Beautiful charts the early years of Carole King from a 16 year old girl writing her first hit single, to her first solo concert in front of an audience at Carnegie Hall in June 1971. King would go on to become the most successful female American songwriter of the latter half of the 20th century, writing or co-writing 118 hit songs, 61 of which charted in the UK.
Put another dime in the jukebox baby: Mark Shenton picks out his Top Ten jukebox musicals
Jukebox musicals have become a staple of Broadway and the West End for a while now; familiarity, you could say, breeds contented audiences. As Mamma Mia! used to tag the show in their advertising: “You already know you’ve going to love it!”
‘A fun-filled night out at the theatre’: BEAUTIFUL – Touring ★★★★
The entire ensemble of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical gives fantastic performances and the show is thoroughly enjoyable. I had high expectations, all of which were met for a fun-filled night out at the theatre.
‘Join in the celebration of a cultural icon’: BEAUTIFUL – Touring ★★★★★
Carole King rightly occupies a place in the pantheon of great American songwriters and this lively production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a fitting tribute to her musical legacy.
‘The ensemble do the time period justice’: BEAUTIFUL – Touring ★★★
Picture the scene, Carnegie Hall 1971. Carole King played by Bronte Barbe sitting at the piano not expecting this many people to be watching her before playing a short rendition of ‘So far Away’ before rewinding the story back 14 years to wear it all began.
‘Perfectly moving, magical & sentimental’: BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★★
Whether you think you’re a fan of Carole King or not, you’re sure to recognise many of the hits in Beautiful and leave feeling elated, with a new sense of love and appreciation for the songwriting industry.
‘Engaging to watch throughout’: BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL – Touring ❤❤❤❤❤
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a masterclass in singer/songwriting skills, showcased through wonderful music that really brightens up a cold winter’s evening.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Beautiful – The Carole King Musical
A musical to be cherished, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical arrives in pristine form, packed with lively singing talents who have honed their roles to theatrical perfection.
BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★★
Wasting no time in getting started, the Carole King musical opened with the protagonist (played by the talented Bronté Barbé) sitting behind a grand piano at the Carnegie Hall concert, a highlight of King’s solo singing career.
BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★★
Before she was Carole King, singer-songwriter, she was Carol Klein from Brooklyn, a 16-year-old sharp enough to have skipped two grades whose divorcee mother dreamed she’d become a teacher (“Girls don’t write music, they teach it”).
BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★
However, there is a bit more depth to this musical than just the songs, as King’s story is that of a young and ambitious teenage girl, who never set out to be a singer and who was as surprised as everyone else by her own success.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Beautiful – The Carole King Musical ★★★★★
The night started with two twenty-something girls who had no clue who Carole King was (don’t judge us!) and ended up with two brand new super fans, striding out of the theatre arm in arm, belting ‘You’ve Got a Friend’ and wistfully longing we could transport back to 1960s Brooklyn.
NEWS: Cast announced for first UK tour of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical
Paul Blake, Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Mike Bosner in association with Michael Harrison are delighted to announce that Bronté Barbé will play ‘Carole King’ in the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of the Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL. Bronté will be joined by Kane Oliver Parry as King’s husband and songwriting partner ‘Gerry Goffin’, Amy …
NEWS: Carole King musical Beautiful closes in West End on 5 August
The West End production of BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical, based on the early life and career of legendary singer songwriter Carole King, will complete its run at the Aldwych Theatre on 5 August 2017. The UK tour of BEAUTIFUL will open in Bradford on 9 September 2017 and continues in Plymouth, Southampton, Norwich, Southend, Nottingham, Belfast, Cardiff, Birmingham, Newcastle, Hull, Edinburgh, …
MY MOTHER SAID I NEVER SHOULD – St James Theatre
Spirited revival of the 1980s feminist classic is a bit too shrill, yet also quietly moving when it matters.
BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL – West End
This review wasn’t going to be written. Why? Well as this was a revisit to a show which I’d previously seen earlier in its run, I thought I’d just sit back and enjoy. However it soon struck me that I was witnessing some really career defining performances. Having been extremely successful on Broadway, Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of Carole 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. Along the way, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.
BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL – West End
This review wasn’t going to be written. Why? Well as this was a revisit to a show which I’d previously seen earlier in its run, I thought I’d just sit back and enjoy. However it soon struck me that I was witnessing some really career defining performances. Having been extremely successful on Broadway, Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of Carole 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. Along the way, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.