Theater News

Chilina Kennedy to Return to Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

She will succeed current star Abby Mueller just in time for the show’s fifth anniversary on Broadway.

Chilina Kennedy will soon be playing Carole King again in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway.
Chilina Kennedy will soon play Carole King again in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway.
(© Joan Marcus)

Chilina Kennedy will return to the title role of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical starting Thursday, January 3, 2019, replacing current star Abby Mueller, who plays her final performance on Sunday, December 30. Kennedy returns just as the production prepares to celebrate its fifth anniversary on Broadway Saturday, January 12.

With a book by Douglas McGrath and songs from the catalogue of Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil, Beautiful officially opened at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on January 12, 2014. The show follows the life and career of singer-songwriter King and colleagues Goffin, Mann, and Weil, and features songs including "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," "One Fine Day," and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman."

Kennedy will join a cast that currently includes Evan Todd as Gerry Goffin, Kate Reinders as Cynthia Weil, Ben Jacoby as Barry Mann, Paul Anthony Stewart as Don Kirshner, Tony Award nominee Liz Larsen as Genie Klein, and an ensemble that includes TyNia Brandon, Gabrielle Elisabeth, Matt Faucher, Alex Hairston, Mike Longo, Douglas Lyons, Stephanie Martignetti, Jay McKenzie, Paris Nix, Elena Ricardo, Nathan Scherich, Housso Semon, Sara Sheperd, Michael Stiggers, Yasmeen Sulieman, Salisha Thomas, Daniel Torres, and Melvin Tunstall.

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