Photo Flash: There's a New Carole in Town- First Look at Chilina Kennedy in BEAUTIFUL!

Award-winning Canadian actress Chilina Kennedy, who made her Broadway debut as 'Mary Magdalene' in Jesus Christ Superstar, has nabbed the title role in Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, the smash hit musical about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter. Kennedy begins performances on March 7, 2015, succeeding Tony Award-winner Jessie Mueller, who will play her final performance in Beautiful on March 6 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street). Check out a first look at the actress in action below!

"After seeing her excel over the years as the preeminent leading lady of Canada's Stratford Festival, I'm thrilled to welcome Chilina back to Broadway," director Marc Bruni said. "She's a unique talent, and I can't wait for the audiences at the Sondheim to experience the warmth, vulnerability, and humility Chilina will bring to the role."

Long before she was Carole King, chart-topping music legend, she was Carol Klein, Brooklyn girl with passion and chutzpah. She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock 'n' roll. But it wasn't until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice. Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of King's remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.

Chilina Kennedy (Carole King) just finished playing the title role in Mary Poppins at Theatre Aquarius. Her last appearance on Broadway was as Mary Magdalene in Des McAnuff's Tony nominated production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which also had successful runs at the Stratford Festival of Canada and the La Jolla Playhouse. Chilina originated the role of Pheobe D'Ysquith in A Gentleman's Guide To Love And Murder at Hartford Stage and the Old Globe Theater (Connecticut and San Diego Outer Critics Circle nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a musical) and starred as Sophie Sheridan in the 1st US National Tour of Mamma Mia!. Other credits include the title role in the world premiere of Evangeline and its original musical recording, the title role in Ross Petty's Pantomime The Little Mermaid (Toronto Theatre Critics' Award), three seasons at the Stratford Festival (including Maria in Gary Griffin's West Side Story), three seasons at the Shaw Festival, the World Premiere of The Lord of the Rings (Toronto) and Philia in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Stratford and Toronto). Chilina has performed in concert with Jason Robert Brown, Colm Wilkinson, recorded with Burt Bacharach, is a founding member of Theatre 20 (Toronto) and has won three Broadway World Awards for her performances in Kiss Me, Kate, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Grapes of Wrath. Chilina is also a singer/songwriter and has performed her original songs to a sold out crowd at The Metropolitan Room in NYC, the Stratford Festival Forum series and Springworks Independent Music Festival.www.chilinakennedy.com

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

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