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This show is archived

Update: Special Friday Matinees added on August 16 and 23 at 1:30 pm

Before Carole King became the legendary singer-songwriter who helped define an era, she was a 16-year-old Brooklyn kid named Carole Klein trying to sell her songs to the big hitmakers in Times Square. When she meets a fellow Queens College student named Gerry Goffin, she gains the perfect lyricist for her music – and the love of her life. Soon, Carole and Gerry are churning out hits like “Take Good Care of My Baby,” “Up On The Roof,” and “Will You (Still) Love Me Tomorrow” for acts like the Shirelles and The Drifters. Across the hall, their best friends Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil compete for the next Billboard #1 hit, as they contribute classics like “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” and “On Broadway.” But success in music doesn’t necessarily bring happiness, and as Gerry spirals out of control, Carole will need to find the strength to take back control of her life and career. 

Featuring:
Natalie Weiss (YouTube's Breaking Down the Riffs) as Carole King
Michael Perrie Jr. (Theater J's Hester Street) as Gerry Goffin
Bobby Smith (Signature's No Place To Go) as Don Kirschner
Nikki Mirza (La Jolla Playhouse's Bhangin' It) as Cynthia Weil
Calvin McCullough (Round House Theatre's Next to Normal) as Barry Mann

Book by
Douglas McGrath

Words and Music by
Gerry Goffin & Carole King, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil

Music by arrangement with 
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Music Directed by
Christopher Youstra

Choreographed by
Ashleigh King

Directed by
Amy Anders Corcoran

2023-24 Season
Part of the 2023-24 Season

Trailer: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Press and Reviews

  • "She’s a YouTube-star vocal coach. Now she’ll be onstage as Carole King." - The Washington Post
  • "Covering, and Uncovering, Carole King" - The Georgetowner
  • "Actor overcomes car accidents to thrive in ‘Beautiful’" - The Blade

Online Program Book

Natalie Weiss performs "So Far Away"

On the Blog

Dramaturgy - Famous Singers of the 1960s

Community Events

  • Special Event

    70s Sing-a-long with Karen Vincent

    Wednesday, July 31st,  6:00 - 7:00 p.m.  
    Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion 
    Tickets: $10

    Karen Vincent is a DC-based singer and actor who made her Olney Theatre Center debut last summer in The World Goes Round, and her Olney Outdoors debut with her Carole King cabaret in summer of 2022. She is the vocalist for The Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra, with which she recorded it’s sixth full album in April; she appears with various jazz ensembles includingThe Craig Gildner Big Band; The Melting Pot Big Band, and is currently working on a solo show about the life and music of jazz legend Anita O’Day in cooperation with the DC All Stars Jazz Band.Karen was raised singing the songs of John Denver, James Taylor and Karen Carpenter around the camp fire and can’t wait to bring that peaceful easy feeling to the Root Family Stage!

  • In the Community

    Story Time at the Olney Library

    Sunday, Aug 18th, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
    Olney Public Library (3500 Olney Laytonsville Rd, Olney, MD 20832)
    No RSVP. Just show up!

    As part of our celebration of BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical, we’re sponsoring a morning of stories at the Olney Public Library. This is a free family event appropriate for all ages, especially toddlers, preschoolers, and young children. Books to be read are chosen with the help of the Olney librarian.

Past Community Events

  • Beautiful piano and sheet music key art

    Behind the Scenes

    Opening Night Conversation: Beautiful

    Saturday, July 6th, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.  
    Roberts MainStage 
    Tickets: $10 / Free for members 

    Join us on the opening night of BEAUTIFUL to celebrate some of our favorite local singer/songwriters! Olney Theatre Center will highlight Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Competition winners Calista Garcia (Youth 2017 winner), Integriti Reeves, and Juliet Lloyd (Adult 2022 winner). Each will perform a short sample of their songwriting, and then we'll sit down to learn about their journeys as female singer/songwriters in today's music industry. This conversation will be moderated by Cathy Bernard, founder of the Bernard and Ebb Songwriting Awards.

    Click here to watch the livestream.

BEAUTIFUL The Carole King Musical

July 3 - August 25 2024

Box Office: 301.924.3400

Open Wednesday - Sunday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

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