Ben Fankhauser News

The Chicago engagement of the first national tour of BEAUTIFUL--THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL rightfully earns the show's title. This entertaining and emotional production delivers tons of heart and talent at the Oriental Theatre. This engagement also signals the homecoming for lead Abby Mueller in the role of Carole King. Mueller grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and she has big shoes to fill in this role--her younger sister, Jessie, won the 2014 Tony Award for originating the same role on Broadway. There's no cause for concern, though, as Mueller, and the rest of the touring production's cast, deliver big-time. As King, Mueller provides the emotional and musical center of this production--and it is sheer pleasure to listen to her dive into some of the singer-songwriter's greatest hits.

Learn more about this native Minnesotan who's made it big in NYC after her beginnings in Moorhead, Minn.

The U.S. National Tour of BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL plays a two-week engagement at the Boston Opera House. Focusing on King's early life and career, the good-time time machine rolls out the incredible string of hits written by the composing teams of Carole King/Gerry Goffin and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil. Abby Mueller is a standout in the role of the music industry icon and BEAUTIFUL excels as a musical journey.

Carole King's biomusical leans heavy on the bio, but in this case that's a good thing.

Even though Beautiful may not be a perfect show, it's still a fun night out and a reminder that Carole King is as a part of the American songbook as is Cole Porter and Irving Berlin.

The Kennedy Center presents the Tony & Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter. The production makes its Washington, D.C. premiere at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for three weeks from tonight, October 6, through October 25, 2015 in the Kennedy Center Opera House.

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL National Tour at Durham Performing Arts Center

Listening to the HAMILTON cast album on repeat since Monday? Gearing up for SPRING AWAKENING's Opening Night? Didn't have time to check in on your favorite Broadway stars? Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.'

The North American Tour of the Tony® & Grammy® Award-winning Broadway hit Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, produced by Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, officially launched at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI, on September 18, 2015. The run at PPAC was September 15-20, 2015, and the production is now playing at the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, NC from September 23 - October 4, 2015. Current schedule at www.beautifulonbroadway.com/tour. BroadwayWorld is excited to show you a first look at the cast in action below!

The North American Tour of the Tony® & Grammy® Award-winning Broadway hit Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, produced by Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, has officially launched at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI, on September 18, 2015. The run at PPAC was September 15-20, 2015, and the production will next play Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, NC from September 23 - October 4, 2015. Current schedule at www.beautifulonbroadway.com/tour.  BroadwayWorld is excited to show you the opening night pics below!

BEAUTIFUL'S national tour kicks off in Providence, and even in the first days of performance, the cast proves the depth of its talent and ability.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Boston, Nashville, New Zealand and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include MY FAIR LADY at Lyric Stage, RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN in Nashville, and ERNEST RUTHERFORD in New Zealand, just to name a few.

Musical theatre composer/ lyricist and pop songwriter Michael Mott will offer an intimate concert of his pop, R&B and soul music on Monday, September 21 at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City. He will be joined by singers from 'American Idol' and 'The Voice."

The first North American Tour of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING will open at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI, later this month on September 15-20, 2015. Led by Abby Mueller (sister of Tony winner Jessie Mueller) as 'Carole King, ' it also stars NEWSIES' Ben Fankhauser as 'Barry Mann', LEGALLY BLONDE's Becky Gulsvig as 'Cynthia Weil,' Liam Tobin as 'Gerry Goffin,' Curt Bouril as 'Don Kirshner', and Suzanne Grodner as 'Genie Klein.'

The Kennedy Center presents the Tony & Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter. The production makes its Washington, D.C. premiere at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for three weeks from October 6 - 25, 2015 in the Kennedy Center Opera House. With a book by Tony and Academy Award-nominee Douglas McGrath, direction by Marc Bruni, and choreography by Josh Prince, Beautiful features a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil.  The press opening night is Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 7 p.m.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Broadway welcomes Alfie Boe as its new 'Jean Valjean' and LES MIZ remembers Kyle Jean-Baptiste after curtain call!

Here is Ben Fankhauser (Newsies) and Nick Blaemire (Found) singing 'Brothers,' a new song by Alexander Sage Oyen from his original musical A Night Like This.  

This week at 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visitwww.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Annie Baker's JOHN opens off-Broadway, ON THE TOWN welcomes a new dancer and more!