Photo Flash

Chilina Kennedy Marks 1,000th Performance as Carole King in Broadway's Beautiful

Kennedy has played the role in New York, Toronto, and across the country.

Broadway

March 14, 2018

Chilina Kennedy is surprised with balloons and flowers to mark her 1,000th performance in Beautiful. — Chilina Kennedy is surprised with balloons and flowers to mark her 1,000th performance in *Beautiful*.
(© David Gordon)

Chilina Kennedy logged her production-wide 1,000th performance as Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical as of the Wednesday, March 14, matinee.

Chilina Kennedy is overcome with emotion.
(© David Gordon)

Kennedy joined the Broadway production on March 7, 2015, replacing Jessie Mueller in the title role. She has since played the legendary singer-songwriter on the show's national tour as well as in the Toronto production. Kennedy currently leads the Broadway company alongside Evan Todd (Gerry Goffin), Ben Jacoby (Barry Mann), Jessica Keenan Wynn (Cynthia Weil), Paul Anthony Stewart (Don Kirshner), and Liz Larsen (Genie Klein).

The cast of Beautiful salutes its leading lady. — The cast of *Beautiful* salutes its leading lady.
(© David Gordon)

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."