Interview: Michael Cassel of BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at Sydney Lyric Theatre

By: Jun. 04, 2016
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

In case you missed the announcement about the arrival of one of Broadway's latest hits to Sydney shores, and are racking your brains as to what is going to be the next big thing in Australian theatre, then perhaps this will jog your memory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHsnZT7Z2yQ

'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical' will see the Sydney Lyric Theatre transformed for one very fortunate and surely very talented ingénue to play one of this generation's greatest songwriters, known for hits like 'I Feel the Earth Move', 'So Far Away' and of course the Aretha Franklin classic. I took some time with producer Michael Cassel to talk about the upcoming show, set to top his own hat-trick of Les Miserables, Kinky Boots and Singing in the Rain.

Michael at the announcement. Photo by Peter Rae.

First and foremost, congratulations on the announcement! I'd love to hear about the moment you realised you needed to bring this show to Australia!
MC: Thank you! It's wonderful to finally be able to talk about the production - and to receive such overwhelming feedback from the Australian public. I first saw the show in February 2014, not long after the show had opened on Broadway. I went in thinking I knew Carole King and her music - Mum and Dad used to play Tapestry on the record player regularly - but only after seeing the show did I realise that Carole, with Gerry Goffin, wrote so many other hits songs. I walked out of the Sondheim Theatre that night desperate to bring this show to Australia!

What are you most looking forward to audiences seeing in this production? Is there a moment or an element you think will really hit home for Aussies?
MC: I think it's the remarkable journey of Carole King - from hit songwriter as a teenager to international superstar as a performing artist. Her story is intriguing - and I think that, combined with this incredible catalogue of songs by King/Goffin and their friends, Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, really make for a sensational night at the theatre.

Chalina Kennedy as Carole King . Photo by Joan Marcus

Musicals about songwriters' lives behind the songs have become a bit of a trend of recent times. What do you think it is that makes these shows so interesting to audiences?
MC: I think it's the balance of the familiar with the unknown - Carole King wrote the soundtrack to a generation and Tapestry was a huge international hit, but there's also the surprise. For me, it was discovering all of these other terrific songs that I knew very well, but didn't credit them to Carole! For example, Locomotion which many Australian's would relate to Kylie Minogue, was in fact written by Carole for Little Eva - who happened to be her babysitter at the time!

The video of Obama crying during Aretha Franklin's performance in an excerpt from Beautiful at the Kennedy Centre Honors for Carole King went viral. What do you think it is about her music that is so timeless?
MC: That performance was phenomenal! Carole's music is genuine and heartfelt - I think that is why so much of her music continues to be popular today. It's powerful and tells a story, I think that's why it resonates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LpB8U48Qkw

Without giving too much away, what do you think will surprise audiences about the more personal side of the piece?
MC: Carole found success as a songwriter as a teenager; she married the "man of her dreams" in Gerry Goffin and together, they wrote these amazing hit songs while raising a family. However, it was only as her relationship with Gerry started to crack did she find her true voice - and make that transition to singer/songwriter with the incredible album, Tapestry.

Casting has commenced! What are you looking for in your leading lady?
MC: We're looking for somebody very special - an exceptional actress with a powerful, distinctive voice . The role has been a huge star vehicle for the actress wherever the show has played - Jessie Mueller won the Tony Award for the role on Broadway and Katie Brayben won the Olivier Award for the role on the West End. We've just commenced casting and I can't wait to see who we find for this wonderful role.

I have to ask, what's your favourite Carole King song? Either written or performed.
MC: Since we started working on the show, I've had many. But right now, I love blaring BEAUTIFUL on my drive into the office!

There is already a waitlist for tickets, so click onto the Beautiful website to get your news first!


Play Broadway Games

The Broadway Match-UpTest and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia? The Broadway ScramblePlay the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
Tony Awards TriviaHow well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends. Broadway World GameCan you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!

 



Videos