Julia Knitel Will Lead BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at Asolo Repertory Theatre With Shelley Butler Directing

Asolo Repertory Theatre has announced initial casting to the 2024 – 2025 season, which begins November 13 with Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Broadway actress and Beautiful veteran, Julia Knitel will lead the cast as Carole King. Broadway Director and Beautiful veteran Shelley Butler will Direct, with Banji Aborisade as Choreographer and Angela Steiner as Music Director.

“Beautiful is an inspiring tribute to one of the most successful female singer/songwriters in American history, we are thrilled to welcome Julia who has embodied Carole on Broadway and on the National Tour. This creative team is sure to create a chart topper!” stated Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director, Peter Rothstein. 

Her journey was as extraordinary as her music. At eighteen, Carole King wrote number one songs for Aretha Franklin and The Drifters. At twenty-nine, she was the voice of a generation. The road along the way was full of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. It wasn’t always perfect, but it was real - and that’s what made it beautiful. A smash hit on Broadway and London’s West End, this soaring and inspiring musical features two decades of King’s hits, including “You’ve Got a Friend”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “I Feel the Earth Move.”

Julia Knitel (Carole King) has played Carole King on Broadway, on Tour, at Theatre Aspen (Henry nom), & at The Cape Playhouse. Additional Broadway/Tour: Bye Bye Birdie, Come From Away (Janice). Julia originated the role of Maggie/Millicent in the NYTimes Critic’s Pick Dead Outlaw (Outer Critics Circle Nomination). Off-Broadway: A Letter to Harvey Milk (Lortel nom), Panic of ‘29, The Tycoons (Rave Theatre Award - Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role). Regional: Louise in Gypsy (The Muny, St. Louis Theatre Circle nom), The Constant Wife (Denver Center - Dir Shelley Butler), The Producers (Casa Mañana), Brighton Beach Memoirs (Portland Stage). TV/film: The Other Two, Miles.  

Shelley Butler has over forty Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional credits to date and has worked extensively with writers on new plays and musicals at theaters across the country. Notable productions include the world premiere of Lucas Hnath’s A Doll’s House Part 2 at South Coast Repertory, the world premiere of Kate Hamill’s The Scarlet Letter for Two River Theater and the Japanese premiere of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo. Shelley is the recipient of a Drama League Fall Directing Fellowship, a 2018 Drama League Directing Resident, a 2005 Director’s Guild of America Trainee, and a proud member of SDC. Upcoming: World premiere of Jake Brasch’s The Reservoirat The Denver Center, The Alliance Theatre and The Geffen Playhouse.

Angela Steiner (Music director/Conductor/Additional Arrangements) prior Asolo Rep productions include Crazy for You, Cabaret and Sweeney Todd. She has worked as Music Director/Conductor/ Arranger all over the country. Select shows include Little Shop of Horrors (South Coast Repertory) La Cage Aux Folles, Cabaret and Next to Normal (Barrington Stage Company), Hair! (The Old Globe); Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Geva Theatre); Little Shop of Horrors, A Little Night Music, Rattlesnake Kate, The Who’s Tommy, Oklahoma, Indecent, Twelfth Night (Denver Center). Angela holds a bachelor’s degree in piano from Wichita State University and a masters in collaborative piano from the University of Northern Colorado.

Banji Aborisade (Choreographer) Broadway: Beetlejuice the Musical (Assistant Director), Select Directing/Choreography Credits include: You're A Good Man Charlie Brown at Forestburgh Playhouse, Urinetown at the American Theater of Actors (Choreographer), Guys and Dolls at the Arthur Storch Theater, The Christine Jorgenson Show at HERE Arts (Choreographer) Film/TV: SC7NARIO on BroadwayHD, The Last Fall, While You Were Dreaming, SYNC: The Dance Series (Choreographer), and Every Right. Assistant/Associate Directing credits include: Bye Bye Birdie at The Kennedy Center, The Hairspray National Tour, Oliver at New York City Center, The Griswolds Broadway Vacation at 5th Avenue, Virgin Voyages It's A Ship Show, Beetlejuice on Norwegian Cruise Line, Bull Durham at Theatre Raleigh, How to Load a Musket at 59e59, and SoftPower at The Public Theater. BFA Syracuse University.

Asolo Rep’s 2024 -2025 season includes Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (November 13 – January 5), the World Premiere of Ken Ludwig’s Lady Molly of Scotland Yard (January 17 – February 8), Anna in the Tropics (February 19 – March 13), Dancing in Lughnasa (March 19 – April 19), the Regional Premiere of Good Night, Oscar (April 2 – April 27), Jesus Christ Superstar (May 14 – June 15) and a special holiday event in partnership with The Ringling, All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (December 4 – 22).

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