BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Opens Tonight - Meet the Cast!

The new musical, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter opens TONIGHT at the Sondheim Theatre on Broadway. Below - meet the cast!

Tony Award-nominee Jessie Mueller stars as 'Carole King'; she's joined by Jake Epstein as 'Gerry Goffin', Anika Larsen as 'Cynthia Weil', Jarrod Spector as 'Barry Mann', Jeb Brown as 'Don Kirshner', Liz Larsen as 'Genie Klein', and an ensemble that includes Ashley Blanchet, E. Clayton Cornelious, Joshua Davis, Alysha Deslorieux, Kevin Duda, James Harkness, Carly Hughes, Sara King, Rebecca LaChance, Douglas Lyons, Chris Peluso, Gabrielle Reid, Arbender Robinson, Rashidra Scott, Sara Sheperd, and Melvin Tunstall.

With a book by playwright and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Douglas McGrath, direction byMarc Bruni and choreography by Josh Prince, Beautiful features a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil.

Check out interviews with the cast and creative team, plus a sneak peek at the show and highlights in the videos below!

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Jessie Mueller
Carole King

Broadway: "Billie Bendix" in Nice Work If You Can Get It opposite Matthew Broderick, The Mystery Of Edwin Drood (Drama Desk Nomination), On A Clear Day You Can See Forever opposite Harry Connick, Jr. (Tony and Drama Desk nominations). NY: Carousel! at the New York Philharmonic, Into The Woods as "Cinderella" at the Delacorte Theatre. Regional: Animal Crackers (Goodman Theatre, Chicago), She Loves Me (Writer's Theatre), Guys And Dolls, Fiddler On The Roof (Marriott Lincolnshire), Meet Me In St. Louis (Drury Lane Oakbrook), and Henry IV Parts I & II at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in London. Thanks to God, my family, Andy, this incredible team and most of all, Carole.

Jake Epstein
Gerry Goffin

Broadway: Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark (Peter Parker/Spider-Man alternate). First National Tours: Billy Elliot (Tony), American Idiot (Will),Spring Awakening (Melchior). Selected Regional: Dog Sees God, Dani Girl, Dangerous Liaisons, Oliver!. Selected Film/TV: "Degrassi: The Next Generation" (Gemini Award), Charlie Bartlett, Blood Pressure, "My Babysitter's a Vampire". Graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. All my love and gratitude to my "some kind of wonderfuls": Mom, Dad, Gubs, Shari, Joannie, Benko and Ness.

Anika Larsen
Cynthia Weil

Anika has performed on Broadway in Avenue Q; Xanadu; All Shook Up; and Rent. Off-Broadway, she's been in Zanna, Don't!; Myths and Hymns; and Closer Than Ever. Anika wrote and performed in a musical called Shafrika, The White Girl about her childhood growing up in Cambridge, Massachusetts with 9 Brothers and Sisters from different races and countries. She majored in theater at Yale University and is a proud member of Actor's Equity.
anikalarsen.biz

Jarrod Spector
Barry Mann

Jarrod is from Philadelphia, attended Princeton University, and studied acting at the Atlantic Theater Company. He recently ended his tenure as Frankie Valli in Broadway's Jersey Boys after a record 1500 performances. Other credits: Broadway: Les Miserables (Gavroche). National Tours: Les Miserables and Jersey Boys. Off-Broadway: Hamlet(Hamlet). Regional: Piece of my Heart (Bert Berns - NY Stage & Film). Find concert/album info at www.jarrodspector.com or Twitter (@jarrodspector). Endless love & thanks to his family and KB.

Jeb Brown
Don Kirshner

Broadway: Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, Time Stands Still, Grease,High Fidelity, Ring of Fire, Aida, I'm Not Rappaport, Bring Back Birdie,Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Off-Broadway: Romantic Poetry, Game Show. Regional: Steppenwolf, McCarter, Old Globe, Actors Theatre Louisville, Dallas Theatre Center, Ford's, Paper Mill. TV: "Law & Order: SVU" to "Star Trek: DS9". Film: The Dictator, Salt, The Namesake, Renaissance Man, I'll Do Anything. Former Yale Whiffenpoof. Co-Founder, LA's Evidence Room Theatre Project. Husband to Elyse. Father of Eleanor.

Liz Larsen
Genie Klein

Broadway: Hairspray, Rocky Horror, Damn Yankees, Smell of The Kill,Most Happy Fella* (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critic Circle Nominations), Little Night Music, Starmites*, Fiddler, Annie, Dubarry Was A Lady. Off-Broadway: A New Brain*, Loman Family Picnic, New Yorkers, Bingo*, Little By Little*, Such Good Friends, My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, (NYMF Awards). Tour: Sunday In The Park (Hayes Award), Baby (Hayes Nomination). Film/TV: Bridge And Tunnel, "Bunheads", Reed on "Law And Order" (10 Seasons), "L&O SVU" (4 Seasons), "Sopranos"," Exit 19". Sons: Andy and Joey Viviano *OCR

Ashley Blanchet
Ensemble

Broadway: Annie (Star to Be), Memphis (Felicia u/s). Regional: Marriott Chicago, The MUNY, KC Rep, PCLO. BFA: UofMichigan. Thrilled to be a part of this company! Ashleyblanchet.com

E. Clayton Cornelius
Ensemble

Broadway: the Caterpillar in Wonderland, The Scottsboro Boys, A Chorus Line, The Music Man, Kat and the Kings and The Lion King. National tours: Jersey Boys, Sister Act, Dirty Dancing, Hairspray, The Goodbye Girl and The Wiz. Thanks to RVC. Twitter: @Eclaycorn

Josh Davis
Ensemble

Off-Broadway: White's Lies, My First Time (New World Stages). Regional: LES MISERABLES (Pioneer Theatre and Flat Rock Playhouse) ; Guys and Dolls, Little Women (Engeman Theater); Beauty and the Beast (Oklahoma Lyric). TV and film: "Law & Order ," "The Beautiful Life," "As the World Turns," The Graduates. Thrilled to be here. www.thisisjoshdavis.com, @joshdavisss

Alysha Deslorieux
Ensemble

Broadway/1st nat'l tour: Sister Act (Deloris u/s, Michelle). Regional:Little Shop of Horrors (Crystal), Bye Bye Birdie (Alice, St. Louis MUNY),Once on This Island (Ti Moune u/s, Marriott Lincolnshire). CCM alum. Huge thanks to the team, CGF, Mom, and Ryan! For James.

Kevin Duda
Ensemble

Broadway/national tour: The Book of Mormon (OBC/cast album), Little Women, Xanadu, Cinderella, Les Liaisons Dangereuses. BFA, the Hartt School. For JW, MW, EK and CFM. And Mom & Dad, who danced to Neil Sedaka in the kitchen.

James Harkness
Ensemble

Ecstatic! Broadway/regional: Aida, The Color Purple, Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Dreamgirls. Choreographer/ director: The Wiz, The Color Purple, HANDS (play), The Mend (film). Thnx Manager Dave. Thnx full company of Beautiful. Love Mom. Upward and Onward!

Carly Hughes
Ensemble

Broadway: The Book of Mormon, Ghost (Louise, u/s Oda Mae),Ragtime revival (u/s Sarah), ...Spelling Bee (Standby Rona/Marcy), ...The Grinch (Trixie, Mama u/s). Favorites: Dessa Rose (Dessa Rose, West Coast premiere), Footloose (Rusty), Aida (Aida), Smoky Joe's Cafe (Brenda). Awards: Princess Grace (Acting). Film: Lucky Stiff (Singer).

Sara King
Ensemble

Broadway: Hair. National tours: Hair (Sheila), ...Trailer Park Musical(Pippi). Other favorites: Rent (Maureen), Joseph...Dreamcoat(Narrator), Footloose (Ariel). TV: "Smash." BFA music theatre, Shenandoah Conservatory. Love and thanks to KMR, my beautiful families and my rock, T.J. For Mom.

Rebecca LaChance
Ensemble

Broadway debut! NYC: Central Avenue Breakdown, Broadway by the Year and Broadway Rising Stars concerts at Town Hall, Fringe Festival. Regional: Williamstown Theatre Festival, Olney Theatre Center. BFA, NYU. Endless gratitude to friends, family and The Roster. For Mom. www.rebeccalachance.com

Douglas Lyons
Ensemble

Broadway: The Book of Mormon. National tours: Rent, Dreamgirls(Apollo), BOM 1st nat'l. Regional: Yale Rep, Huntington Theatre Company and Hartford Stage. BFA, the Hartt School. Twitter: @Douglassings. Music: @LyonsandPakchar. Love to parents and CLA. For Grandma. Complete Gratitude.

Chris Peluso
Swing

Broadway/Tours: Assassins, Lestat, Mamma Mia, Wicked. Off-Broadway: The Glorious Ones. Regional: La Jolla Playhouse, Barrington Stage Co., Marriott Lincolnshire, and Music Theatre of Wichita. University of Michigan.

Gabrielle Reid
Swing

Fave credits: Hairspray (B'way, nat'l tour, LV), Happy Days (nat'l tour),Mamma Mia! (LV), five national commercials, and marrying the love of my life, Stinky! Huge thanks to my family, friends, TKO, Love Is Love ?%#$! www.gabriellereid.com

Arbender J. Robinson
Ensemble

Broadway: Hairspray, Disney's The Little Mermaid, Hair, Ragtime, The Book of Mormon, Disney's The Lion King. Arbender is a graduate ofViterbo University and a native of Chicago, Illinois. He is also a vocalist with Disney Symphony Pops. DREAM BIG 'cause that stuff can come true! www.arbender.com

Rashidra Scott
Ensemble

Broadway: Sister Act, Hair, Finian's Rainbow, Avenue Q. Tour: Sister Act(Deloris), Walt Disney Entertainment. TV: "Rescue Me". Thanks to God, Leading Artists, and family!

Sara Sheperd
Swing

Broadway/1st nat'l tour: Cry-Baby, Legally Blonde. Regional: Funny Girl(Fanny Brice), Drury Lane; Little Women (Jo), Engeman. CCM grad. Thanks to CTG, friends and family!!

Melvin Tunstall
Swing

Melvin is making his Broadway debut (thanks creative staff!). Tonight is dedicated to Melvin and Linda Tunstall, Bonita and Malcolm Peguise, Marshall Qualls, Janet and Dennis Andrews, the Wrights and Markowskis, the Krasny Office and my besties Andre McRae and Stephanie!