The show: “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at Red Mountain Theatre through Aug. 11. A jukebox musical that tells the inspiring story of Carole King’s rise to stardom, featuring her timeless hits and the personal struggles she overcame along the way. The show highlights her journey from a teenage songwriter to one of the most successful and influential female artists in music history. Directed by Valerie Accetta; choreography by Eric Jackson; scenic design by Kimberly Powers; lighting design by John D. Alexander; sound design by Patrick MacDonald; costume design by Kendra Weeks; hair and makeup design by Missi B. Shepherd.
The cast: Alison McCartan as Carole King, Blake West as Gerry Goffin, Meggie Cansler Ness as Cynthia Weil, Madison Adams Hagler as Barry Mann, Saxon Murrell as Don Kirshner, Jessica Clark as Genie Klein, plus Hannah Moss, Favor Buchi, Halo Wheeler, Theo Edwards-Butler, Temperance Jones, Jeremy Jefferson, Dorian, Kendall Johnson, Terrance Campbell, Matthew Piper, Ford Beshirs, Anne Kelly, Kristin Kenebrew, Sawyer Luke and Jared Max Wright.
The band: Music Director Katie Holmes, with Sam J. Tumminello, Richard Byrd, Sallie White, Kim Bain, Jim Zingara, Casey Thomas, Carlos Pino, Matt Williamson, Michael Whitner and Joe Cooley.
The highlights: The “core four” of this musical – the actors playing King and Goffin, Weil and Mann – are excellent. McCartan shines when behind the piano singing King’s hits, including “So Far Away” and “You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” Hagler and Ness are fine singers, but they also are sharp comic actors. West may be the best of all of them in a part that requires a bit of everything – his Goffin is talented and loving at times, but his emotional well-being turns on a dime, and he’s given a few really dramatic moments where West excels. The always reliable Murrell and Clark are good as Kirshner and King’s mother.
More music: The ensemble is excellent, singing some of the biggest hits of the ‘60s and ‘70s as the Shirelles, the Drifters, the Righteous Brothers and more. Highlights on opening night included Wheeler (as Little Eva) singing “The Locomotion” and Edwards-Butler (as Janelle Woods) singing “One Fine Day.” All of the musical performances – and there were many – were well executed.
Bottom line: Whether you’re a Carole King fan or not, you’ll leave the theater humming her songs (and those of Weil and Mann), knowing a lot more about her (did you know Little Eva worked for her as a babysitter?) and appreciating even more one of the greatest songwriters in music history.
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” at Red Mountain Theatre through Aug. 11.
