Jessie Mueller to Star in BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL; Show Now to Start Previews Fall 2013 at Sondheim Theatre on Broadway- Page 4
Jessie Mueller to Star in BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL; Show Now to Start Previews Fall 2013 at Sondheim Theatre on Broadway
GET OFF MY BACK#75
Posted: 8/20/13 at 10:54am
Do you really think Larsen looks like Carole? I actually think she looks quite like a young Cynthia Weil, at least based on the photos I've seen. The shape of her lips/cheeks is very un-Carole to me. I can see what you're saying but I'm sure any of the issues as far as resemblance will be resolved with wigs and costuming.
And I LOVE Anika, I've loved her ever since I saw Zanna, Don't way back when, she's phenomenally talented and incredibly underrated, so I'm very happy to see her involved with the project.
GET OFF MY BACK#76
Posted: 8/20/13 at 11:27am
First of all, for those wondering, that new promo photo with Mueller is based on an actual photo of Carole King.
Kelly2, yes, I think Larsen an awful lot like King.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
GET OFF MY BACK#77
Posted: 8/20/13 at 11:34am
I guess I just don't see it, wouldn't be the first time. To be fair, I don't really think Anika looks much like that photo of herself anymore either, at least not when I saw her in Xanadu or at a benefit recently. I mean, I don't particularly think Jessie looks like King as-is either, to be fair. But this photo of Cynthia actually reminds me a lot of Anika, I thought she was perfect casting in that part: 
I'm actually pretty impressed with all the casting, I think Spector is a great fit for Barry Mann and though I haven't seen Jake Epstein onstage, he really does have the right look. Is it November yet?!
GET OFF MY BACK#78
Posted: 8/20/13 at 11:41amReally? I don't think Larsen looks anything like Weil, who has a much narrower face and a larger mouth. The resemblance between her and King, however, is striking.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
GET OFF MY BACK#79
Posted: 8/20/13 at 11:44am
I really feel like I must be blind or something because I don't see it at all! To be fair, I'm NEVER in the majority on people looking like other people, I'm sure you're probably "right" or in the majority on this one. :)
All of this is just making me much more excited to see costumes and wigs though. SHNSF posted a photo of costume sketches on Facebook and I have to say I'm really digging them, but I love a good high waisted skirt and some 70s fashion.
Edit: OMG it's huge, let's fix that.
Costume sketches
GET OFF MY BACK#80
Posted: 8/20/13 at 11:55amAgree to disagree! I think you're absolutely right that that costumes will make a huge difference, though. I'm sure they'll both look great.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Broadway Star Joined: 5/7/13
GET OFF MY BACK#81
Posted: 8/20/13 at 12:49pmI want to hear some of this before I get excited. I love Carole King, I grew up listening to her. I am not sure Mueller can pull off the smokey nasal quality that is Carole King. Mueller strike me as more of some one who belts out the lyrics. Not what I a want to listen to for 2.5 hours.
Stand-by Joined: 5/3/09
GET OFF MY BACK#82
Posted: 8/20/13 at 12:51pm
she doesn't have to look like King to play her. I'm sure the script won't exactly match king's life. Its all interpretive.
For the record, i can't wait to see what they do with this. And i hope it does't follow the path of the past few biotuners...
GET OFF MY BACK#83
Posted: 8/20/13 at 12:55pm
Ugh I hate getting into it on stuff like this and I'm sure your point in posting that was to bait me but gchris, just as a point of fact, Jessie's hardly known as a belter. Some of her biggest roles (Cinderella in ITW, Carrie in Carousel) have been primarily in her soprano and even though a lot of "Clear Day" wasn't in her soprano range, it was very period and stylized. In fact, the only out-and-out traditional "belting" I've really heard her do was her various endings in Drood (especially her confession).
GET OFF MY BACK#84
Posted: 8/20/13 at 12:59pmWhy is this show having so many previews??? Starting November 21st and opening January 12th. Isn't that a few weeks more than most shows have?
Broadway Star Joined: 5/7/13
Kelly2 PRESIDENT OF THE Jessie Mueller FAN CLUB#85
Posted: 8/20/13 at 1:05pmRELAX, Kelly2, no one is trying to bait you. I am just making the point that I an not going to get excited about this until I hear some of it. I don't think Ms Mueller has the Carole King sound. And BTW Carole King is no soprano. So chill out. I am entitled to an opinion.
yawn#86
Posted: 8/20/13 at 1:15pm
I'm just pointing out that there's no reason to think Jessie Mueller is only or primarily a belter. Your opinion means all of nothing so feel free to have whatever one you wish.
I'm wondering why the long preview period as well. At first I wondered if maybe there are some technical elements they want more time to work with in NY, but then I was like...why would a bio-musical about Carole King need a ton of technology and fancy stuff?
yawn#86
Posted: 8/20/13 at 1:15pmOops double post!
yawn#88
Posted: 8/20/13 at 1:24pmThey probably just want to open during the holiday season.
yawn#89
Posted: 8/20/13 at 1:29pmExcept with the preview period they've announced they won't officially be open during the holiday season, they'll be in previews through the whole thing and not opening until after the New Year. They'll have to rely on the out of town reviews to use for their advertising, and, if things don't go well, could end up as part of the post-holiday closing fest that will be occurring on January 5th, thus closing before they even open. It's a strange choice for the producers to make and one that doesn't make much obvious sense.
yawn#90
Posted: 8/20/13 at 4:23pm
Wow, Jessie Mueller's ascend reminds me of Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald and Donna Murphy.
Donna Murphy?!?! Then I do not understand your comparison.
Beautiful#91
Posted: 8/22/13 at 3:57pm
Some footage from rehearsals, plus meet and greet...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOdE45kjK0E&feature=youtu.be
Beautiful#92
Posted: 8/22/13 at 10:17pm
I definitely think Jessie Muller has the 'look' to play Carole circa '60s-'71. CK mostly wore her hair straight during those pre-Tapestry years. I think this photo is the one they're using to make the visual connection in print ads.
Beautiful#93
Posted: 8/22/13 at 10:23pmThat is a very unflattering picture of Larsen and ages her horribly.
Beautiful#94
Posted: 8/22/13 at 11:17pmIn any event , it's a big break for Jessie Mueller ( who could stand in for Vera Fermiga any day) and an even bigger break for first time Broadway Director Marc Bruni ( who has been Associate Director on more than 10 Broadway shows). Good luck to them !
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/20/06
Beautiful#97
Posted: 8/24/13 at 10:38am
I hope the show includes more than just the big hits Goffin and King wrote. I think "No Easy Way Down," "Going Back" and "i Can't Make It Alone" to name just three would add dramatic heft to the atory arc. Carole's performance of "No Easy Way Down" is CLASSIC.
For anyone not familiar with "No Easy Way Dow" --give a listen.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=odzZJ6EvHbo
Updated On: 8/24/13 at 10:38 AM
Featured Actor Joined: 8/29/08
Beautiful#98
Posted: 9/3/13 at 9:43amJust FYI the ticket pre-sale begins today for the show! Scored a pair for the first preview, can't wait to see it.
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