Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is based on the fascinating life of one of the greatest songwriters and performers in musical history. King, who has made 25 solo albums and wrote or co-wrote 118 pop hits on the Billboard Hot 100, was hesitant to perform live. Still, she reinvented her career by singing at the Bitter End nightclub. After an unsuccessful album, she hit gold with Tapestry, a generational soundtrack with a collection of songs that instantly became timeless hits that held the No.1 spot for 15 consecutive weeks with her hit single "It's Too Late."  The show captures King's rise to stardom and the inspiring story of her early life and career. It follows the journey of a teenage girl who fought her way into the record business and discovers that the musical notes of life don't always go as planned. The Carole King Musical" is a heartwarming and inspiring story that reminds us to embrace our unique qualities and talents. It is an uplifting and exhilarating play that encourages us to find beauty in ourselves, regardless of life's unbeautiful circumstances.  The show begins with Carole singing " So Far Away " at Carnegie Hall in 1971 and flashes back to sixteen-year-old Carole telling her mother she wants to go to Manhattan to sell her song. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Carole Klein wrote her first hit song, "It Might As Well Rain Until September," which Bobby Vee recorded. King meets Gerry at Queens College, and the dynamic songwriting duo of Goffin and King began their historical songwriting career. They also collaborated in love, and Carole got pregnant, prompting marriage. With Goffin writing the lyrics and King the music, they are known for writing many of the top soundtrack hits of the 1960s, which included "Up on The Roof" by The Drifters, "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by The Righteous Brothers, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles, "The Locomotion" by Little Eva, "One Fine Day" for the Chiffons, "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman" for Aretha Franklin, and many others songs, that changed the music world.  

The success of renowned hit songwriters  King and Goffin was not simply a result of their talent and hard work. Their competitive friendship with another celebrated songwriting duo, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, fuled them to produce music that revolutionized the industry. Prominent music publisher, producer, and talent manager famously known as "The Man With the Golden Ear, Don Kirshner further amplified the exceptional gifts of these songwriters, whose songs made an indelible mark on the world of music. Thanks to the outstanding cast of talented actors, the performance was truly mesmerizing. C.J. Blaine Eldred gave a stunning portrayal of Gerry Goffin, while Rebecca Hurd's portrayal of Cynthia Weil was equally impressive. Christopher Kale Jones, who played the fanatically compulsive hypochondria, was hilarious and delivered a captivating performance like Barry Mann. He appeared to be much older than Mann, who was in his twenties. Still, he makes it work. American Blues Theatre's Ian Paul Custer, who I enjoy watching perform, brought Donny Kirshner to life with incredible skill. The chemistry between these actors was dazzling, and watching them bring the characters to life reminded me why I love this production. I attended the two-act play last night, and while the overall performance was quite good, there were some noticeable issues with the sound during the first act. The audio quality sounded hollow, causing an airy sound from the singers' vocals. Additionally, the microphones needed to be fixed, which resulted in some of the dialogues being distorted and difficult to understand. However, I must commend the sound team for working on these issues during the intermission. The sound quality improved in the second act, making the audio more transparent and accessible. Despite their impressive vocal abilities and well-choreographed dance routines, the performers playing as The Drifters need to work on capturing the same level of sophistication that the iconic group possessed. There are so many great performers, with a stand-out performance from Matt Thinnes and Luke Nowakowski as The Righteous Brothers, Ariana Burks(Little Eva) singing The Locomotion, and the ladies Marta Bady, Lydia Burke, Arinna Burks and Shelbi Voss as The Shirelles. 

In the second act, we witness the beginning of the dynamic songwriting duo's marriage falling apart after Gerry had several affairs with other singers. Eventually, this leads to their divorce. After the divorce, King tells Don, Cynthia, and Barry that she is moving to Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles with her two daughters. Topol, with Jones and Hurd, has the audience in tears singing "You Got a Friend," she enchantically charmed the audience with "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman and Beautiful." The Paramount Theatre in Aurora has rightfully earned a reputation for delivering top-notch musical performances that leave theater-goers in awe. Its commitment to excellence has helped put Aurora on the map as a must-visit destination for those who love live theater. From classic favorites to contemporary hits, the Paramount Theatre consistently delivers unforgettable experiences that keep audiences returning for more.

This captivating play shows the inspiring journey of a young woman who battles her way into the competitive music industry. As a teenager, she faces multiple challenges and setbacks, yet her unwavering determination and passion triumph over the pain. Along the way, she discovers that life doesn't always go according to plan, but sometimes, unexpected paths lead to beautiful outcomes. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a feel-good story and a testament to the power of resilience, perseverance, and the century's amazing songwriter Carole King, who has left the world a little better with her songs and music. "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" is an exceptional piece of art that holds a special place in my heart. Of all the productions I have seen, each remarkable in its own right, I'm partially sentimental about the first production, which invigoratively opened my mind to the brilliance of Carole King. The music, the story, and the performances are all brilliantly crafted, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who experiences it. The show's ability to evoke emotions, from joy to sadness, is unparalleled. It truly is a masterpiece!" The Paramount Theatre in Aurora has rightfully earned a reputation for delivering top-notch musical performances that leave theater-goers in awe. Its commitment to excellence has helped put Aurora on the map as a must-visit destination for those who love live theater. From classic favorites to contemporary hits, the Paramount Theatre consistently delivers unforgettable experiences that keep audiences returning for more. And this Carole King story could be the icing on the cake. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Paramount Theatre

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Book by Douglas McGrath

Words and Music by Gerry Goffin & Carole King

Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil

Directed by Jim Corti and Johanna McKenzie Miller

APRIL 24, 2024-JUNE 16, 2024

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