REVIEW: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Marriott Theatre Through December 31, 2023

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

Guest Review 

by D'Arcy Mies 

If you are already familiar with Carole King, then you already know this show is one not to miss.  And if, like me, you only thought you knew her music and life, then you are in for a real treat.  Either way, expect "Beautiful - The Carole King Musical" to be a joyful evening full-to-the-brim with comic and musical delight.

It is always fun to see how Marriot Theatre is going to dress their theatre in the round.  For this show, it's pretty simple, a piano takes center stage and the piano-key motif is repeated throughout, even as a backdrop to project images. The piano itself gets a clever bit of stage dressing, changing it's facade for different periods in King's life story. Charmingly, even the stage, a revolving rotunda, is painted to resemble a record album. 

The play opens with King's triumphant 1971 Carnegie Hall Concert, and flashes back to the beginning of her career, when a teenage Carole Klein begs her mother's permission to go down to Times Square and try to sell a song to producer Donnie Kirshner. Genie Klein is both a bitter divorcee and the queen of sarcastic humor and the scene is crackling with snappy one-liners. As the show goes on, we are regaled with some truly funny dialog and great comic timing from the cast. The audience is also treated to a whirlwind tour of some of the great pop hits of the 1960's, many produced by Kirshner, who, you guessed it, hires Carole on the spot. Carole becomes a songwriter and, with her writing partner/husband Gerry churns our many beloved tunes for hitmaker Kirshner over the years.  

As the play goes on, we are introduced to many of the characters in the spotlight and behind the scenes in this prolific time period. The songs are woven into the show in clever and fun ways, and the choregraphy and staging is great, too. 

I found myself bouncing in my seat, smiling with glee, and had to virtually restrain myself from singing along with hit single after hit single. Kaitlyn Davis sounds, to my ear, gratifyingly like Carole King, and the covers of these familiar songs are satisfying and spot on, they sound like the recordings we all know and love.

Of course, there are struggles in King's life, especially diificulties with her marriage, but this play doesn't wallow too long in sadness and instead brings us back to where the show began, with Carole King, a piano, and a "Beautiful" song. 

Highly Recommended 

★★★★ Four out of four stars -- D'Arcy Mies, ChiILMama.com

D'Arcy Mies is a Montessori teacher, mom, and long time theater lover who lives in Chicago burb, Franklin Park. She loves cosplay, book stores, and has a rescue dog once voted "Worst Dressed Sentient Being in the Known Universe".

Peter Blair, Executive Producer 

Peter Marston Sullivan, Artistic Director 

Presents

 

Celebrating the soundtrack of a generation!

The Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway mega-hit, which has thrilled audiences with the inspiring true story of one woman’s remarkable journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, closes out Marriott Theatre’s 2023 Season. 

Previewing Wednesday, November 1 at 7:30 pm, opening Wednesday, November 8 at 7:30 pm and closing December 31, 2023, this moving biographical musical will be directed by Jessica Fisch (Marriott Theatre debut! Drury Lane Theatre: Murder on the Orient Express; Writers Theatre: Athena; Northlight Theatre: Dear Jack Dear Louise), choreography by Christopher Windom (Marriott Theare debut! Film: RESPECT starring Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin; The Vineyard Theatre: Kid Victory) and musical direction by Jeff Award Winner Ryan T. Nelson.

Featuring over two dozen pop classics, including “You’ve Got a Friend,” “One Fine Day,” “Up on the Roof,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” and “Natural Woman,” this crowd-pleasing international phenomenon is filled with the songs you remember, and a story you’ll never forget. The bio-musical follows King’s rise to stardom, from her time as part of a hit songwriting team with husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history with Tapestry. BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL takes you back to where it all began – and takes you on the ride of a lifetime.

“Growing up my parents only kept a handful of tapes in the car, one of which was Tapestry, the best-selling album of Carole King,” said director Jessica Fisch. “Simply put I can’t remember a time in my life when Carole King wasn’t singing to me. She is part of the soundtrack of my life and that is true for so many people. It is a dream come true to get to direct this first made-in-Chicago production.”

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL will star Kaitlyn Davis, who played the role in the First National Tour in 2015. Other National Tour credits include The Phantom of the Opera. 

Co-stars include Andrew Mueller as “Gerry Goffin” (Marriott Theatre: Man of La Mancha, For The Boys; Paramount Theatre: Rent); Erica Stephan as “Cynthia Weil” (Marriott Theatre: Damn Yankees; Porchlight Theatre: Cabaret); Justin Albinder as “Barry” (National Tour & New World Stages: Jersey Boys); Janet Ulrich Brooks as “Genie Klein” (Goodman Theatre: The Cherry Orchard; Drury Lane Theatre: Steel Magnolias); and Lawrence Grimm as “Don Kirshner” (Goodman Theatre: 2666; Timeline Theatre: My Name is Asher Lev); with Melanie Brezill, Christian Denzel Bufford, Caron Buinis, Ariana Burks, Dan Gold, Daryn Whitney Harrell, Kayla Kennedy, Adam LaSalle, Naiqui Macabroad, Michael E. Martin, Spencer Davis Milford, Yasir Muhammad, Juwon Tyrel Perry, Alexis J Roston, Maya Rowe, Aisha Sougou, and Alina Taber.

The artistic team features Scenic Designer Andrew Boyce, Costume Designer Sully Ratke, Lighting Designer Jesse Klug, Sound Designer Michael Daly, Media Designer Anthony Churchill, Props Designer Sally Zack, Production Manager Meg Love, Assistant Director Nora Geffen, Stage Manager Jessica Banaszak, Assistant Stage Manager Richard Strimer, Intimacy Choreographer Katie Johannigman, Dialect Coach Adam Goldstein, and Conductor Christopher Sargent.

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL is scheduled to run Wednesdays at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., with select Thursday 1:00 p.m. shows. Ticket prices start at $55 (excluding tax and handling fees). 

Call for student, senior, and military discounts. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings there are a limited number of dinner-theatre packages available for purchase through the Marriott Theatre Box Office. To make a restaurant reservation, please call 847.634.0100. Reservations strongly recommended. 

Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets, please call The Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or go to tickets.marriotttheatre.com. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com for more information.

RETURNING: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Cadillac Palace Theatre 12/5/17-1/28/18

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar:

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Broadway In Chicago at the 

Cadillac Palace Theatre

**Recommended for ages 11+**

ChiIL Mama will be ChiILin' at Chi, IL's iconic Cadillac Palace Theatre December 6th for the press opening of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Check back soon for our full review. We caught this stirring musical that lives up to it's name and namesake on it's last pass through Chicago and can't wait to catch it again. Of course the songs are fabulous and Carole King's tale has all the best elements of classic Broadway musical struggle and success stories.

Long before she was Carole King, chart-topping music legend, she was Carol Klein, Brooklyn girl with passion and chutzpah. She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll. But it wasn’t until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice. Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation. 

RETURNS TO CHICAGO 

 CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE

DEC. 5, 2017 – JAN. 28, 2018

BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will play Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph) for a limited eight-week engagement that runs Dec. 5, 2017 through Jan. 28, 2018.

“Carole King might be a native New Yorker, but her story of struggle and triumph is as universal as they come – and her music is loved the world over,” producer Paul Blake said. “We know that audiences throughout the country will embrace this show just as Broadway and London audiences have.”

With a book by Tony® and Academy® Award-nominee Douglas McGrath, direction by Marc Bruni and choreography by Josh Prince, BEAUTIFUL features a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil.  The show opened on Broadway at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (125 West 43 Street) in January 2014, where it has since broken all box office records and recently became the highest grossing production in the Theatre’s history.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL (Ghostlight Records) won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and is available on CD, digitally, and on vinyl.  BEAUTIFUL launched its first US National Tour in September 2015, and is also currently playing internationally, with productions in Japan, Australia and touring the UK.  An Award-winning production recently concluded its run in London’s West End after opening on February 25, 2015.

BEAUTIFUL tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. BEAUTIFUL features a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including “I Feel The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend” and the title song.



The creative team of BEAUTIFUL also includes Derek McLane (Set Design), Alejo Vietti (Costume Design), Peter Kaczorowski (Lighting Design), Brian Ronan (Sound Design), Charles G. LaPointe (Wig and Hair Design), Steve Sidwell (Orchestrations and Music Arrangements), Jason Howland (Music Supervision) and John Miller (Music Coordination).

BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL is produced on Broadway by Paul Blake, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Jeffrey A. Sine, Richard A. Smith, Mike Bosner, Harriet N. Leve/Elaine Krauss, Terry Schnuck, Orin Wolf, Patty Baker/Good Productions, Roger Faxon, Larry Magid, Kit Seidel, Lawrence S. Toppall, Fakston Productions/Mary Solomon, William Court Cohen, John Gore, BarLor Productions, Matthew C. Blank, Tim Hogue, Joel Hyatt, Marianne Mills, Michael J. Moritz, Jr., StylesFour Productions, Brunish/Trinchero, and Jeremiah J. Harris.

For more information, visit www.beautifulonbroadway.com

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesdays at 7:30PM
Wednesdays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM
Thursdays at 7:30PM
Fridays at 7:30PM
Saturdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM
Sundays at 2:00PM
*No matinee performance on Wednesday, Dec. 6
*Additional evening performance on Sunday, Dec.10

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at the Cadillac Palace Theatre range from $30 - $115. A select number of premium seats are also available for many performances. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710.  Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000 and online



ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 17 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country.  A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining well up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres.  Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including The PrivateBank Theatre, Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. 

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

FREE Outdoor Summer Broadway Showcase Returns To Pritzker Pavilion 8/14

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO ANNOUNCES FREE ANNUAL SUMMER CONCERT

  

Featuring performances by

Disney’s ALADDIN, BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, the Pre-Broadway Engagement of ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE, LES MISÉRABLES, LOVE NEVER DIES,

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, SCHOOL OF ROCK and WICKED

Monday, August 14 at Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park

Chi, IL embraces the outdoor summer concert season with open arms and here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live we just can't get enough. There are free shows galore, in every musical genre. One of our annual favorites is the FREE BROADWAY IN CHICAGO SUMMER CONCERT. Don't miss this! 

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce their annual FREE BROADWAY IN

CHICAGO SUMMER CONCERT, sponsored by ABC 7 Chicago and hosted by Janet Davies, ABC 7 Chicago’s entertainment reporter and host of the entertainment and lifestyle program 190 NORTH on ABC 7. The concert will take place on Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:15 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park (201 E Randolph St). 

The Broadway In Chicago Summer Concert at Millennium Park is presented with the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. This year, there will be preview performances from Disney’s ALADDIN, BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, the Pre-Broadway Engagement of ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE, LES MISÉRABLES, LOVE NEVER DIES, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s SCHOOL OF ROCK and WICKED. More performances will be announced closer to the event.

“This is truly our favorite night of the year! At the incomparable Pritzker Pavilion, you are surrounded by the Chicago skyline and entertained by a selection of phenomenal musicals. It is a truly unique evening,” says Eileen LaCario, Vice President of Broadway In Chicago. “The evening brings Chicagoans of all ages together to appreciate Broadway’s best - it is like the 'Lollapalooza' of Broadway.”

The Broadway In Chicago Summer Concert is presented in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events as part of Millennium Park Presents. Millennium Park proudly presents symphonic music, dance, opera, Broadway hits and more—performed by some of Chicago’s best-loved cultural institutions. For full calendar information, visit millenniumpark.org. 

Get Social
For exciting facts about the Park, program updates and weather cancellations, follow us on Twitter (@Millennium_Park) and Instagram (Millennium_Park) and like us on Facebook.

For more information on the Summer Concert and Broadway In Chicago, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.