Jake Epstein News

The cast of Broadway's BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL signed CDs for fans at Lord & Taylor today, May 2, to celebrate the unveiling of the BEAUTIFUL-themed windows at the flagship store on 5th Avenue. Scroll down for photos!

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: It's a busy Monday! The NY Drama Critics' circle announces its 2014 winners today, Playwrights Horizons and Second Stage are both hosting their annual galas tonight, SEA MARKS opens off-Broadway, the National August Wilson Monologue Competition is today, and Joe Iconis stops by MURDER FOR TWO tonight!

According to the New York Times, Carole King, who until last month had seen the Broadway show about her life, we reportedly 'do anything it takes' to help Beautiful win Tony Awards this June. The show, which earned 7 nods on Tuesday, is one of four new shows up for Best Musical, and King plans on both attending and performing at the June 8 ceremony, though she hasn't yet decided what she will sing. She told NYT: 'Once I got over my fear of how the show would affect me emotionally - seeing my life onstage - I decided I was all in on helping the show.'

Jackie Hoffman (Hairspray, The Addams Family), Jake Epstein (Beautiful, Spiderman…) and John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, Shrek) are among the artists who will join Fred Ebb Award-winning songwriters Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond for Kooman & Dimond: Still Not Famous May 5th at the York Theatre at Saint Peter's.

The generosity of theatre fans during six weeks of fundraising by 57 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies helped push the 28th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition to another record high, raising $4,532,129 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld brings you Part 2 of our photo coverage from the celebration below! CLICK HERE for Part 1.

In a fundraiser for Ed Markey, junior senator of Massachusetts, King performed for donors in the home of Lois Robbins.

Jarrod Spector, currently playing legendary songwriter Barry Mann in the new Broadway hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, just offered an added performance of his acclaimed cabaret show, 'A Little Help From My Friends,' at 54 Below. This time, he got a little extra help from his friend, when the real Barry Mann joined him on stage as a special guest for part of the evening's performance. Scroll down for photos of the duo onstage and off!

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, opened on Broadway at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street) on January 12, 2014, where it continues to break box office records. Just last night, King made a surprise trip to the show, where she not only shocked the cast onstage, but managed to raise $30,000 for BC/EFA for a special duet of 'You've Got a Friend' with Jessie Mueller. Check out highlights from her appearance below!

Carole King, whose life is chronicled by BEAUTIFUL, appeared during the musical's curtain call tonight, April 3. Below, check out a photo of her onstage with the cast!

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announced today that Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will offer a special added performance to benefit The Actors Fund on Sunday, April 27 at 8:00 PM. The company of Beautiful will donate their time and talent for the performance, for an audience which will include cast members from current Broadway shows and other areas of the entertainment community. All proceeds will go to The Actors Fund, which helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. Beautiful opened on Broadway at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street), on Sunday, January 12, 2014, where it's playing to sold-out crowds and has broken multiple box office records.

In the video below, go into the recording studio with Broadway's Jessie Mueller (Carole King), Anika Larsen (Cynthia Weil) and Jarrod Spector (Barry Mann) as they discuss and record 'You've Got a Friend' for BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL's cast album!

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, now available for digital download via iTunes and Amazon, is the #1 Cast Recording on the iTunes Charts. The album, produced by Jason Howland, Steve Sidwell and Billy Jay Stein, with Kurt Deutsch serving as Executive Producer, is #4 on iTunes Top 10 Soundtrack and #41 album. The Original Broadway Cast Recording will be available in-stores on May 13, 2014.

Ghostlight Records has announced that the Original Cast Recording of the new Broadway hit Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, can now be pre-ordered on iTunes, in advance of a Tuesday, April 1st digital release. Those who pre-order the album will immediately receive a special advance track of Jessie Mueller's 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow.' The album, produced by Jason Howland, Steve Sidwell and Billy Jay Stein, with Kurt Deutsch serving as Executive Producer, will be available in-stores on May 13, 2014 and will include a 28-page color booklet with full lyrics, rare and never-before-seen archival and show photos, and liner notes by Beautiful book writer Douglas McGrath. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first listen of 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow', as performed by Jessie Mueller.

Ghostlight Records will release the Original Cast Recording of the new Broadway hit Beautiful - The Carole King Musical this spring and has just released the official artwork. Check it out below!

This March, April and May at 54 BELOW presents a lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

Tony nominee Jessie Mueller appeared on this morning's Today show for a live performance of King's classic, 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow.'

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical has just launched a new interactive discography page on its official website that allows visitors to peruse the music of the show, as well as other tunes by Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Visit the site to check out fun facts about the music and watch playlists of all four artists in action.

Ghostlight Records will release the Original Cast Recording of the new Broadway hit Beautiful - The Carole King Musical. The album, produced by Jason Howland and Steve Sidwell, with Kurt Deutsch serving as Executive Producer, was recorded yesterday, February 17th and will be available for purchase digitally and in stores this spring. Like the musical, the cast record of Beautiful will feature a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow,' 'One Fine Day,' (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman,' 'On Broadway,' 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling,' and many more. Check out a look back at the recording session with Jessie Mueller, Jake Epstein, and the rest of the cast of Broadway's BEAUTIFUL, below!

Ghostlight Records has announced the release of the Original Cast Recording of the new Broadway hit Beautiful - The Carole King Musical. The album, produced by Jason Howland and Steve Sidwell, with Kurt Deutsch serving as Executive Producer, will be recorded on Monday, February 17th and will be available for purchase digitally and in stores this spring. Like the musical, the cast record of Beautiful will feature a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow,' 'One Fine Day,' (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman,' 'On Broadway,' 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling,' and many more.

In this week's edition, we caught up with Jake Epstein, who is starring as 'Gerry Goffin' in Beautiful- currently playing at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.