Abby Mueller stars as Carole King in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Photo courtesy Joan Marcus/The Pantages Theatre.
Beautiful is certainly the correct word to describe the new musical that arrived with a bang at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on June 24.
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” is that top-notch show that chronicles the life story of singer-songwriter Carole King, whose album “Tapestry” remains one of the best-selling musical works of all time.
One of the fantastic musical numbers from “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Photo courtesy Joan Marcus/The Pantages Theatre.
Opening night drew a crowd of Carole King fans that included stars ranging from Robert David Hall, Alex Meneses and Maria Conchita Alonso to Kate Linder, Cathy Rigby, JoAnn Worley and Ruta Lee. The packed house was rapt as the show moved through King’s life and songs, under the direction of Marc Bruni.
JoAnn Worley and Ruta Lee ham it up on the red carpet during opening night for “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on June 24, 2016. Photo courtesy Chelsea Lauren/The Pantages Theatre.
With characters that feature rock impresario Don Kirshner, singers including Neil Sedaka, Little Eva and Janelle Woods and famed harmony infused groups The Drifters, The Righteous Brothers and The Shirelles, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” is completely jam packed with some of the greatest music from the 1960s.
In fact, it was almost impossible for the filled-to-the-rafters opening-night audience to stay quiet as the enthusiastic cast belted out tunes like “Take Good Care of My Baby,” “Up on the Roof,” “On Broadway” and “One Fine Day” – and that was only in the first act!
By the time the second act came to a close, everyone was singing along to “You’ve Got a Friend” and “Natural Woman”; and when the curtain fell, the cheers rang out and a standing ovation went on and on. It seems everyone still loves the tapestry of tunes that Carole King and her best friends created back in the day!
For ticket information (prices start at $29 for Mezzanine seats), go to www.hollywoodpantages.com. “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” runs until July 17.