director – “Beautiful”), songwriters Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, Leeza Gibbons (“Entertainment Tonight” and winner of “Celebrity Apprentice”), Alex Meneses (“Telenovela”), Cathy Rigby (“Peter Pan”), JoAnne Worley (“Beauty and the Beast”), fan favorite Ruta Lee, Ian Zierling (“Beverly Hills 90210”), songwriter Dianne Warren, Kate Linder (“The Young and the Restless”), Maria Conchita Alonso (“Saints & Sinners”), Cheryl Tiegs and many others.
“BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical” is based on the extraordinary life and career of pop music legend Carole King. Sixteen year old Carol Klein with the heavy Brooklyn accent, sets her sights on becoming a songwriter in the early 1960’s. Fearless and feisty, she barges into the office of music impresario Don Kirshner at 1650 Broadway in NYC and the two begin a lifelong business and personal relationship. It is also at 1650 Broadway that she meets fellow songwriters, Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann who in turn become close friends as well as friendly competitors for the #1 song on the radio.
Still a student at Queens College (my alma mater), she meets handsome lyricist, Gerry Goffin and they soon become combustible collaborators in and out of the recording studio. They fall in love, get married and have a child. Not long after, they have a second child. During this time, they successfully composed #1 hits for top rock and roll stars including The Shirelles, (“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” in 1960 which would become her first #1 hit at the age of 18), Bobby Vee (“Take Good Care Of My Baby” in 1961), The Drifters (“Some Kind of Wonderful” in 1961 “Up On The Roof” in 1963), Little Eva (“The Loco-Motion” in 1962), The Everly Brothers, (“Crying In The Rain” in 1962), The Beatles (“Chains” in 1963), The Chiffons (“One Fine Day” in 1963), Herman’s Hermits (“I’m Into Something Good” in 1964), The Monkees (“Pleasant Valley Sunday” in 1967), Aretha Franklin (“You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman” in 1967) and she graciously lent out her song “You’ve Got a Friend” to James Taylor in 1971.
Unfortunately, Carole’s “happily ever after” would not be lasting. Gerry became psychologically unbalanced and his blatant infidelity was the breaking point and would cause great pain, heartache and ultimately, divorce. So with two small children, without the love of her life and in her late 20’s, she embarked on a new journey. That road would take her to Los Angeles where she would record “her true voice” with mega music producer Lou Adler. Her solo album “Tapestry” released in 1971, would become one of the highest selling albums of all time garnering numerous Grammy® Awards and secured her place as one of the most successful and prolific artists of her generation. Those songs included “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” “I Feel The Earth Move,” “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,””It’s Too Late,” and of course, “Beautiful.” Entertainers around the globe still perform these timeless tunes to this day!
“BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical” is one of the best theatrical productions I’ve seen. With a book by Tony ® and Academy® Award – nominee Douglas McGrath, direction by Marc Bruni and choreography by Josh Prince, BEAUTIFUL features the top hits written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil. As Carole King, Abby Mueller, the sister of Jessie Mueller who won the Tony Award® in 2014 for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Carole King on Broadway is scintillating to hear and a delight to see. (It’s nice to keep it in the family). Liam Tobin is terrific as “Gerry Goffin,” Becky Gulsvig is vivacious as spitfire “Cynthia Weil,” Ben Fankhauser, hysterical as hypochondriacal “Barry Mann,” Curt Bouril, handsome with great style as mentor, producer and friend “Don Kirshner” and Suzanne Grodner (with wonderful comedic timing) as the over protective Jewish mother, “Genie.” What a fabulous ensemble. The production was perfectly cast and the singers and dancers of the “Company” were superb.
So run, don’t walk and purchase tickets to this fabulous production where you’ll be singing along with the cast. It’s a limited engagement and will leave the Hollywood Pantages after July 17th.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.HollywoodPantages.com or www.Ticketmaster.com.
By Phone: 1-800-982-2787.
Hollywood Pantages Box Office opens daily at 10am
Performance schedule is Tuesday – Friday at 8pm.
Saturday at 2pm & 8pm.
Sunday at 1pm & 6:30pm.
Added 2pm Matinee Performance on Thursday, July 14
Individual tickets start at $29
About The Writer
The author, Sandi Margolis is an accomplished actress, singer/pianist as well as an editor/writer. She is also known as the “Realtor to the Stars” as she specializes in representing Hollywood talent and executives in the purchase and sale of residential properties.
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