Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts

Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is excited to present Beautiful: The Carole King Musical running from Wednesday, September 18, 2024, through Sunday, November 10, 2024. This spectacular jukebox musical is based on the book by the late Oscar and Tony-nominated Douglas McGrath and the music and lyrics of Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Nominated for seven Tony Awards in 2014, it won Best Leading Actress in a Musical and Best Sound Design, as well as the 2014 Drama Desk Awards where it won Outstanding Actress in a Musical, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, and Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical. In 2015 it won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Featuring over twenty unforgettable classics including “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “On Broadway,” “It’s Too Late,” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” this show will provide an evening of nostalgia and have you dancing in the aisles by the end of the night.

Leading our cast on this incredible journey of Carole King’s life with a powerful voice and heartfelt emotion is Ashlee Waldbauer. Ashlee was most recently on our stage in They’re Playing Our Song as the vibrant Sonia Walsk. She also starred as the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Molly in Ghost the Musical. To capture the dynamic and complex relationship that produced some of the greatest hits of a generation, Brian Nabors returns to the Riverside stage as Gerry Goffin, King’s husband and writing partner. Sarah Mae Andersen brings energy and wit to the stage portraying Carole’s close friend and fellow song writer Cynthia Well, as well as Matt Berry playing Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil’s partner in songwriting and in life. The Drifters are played by TJ Pursley, Don Seward (Engineer), Anthony Williams (Stage Manager), and Carl Williams. The Shirelles are played by Tyandria Jaaber (Little Eva), Aniyah Lee, Khanner Milan (Janelle Woods), and Kadejah One (Lucille). The cast also includes Andy Braden as Donnie, Kevin Cleary as Low Righteous/Nick, Kathy Halenda as Genie, Sasha Rosenbaum as Betty/Mariyln, Zachary Spafford as High Righteous/Neil Sedaka/Lou Adler and Stephanie Wood in the ensemble and Dance Captain. Nyarai Burrell, Jeffery Cobb and Oscar Madson are the swings.

The creative team is led by CEO & Producing Artistic Director Patrick A’Hearn and Associate Producing Artistic Director and Music Supervisor Carson Eubank. The team includes: Director/Choreographer Jacquez Linder-Long, Music Director Carson Eubank and Assistant Director/ Assistant Choreographer Stephanie Wood. Set Designer Frank Foster, Lighting Designer Weston Corey, Sound Design by Cheyenne Tenda and Costume Design by Laiah Westlyn Harris.

For tickets, contact the Box Office at (540) 370-4300 or go online at riversidedt.com. Regular price tickets: $65-$82. Discounted senior rates are available. For group discounts and school matinee information, please contact Allison at 540-479-1356. Evening performances start at 7:30pm with dinner service beginning at 5:30pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Matinee performances start at 1:30pm with meal service beginning at 11:30am on Wednesday and 3:00pm on Sunday with dinner service beginning at 1:00pm.

Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is located in historic Stafford County just off I-95 in Fredericksburg, Virginia and produces the best of Broadway’s plays and musicals each year. Follow Riverside Center on Facebook (facebook.com/riversidecenter), X, previously named Twitter (@riversidecpa98), Instagram (@riversidecpa), and YouTube (RiversideCenter) for behind-the-scenes info, photos, and fun throughout the year. For a complete list of shows, show times, pricing, and more information about the season, visit www.riversidedt.com.