Sarah Bockel leads Ogunquit Playhouse's regional production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in Ogunquit, Maine. The run begins September 15 and continues through October 30.
Reprising the role of Carole King from the Broadway production, Bockel is joined in the cast by fellow Broadway Beautiful alum Suzanne Grodner as Genie Klein and Ben Jacoby as Barry Mann, as well as Taylor Aronson as Cynthia Weil, Anthony Festa (Wicked national tour) as Gerry Goffin, and Matt Loehr (The Book of Mormon) as Don Kirschner.
Rounding out the cast are D’Marreon Alexander, Reggie Bromell, Anthony Cataldo, J. Daughtry, Kaitlyn Davis, Gabrielle Elizabeth, Rosharra Frances, Jaquez Linder-Long, Jazz Madison, Jack Mastriani, Chandler Reeves, Salisha Thomas, Tyler Michael Breeding, Nigel O. Richards, and Aiyana Imari Smash-Jackson.
Director David Ruttura leads a creative team which is comprised of choreographer Joyce Chittick, music director Nick Williams, Tony-winning scenic designer Derek McLane, costume designer Alejo Vietti, lighting designer Richard Latta, sound designer Kevin Heard, and wig designer Roxanne De Luna. The associate music director is Jesse Warkentin, the production stage manager is Daniel Everett, and the assistant stage manager is Emma Power.
Beautiful tells the real-life story of Carole King's journey to rock 'n' roll fame, featuring a book by Douglas McGrath. The musical includes hit tunes "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."
The original Broadway cast recording, available on Ghostlight Records, was the 2015 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Theater Album. Bockel succeeded three-time Grammy nominee Vanessa Carlton in the Broadway production, playing the role from September 5, 2017, through its final performance at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
Visit OgunquitPlayhouse.org.
