Sarah Bockel will lead Ogunquit Playhouse's regional production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. The show is set to run at the Maine venue September 15–October 30, under the direction of David Ruttura.
Bockel—reprising her role from the Broadway production— will star as Carole King, along with fellow Broadway Beautiful alumni Suzanne Grodner as Genie Klein and Ben Jacoby as Barry Mann. The cast will also feature Taylor Aronson as Cynthia Weil, Anthony Festa (Wicked national tour) as Gerry Goffin, and Matt Loehr (The Book of Mormon) as Don Kirschner.
Bockel replaced 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.
Featuring a book by Douglas McGrath, the musical tells the real-life story of Carole King's journey to rock 'n' roll fame. Popular hits featured in the musical include "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.
Rounding out the cast is 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, with Tyler Michael Breeding, Nigel O. Richards, and Aiyana Imari Smash-Jackson.
The production includes choreography by Joyce Chittick, music direction by Nick Williams, scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Alejo Vietti, lighting design by Richard Latta, sound design by Kevin Heard, and wig design by 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: The Carole King Musical will conclude the company's 2022 season, which also featured The Cher Show, The Nutty Professor, and the world premiere of Mr. Holland’s Opus.
Visit OgunquitPlayhouse.org.
