Natalie Weiss will star as Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical for Maryland's Olney Theatre later this summer.
Weiss, who gained viral fame as the online host of Breaking Down the Riffs, previously appeared on Broadway in Everyday Rapture, and toured the country with Wicked and Les Misérables.
Directed by Amy Anders Corcoran, Beautiful will be the final production of Olney Theatre’s 2023-24 season, and will begin previews on July 3, with opening night set for July 6. The production is scheduled to run through August 25.
“Beautiful is one of the most inspiring musicals I know,” shared Olney Theatre Artistic Director Jason Loewith. “The music of Carole King shaped my childhood, and the story of her challenging ascent as one of the premiere songwriters of her era lends this jukebox musical a greater sense of drama and joy than most. ”
Loewith continued, “We’re especially fortunate to have Natalie Weiss in the title role. Just as the emerging genre of the singer-songwriter allowed Carole to become a superstar, the 21st-century path for singer-songwriters is online, and that’s where Natalie has made such an impact. Millions of viewers seek out her performances and keen insight into the mechanics of performing on her show, Breaking Down the Riffs. If Carole King were starting her career today, I’ve no doubt she would have found her audience the way Natalie has.”
Weiss will be joined by Bobby Smith as Don Kirschner, Nikki Mirza as Cynthia Weil, Michael Perrie Jr., as Gerry Goffin, and Calvin McCullough as Barry Mann.
They will be supported by Kaiyla Gross, Jay Frisby, Donna Migliaccio, Connor James Reilly, Ian Anthony Coleman, Kalen Robinson, Quadry Brown, Ariana Caldwell, Tori Gomez, Montel B. Butler, Kurt Boehm, Lily Burka, and Simone Brown. Christian Montgomery will be the swing for the production.
Corcoran will be supported by choreographer Ashleigh King, music director Christopher Youstra, set designer Deb Sivigny, costume designer Kendra Rai, lighting designer Colin K. Bills, sound designer Matthew Rowe, wig co-designers Larry Peterson and Alia Radabaugh, and stage manager Ben Walsh.
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