Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a jukebox musical with a book by Douglas McGrath that tells the story of the early life and career of Carole King, using songs that she wrote, often together with Gerry Goffin, and other contemporary songs by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Phil Spector and others. The original production of Beautiful received its world premiere at the Curran Theatre, San Francisco, in October 2013, with direction by Marc Bruni and choreography by Josh Prince. It made its Broadway debut at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in January 2014.
Is Beautiful still running on Broadway in October 2023?
Yes, as of October 2023, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is still running on Broadway at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. The show opened on Broadway in January 2014 and has run continuously since then. It is one of the longest running shows currently on Broadway.
What is the current Broadway cast for Beautiful?
The current cast of Beautiful on Broadway features:
- Sarah Bockel as Carole King
- Dylan S. Wallach as Gerry Goffin
- Alison Whitehurst as Cynthia Weil
- Jacob Heimer as Barry Mann
- Suzanne Grodner as Genie Klein
- Liam Forde as Don Kirshner
Sarah Bockel and Dylan S. Wallach have been playing Carole King and Gerry Goffin since 2022. The rest of the cast has rotated over the years that the show has been running.
What is the runtime and schedule for Beautiful on Broadway?
Beautiful on Broadway has a total runtime of 2 hours and 25 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission. There are typically 8 performances per week:
Day | Time |
---|---|
Tuesday | 7pm |
Wednesday | 2pm |
Wednesday | 7pm |
Thursday | 7pm |
Friday | 8pm |
Saturday | 2pm |
Saturday | 8pm |
Sunday | 3pm |
This schedule is subject to change around holidays and special events.
How have ticket sales been for Beautiful on Broadway?
Beautiful has been a strong ticket seller since it opened on Broadway in 2014. Some key stats on ticket sales:
- The musical recouped its $13 million investment in less than 10 months on Broadway, which is considered very fast.
- In its first year, Beautiful was consistently one of the top 5 best-selling Broadway shows per week.
- Between 2014-2020, the musical grossed over $200 million in ticket sales.
- Despite the Covid-19 pandemic closing theaters for 18 months, Beautiful grossed over $750,000 per week after reopening in September 2021.
- In 2022, the average ticket price has been $115 and the average capacity around 90%.
So in summary, Beautiful has had very strong consistent ticket sales on Broadway since it opened, demonstrating its popularity with audiences.
What factors contribute to the success and longevity of Beautiful on Broadway?
There are several key factors that likely contribute to Beautiful’s ongoing success and longevity on Broadway:
- Carole King’s music has cross-generational appeal and built-in popularity from her long career.
- The story resonates with audiences as it follows King’s journey from teenage songwriter to superstar.
- Strong word of mouth from audiences who recommend the uplifting show.
- Positive reviews praising the music, story, and performances.
- The relative affordability of tickets compared to some other Broadway musicals.
- Repeat business from fans who see the show multiple times.
- National touring productions and international productions that help promote the Broadway production.
- Ongoing Grammy/Tony wins and nominations that bring renewed attention.
The producers have also kept the production fresh by rotating in popular Broadway stars like Jessie Mueller, Melissa Benoist and Vanessa Carlton to play Carole King. Overall, the great music and story seem to resonate deeply with audiences, leading to its enduring popularity on Broadway.
Have any cast recordings or films been released for Beautiful?
Yes, the following cast recordings and films have been released for Beautiful:
Cast Recordings
- Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) – 2014
- Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Original West End Cast Recording) – 2015
- Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Japanese Cast Recording) – 2016
These cast albums allow fans to listen to the show’s music anytime and have helped promote the show.
Films
- Beautiful: The Carole King Musical was professionally filmed live on Broadway in 2019 and released for streaming in 2020.
- Beautiful: A Tribute to Carole King was a concert filmed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in 2019 featuring the cast and Carole King performing the musical live.
The Broadway film version gives fans who can’t see the show live a chance to watch the production. The tribute concert was a special celebratory event around the show’s success and Carole King’s career.
What awards has Beautiful won?
Beautiful has been honored with many major theater awards since its debut, including:
- 2 Tony Awards: Best Sound Design, Best Actress in a Musical (Jessie Mueller)
- Grammy Award: Best Musical Theater Album
- Drama League Award: Distinguished Production of a Musical
- Outer Critics Circle Award: Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Jessie Mueller)
It was also nominated for 5 other Tony Awards, including Best Musical in 2014. Both the Broadway production and touring productions have received many other regional theater awards over the years as well.
Conclusion
In summary, nearly 10 years after opening on Broadway, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical continues its successful run at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. With Carole King’s beloved songbook and a compelling storyline, the show has proven to have wide, multi-generational appeal that translates to consistent ticket sales and longevity. The producers have kept the production fresh with rotating high-profile casts, while the universal message, strong word of mouth, and ongoing honors continue to attract new audiences. Beautiful seems poised to celebrate many more anniversaries on Broadway as one of the most popular jukebox musicals of the decade.