Lorna Want (Cynthia Weil) Ian McIntosh (Barry Mann), Cassidy Janson (Carole King), Alan Morrissey (Gerry Goffin), Diane Keen (Genie Klein) and Gary Trainor (Don Kirshner) backstage Beautiful - The Carole King Musical celebrated it's first birthday last night at the Aldwych Theatre in London. The birthday was also used as the occasion to mark the February birthdays of Carole King, Barry Mann and the late Gerry Goffin as well as the 45th aniversary of when King's Grammy award-winning album Tapestry was released.
It was announced today that Beautiful - The Carole King Musical will extend its current booking period until 18 February 2017.
Carole King said: “I had the great pleasure of seeing the West End production of Beautiful on opening night in 2015 with my dear friends Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. We were all so moved that we joined the company onstage after the show in singing You’ve Got a Friend and of course we couldn’t help but think of Gerry Goffin, who passed away in 2014. I know that Gerry would join Barry, Cynthia, and me in expressing gratitude not only to the company but to audience members, many of whom are coming to see the show not just once but twice or thrice. London is one of my favourite cities. I hope to be back very soon. Until then, here’s to another brilliant year. Cheers!”
The West End cast is led by Cassidy Janson in the lead role alongside Alan Morrissey who plays King’s husband and song-writing partner Gerry Goffin with Lorna Want as song-writer Cynthia Weil, a role for which she won the 2015 Olivier for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical, Ian McIntosh as song-writer Barry Mann, Gary Trainor as music publisher and producer Don Kirshner and Diane Keen as Genie Klein, King’s mother.
The cast also includes Gavin Alex, Hannah Jay-Allan, Vivien Carter, Dom Hartley-Harris, Leo Ihenacho, Jammy Kasongo, Matt Nalton, David O’Mahony, Earl R. Perkins, Jay Perry, Sharon Rose, Tanisha L. Spring, Danielle Steers and Joanna Woodward playing iconic musical performers and band members of the era. Ensemble members are Chanice Alexander-Burnett, Koko Basigara, Ashford Campbell, Matthew Colthart, Rosie Heath and Leigh Lothian.
Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.
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