Booked & Scene

Natural Woman, Natural Wonder

Directed and choreographed by Deanna Dys, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a jukebox musical that tells the story of how Carole King finds her voice and becomes one of the most successful songwriters. The show follows her early days writing hits with her husband and collaborator Gerry Goffin, her friendships and friendly rivalries with fellow songwriters Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, and the trials and tribulations that led her to becoming an icon of the music industry. 

The Star is Born (Again)

Olivia Palmer is Carole King. Truly. From the moment she steps onstage as a shy teenage songwriter to her final moments belting “Beautiful”, Olivia carries the show with a rawness, grace, and precise vocals that left the audience in awe. Her transformation over the course of the show never felt forced whether she was delivering quiet comedic beats or bringing down the house with a ballad, she held the audience in the palm of her hand. It’s absolutely no surprise that folks around me kept whispering how much she sounded just like Carole. More than that, she captured the spirit of Carole King and that’s not something you can mimic, only embody. Olivia Palmer is reason enough to buy a ticket.

Hit-Making Chemistry

Shad Hanley plays Gerry Goffin with nuance and charisma, making it easy to root for him early on and just as easy to feel frustrated with his flaws as the show goes on. His performance captures the tension of loving someone who doesn’t quite know how to love you back. As Cynthia Weil, Harley Seger is an absolute joy. Her comedic timing hits every beat, and her scenes, whether they’re full of sass or sincerity, never dragged. She pairs perfectly with Luke Hawkins as Barry Mann, who brought a laid-back charm and lovability that balances the group beautifully. Watching the four leads bounce off one another was a highlight of the show.

Supporting Acts, Standing Out

Jennifer Bubriski shines as Genie Klein, Carole’s mother. Her dry humor and heartfelt moments bring levity and grounding to the story. Jim Sorensen’s Don Kirshner was another bright spot, his rapport with the young songwriters and his understated comedic delivery made each of his scenes a treat. Among the ensemble, Dey Chante was a delight as both Shirelle and Little Eva. Her rendition of “The Locomotion” was one of the most upbeat and fun moments in the show. Martinez Napoleon, as the Lead Drifter, delivered smooth, rich vocals that stood out every time he was onstage. And Kenny Lee added spark and presence as another Drifter, he supported his castmates beautifully while still bringing his own energy to every scene.

Technical Difficulties, Transitional Blues

While the performances were strong across the board, the show did face some technical hiccups on opening night. The scenic design, which had numerous moveable set pieces, felt a bit too busy and distracting. Scene changes didn’t glide; they stalled and sputtered and slowly inched across the stage. It was hard not to notice the stop-and-go nature of the transitions, especially when so many occurred throughout the show. Lighting also proved to be a bit of a recurring issue. Several scenes were underlit or mistimed, leaving characters in shadow or beginning dialogue before lights were fully up. Finally, the scenes that take place between songs sometimes felt like placeholders just there to get us to the next song rather than emotionally charged moments that propel the story forward. That’s partially the structure of the musical itself and the writing, but a bit more flow and polish in pacing could help those scenes land better.

Final Chord

Despite a few rough patches, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Reagle Music Theatre is an undeniable crowd-pleaser. While the whole cast is wonderful, Olivia Palmer as Carole King steals the show and is worth the price of admission alone. It’s clear the whole ensemble cares deeply about this story and the music that shaped it. With a few tweaks to the tech and transitions, this production could fully match the heart and talent onstage. In the meantime, it’s still a moving, musical celebration of an artist who helped define a generation. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical runs through June 22, don’t miss your chance to feel the earth move.

📸: Robert Pascucci