Carole King Musical Biography Begins New Season on a High Note at Stockton Civic Theatre

If for some mysterious reason (perhaps you were lost in space or confined in a monastery?) you have never heard of Carole King or heard a single note of her numerous pop, rock and soul compositions (because you preferred Lawrence Welk or grand opera?), here’s how you can start your overdue education in the life and work of this American musical icon. Grab a ticket and take a seat at the Stockton Civic Theatre for a look and listen to the current production of “Beautiful: the Carole King Musical.”

As a longtime King fan, I knew the music but wanted to learn more about the little woman behind the notes. So I joined a full house for the show launching the theatre’s 2024-2025 season. It’s an ambitious undertaking and a challenging one. It’s also certain to earn the appreciation and applause of most audiences.   

Directed by James Reed and choreographed by Karissa Kiriu, both of whom had no easy task, “Beautiful” begins the King saga with a view of a precocious teen singer/songwriter yearning to take her talents to a professional level despite the concerns of her mother Genie Klein (Deanna Fillon) and the odds against success in the highly competitive field of American popular music.

With Chrissy Contino’s acting and singing bringing King to life, we soon get acquainted with the personal side of the modest, quietly prolific songwriter and take a tour of music marked by originality, diversity and popularity. The generous selection of King hits includes “A Natural Woman,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?”  “You’ve Got a Friend,”  “Some Kind of Wonderful,” and “The Locomotion” (jump aboard as Dani Loera’s Little Eva gets the train rolling). These and other hits from the Sixties are certain to bring back memories for older theatergoers and create new favorites for younger spectators.

The show reflects King’s self-effacing personality and reveals the problems she encountered working with her troubled first husband and lyricist Gerry Goffin (Logan Ham). Contino is comfortable in her role as composer, performer, influencer and troubled wife, aided by the friendship of musical pals Cynthia Weil (Alexandra Annen) and Barry Mann (Kyle Rex Beal). The Weil and Mann tandem offer songs of their own and provide moments of welcome comedy. They remain close friends of King despite the rivalry of competing for the patronage of record producer Donny Kirshner (James Kusy).

 The diversity of King’s compositions are reflected not only in her solos, but in upbeat ensembles that pay tribute to stars of the era. Here are The Drifters, The Shirelles, Little Eva and the Righteous Brothers, all of whom are impersonated smartly by the cast and costumed in Sixties style by Anthony Allen. Their lively ensembles will get your toes tapping, bringing the musical past alive and giving us a sense of King’s influence among song-stylists of the day.                                                                 

“Beautiful” is celebrating an anniversary this year, having opened its pre-Broadway run far from Broadway—would you believe San  Francisco?— in September of 2013 before moving east to try its luck in the big time. January 2014 was its starting date in New York, where it remained on Broadway for six years and 2,416  performances.  

As for Mama’s concerns, she need not have worried. Her daughter, now 82, did more than okay in her chosen career,  winning four Grammy awards, induction in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and—hold on to your seat, mom!—the 2013 Gershwin Prize for popular song (the first woman to earn that distinction).

But that wasn’t all, as “Beautiful” reveals with King’s solo performance at Carnegie Hall. Wow. Could she do any better than that?

She could and she did, winning Kennedy Center honors in 2015.

There’s little doubt mom would have been impressed. Well, maybe flabbergasted is the more precise word. Daughter Carole not only defied expectations, she surpassed them in a way no one could have imagined.

The cast and crew of “Beautiful” render this success story in such likeable fashion that when the show I saw came to a close, the audience rose to its feet to bop, rock, cheer and applaud Contino and company for their efforts. The closing number of “I Feel  the Earth Move” helped them do so. Talk about a fitting climax. I did indeed feel something move under my shoes. Although I was inspired, I was careful to limit my show-off steps for fear of an impromptu crash landing into the next row down.

 Thanks, Stockton Civic Theatre. I couldn’t have done it without you. 

“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.”

Through September 22 at the Stockton Civic Theatre. 2312 Rosemarie Lane, Stockton.

Performances: Thursday—Saturday at 7:30 p.m. 

Sundays at 2:30 p.m. 

Adults $35. Seniors $30.  Students $20.

   Box Office: (209) 473-2424. 

Business office: (209) 473-2400. 

www.Stocktonlivetheatre.com