JULY 11 – AUGUST 3, 2024
DENNIS, MA – Winner of two Tony® Awards and a Grammy® Award, BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL arrives at the Cape Playhouse with a star-studded cast led by Julia Knitel who played Carole King on Broadway and in the show’s acclaimed national tour. Off-Broadway, Knitel was recently nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance in the NYTimes Critic’s pick Dead Outlaw, which won the 2024 Drama Desk Award.
BEAUTIFUL is the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. With a stirring book by the late Oscar and Tony-nominated Douglas McGrath, and the music and lyrics of icons Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil, this coming-of-age story follows King’s journey as 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 and later when she became one of America’s most celebrated songwriters. Before her successful career as a solo artist, King wrote iconic hits for legendary acts like the Drifters and the Shirelles and for musical artists like Aretha Franklin and James Taylor. BEAUTIFUL features over two dozen songs including “So Far Away,” “One Fine Day,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “Up on the Roof,” and “I Feel the Earth Move.”
In the director’s seat is David Ruttura who is joined by Joyce Chittick as Choreographer and Associate Director. Ruturra is currently the Associate Director of Moulin Rouge and Great Gatsby on Broadway. Most recently he directed Beautiful at La Mirada, Ogunquit Playhouse, Theatre Aspen, and Tuacahn Amphitheatre. From his past experience with the show, Ruttura observed “You know Carole’s incredible solo career with albums like “Tapestry,” and songs like “I Feel the Earth Move,” David pointed out, “but one of the best things about this musical is discovering how many brilliant and era-defining songs she wrote before you had ever heard of her.”
In addition to Julia Knitel, the award-winning musical stars Sam Gravitte (Wicked) as Gerry Goffin, Stephanie Martignetti as Cynthia Weil, which she also performed on Broadway, Trevor James Berger as Barry Mann, James Clow as Don Kirshner, and Valerie Perri as Genie Kline. Gravitte played Fiyero in Wicked on Broadway and was recently in White Rose: The Musical Off-Broadway. On Broadway, Martignetti has appeared in Nice Work If You Can Get It, Sunset Boulevard, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, and TINA: The Tina Turner Musical. Berger’s notable stage roles include Tony in the international tour of West Side Story, Frank Valli in the Theatre Aspen production of Jersey Boys and the world premiere pre-Broadway production of The Karate Kid the Musical. James Clow’s Broadway credits include White Christmas, Assassins, and Wonderful Town among others, and most recently, the US Tour of Beautiful. Recent credits for Valerie Perri who starred as Evita in two Broadway National Tours include Indecent, If I Forget, Beautiful, and Ragtime.
Rounding out the cast are actors Brooke Aneece (Shirelle/U/S Little Eva); Briana Brooks (Lucille); Domo D’dante (Drifter); Fatima El-Bashir (Janelle Woods); Ellen Frary (Marilyn Wald/Betty, U/S Carole, U/S Cynthia); Albert Igbinigie (Drifter); Malik Jordan (Drifter/Swing); Jacquez Linder-Long (Drifter); Jazz Madison (Little Eva); Jack Mastrianni (High Righteous/ U/S Barry Mann); Desiree Thacker (Ensemble/Swing), and Rhys Williams (Low Righteous/ U/S Gerry; U/S Don).
Following Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (July 10-August 3), the Cape Playhouse presents Waitress (August 7-August 24), and The 39 Steps (August 28-September 7).
ABOUT THE CAPE PLAYHOUSE
The Cape Playhouse at The Cape Center for the Arts was founded in 1927 by Raymond Moore. His vision was to create a smart, sophisticated summer theatre with some of the world’s most noted stage and screen professionals. The realization of Moore’s dream has since been recognized by The New York Times, acknowledging the Playhouse as the “Place Where Broadway Goes to Summer.” Almost a century later, the theatre continues to feature world-class talent in shows produced specifically for The Cape Playhouse and is one of Cape Cod’s premier cultural assets. In addition to professional live theatre experiences, the not-for-profit Playhouse is committed to youth programs and education, serving the local community. The historic theatre is situated on an expansive 22-acre campus along with the Cape Cod Museum of Art and the Cape Cinema.
