Displaying items by tag: Lydia Burke

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a captivating tribute to the extraordinary journey of Carole King, tracing her path from a teenage songwriter to an iconic solo artist. The production delves into her personal and professional evolution, highlighting the creation of timeless classics like "It Might As Well Rain Until September," "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," and "You've Got a Friend." Alongside showcasing her musical triumphs, the show explores her relationships with fellow songwriters, including her husband Gerry Goffin, and friends and competitors Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Currently on stage at Drury Lane Theatre, Beautiful celebrates Carole King's enduring talent and profound influence on the music world. This captivating musical whisked me away on a sentimental voyage, and I'm confident it will resonate deeply with many others as well.

Raised in a Jewish household, her father a firefighter and her mother a teacher, both parents supported King's musical interests early on. Her mother, Eugenia Klein, began teaching her daughter piano at the age of four. Before long, the young singer/songwriter really tapped into something special as she matured into a once in a generation talent. King stayed true to her musical self and believed in herself when it mattered most, deciding to sing her own songs at just the right time. Who knew the heights this little-known Jewish girl from Brooklyn would someday reach - and, wow, did she ever!

Samantha Gershman is AMAZING and offers an enthralling portrayal of Carole King in her Drury Lane debut. With a perfect blend of vulnerability and incredible strength, Gershman captures the essence of the iconic singer-songwriter, bringing her inspiring journey to life with genuine warmth and exceptional talent. Gershman, fantastic throughout, really showcases her King-like vocals and magnetic charisma in a climactic concert scene, delivering a powerful performance of the title track "Beautiful."

Drury Lane’s casting is as dependable as ever. Alex Benoit delivers a nuanced and captivating portrayal of Gerry Goffin, capturing both his charm and the intricacies of his relationship with Carole King. Alexandra Palkovic and Andrew MacNaughton form a dynamic duo as Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, infusing the stage with infectious energy and humor while showcasing their impressive songwriting talents. Rebekah Ward brings a grounding presence as Carole's mother, Genie, radiating warmth and wisdom, while Michael Lawrence Brown dazzles as the charismatic Don Kirshner. This well-cast, exceptionally talented ensemble elevates Beautiful, making it an unforgettable theatrical experience.

Jane Lanier's masterful direction of Beautiful illuminates Carole King's extraordinary journey, seamlessly blending the personal and professional milestones that shaped this legendary artist's career.

The choreography by Gerry McIntyre in Drury Lane's production of Beautiful with Carolyn Brady’s music direction is a perfect match for the show's infectious energy, bringing the musical numbers to life with dynamic and period-authentic movement. Their collective efforts enhance the storytelling beautifully, capturing both the spirit of the era and the emotional core of the characters.

I'll admit, I didn't know that Carole King wrote for some of the bands/performers that she did before her own singing  stardom. This show turned out to be quite educational for me. I was familiar with The Monkees' use of King's "Pleasant Valley Sunday" among other songs of hers, but I had no idea that King penned hits for The Shirelles ("Will You Love Me Tomorrow"), The Righteous Brothers ("You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling"), and Neil Sedaka ("Oh Carol"). Once again, sincere kudos to the entire cast, including Alana Lovely, Maxwell J. DeTogne, Lydia Burke, and Ryan Michael Armstrong, just to name a few. Thanks to this entire team of exceptional actors bringing these performers to life, this production offers a delightful glimpse into the vibrant mid-late 1960s music scene. 

This musical is a true masterpiece from start to finish, making it absolutely impossible not to enjoy.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is being performed at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook through March 23rd. For the most current ticket pricing and show dates, it's recommended to visit the Drury Lane website (https://drurylanetheatre.com/beautiful/) or contact their box office directly, as prices vary depending on performance date, time, and seat location. The show runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission. This feel-good musical, a wonderful tribute to Carole King's incredible talent and enduring legacy, is highly recommended for audiences of all ages.

“Damn Yankees,” the vintage 1955 musical comedy at the Marriott Theatre in suburban Lincolnshire, has it all: a witty book, delicious songs, great choreography, and an excellent chorus. From the days when musical comedies were still rooted in operetta, it is truly musical, packed with memorable songs arranged in beautiful harmonies, and a Faustian storyline that gives heft to the drama.

It’s also very funny. Based on a 1954 novel, it tells the story of Joe Boyd (Ron E. Rains) a middle-aged, very rabid baseball fan who sells his soul to the devil to become a baseball great - Joe Hardy (Andrew Alstat) who uses his new-found powers to drive his beloved but terrible Washington Senators to win a Pennant and break the New York Yankees’ years-long lock on winning.

It’s wonderful to see “Damn Yankees” revived in such a definitive production. It is revisited less often than other Tony winning musicals from its era, like Richard Rodgers “South Pacific” (1949) or Frederick Lowe’s “My Fair Lady” (1956) and Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man” (1957). Perhaps it’s the challenge of creating a convincing chorus of baseball players who can sing, dance and play ball—but director James Vasquez and choreographer James Vasquez have built a winning team here.

“Damn Yankees” breaks out of the box with a big number—Six Months Out of Every Year—featuring a quartet of male fans in dueling counterpoint melodies sung by a quartet of their wives, who lament their husbands’ preoccupation with the baseball. “Six months out of every year/When I’m with him/I’m alone” laments Joe’s wife, Meg Boyd—Daniella Dalli—a rich sonorous singer who carries this classic as well as her major more romantic numbers beautifully.

Soon enough the silky smooth, fast talking devil Applegate arrives. Sean Fortunato is a scene stealer, and knows how to get the audience roaring with his sly humor. After he seals the deal and transforms Boyd into the batting wonder Joe Hardy, Applegate sees he must fully corrupt his soul to lock him in fully as a future denizen of hell.

Enter Lola. Michelle Aravena recreates a character made indelible by the original performance by Gewn Verdon on stage and screen. And she so truly does it, in spades. This Lola is not mimicking Verdon, but is an original creation that I think may be even better than Gwen Verdon’s original. Aravena’s arrival is like a vixen jumping from a birthday cake, and wins the attention of all eyes and ears when she is on stage. She sings and dances—”A Little Brains” and the tango classic “Whatever Lola Wants”—all real time excellence, in one of the most demanding roles on stage.

The baseball chorus is also notably good and convincingly athletic—dance captain is Brian Bandura—with a show-stopping jump rope performance by Ben Broughton. From living room to locker room, the vintage in-through-round Marriott Theatre (originally Drury Lane North) showcases this production of “Damn Yankees” with flair, and nary a bad seat. Highly recommended, “Damn Yankees” runs through June 4 @MarriottTheatre