A Beautiful Christmas Guaranteed At Manchester Palace Theatre

It's just six weeks until the award-winning show, which tells the story of the hugely talented American singer-songwriter, opens. And today producers have revealed the first images of the production which will entertain and enthrall Manchester audiences over the festive season.

The stunning stage show will be at the Palace Theatre from Tuesday 12 December 2017 until Saturday 6 January 2018.

Bronté Barbé is playing the title role, and she will be joined by Kane Oliver Parry as King's husband and songwriting partner Gerry Goffin; Amy Ellen Richardson as songwriter Cynthia Weil; Matthew Gonsalves as songwriter Barry Mann; Carol Royle as King's mother Genie Klein; and Adam Howden as music publisher and producer Donnie Kirshner. At certain performances, Carole King will be played by Leigh Lothian.

BEAUTIFUL - THE Carole King MUSICAL received its Broadway premiere in January 2014 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre where it continues to play to packed houses, and throughout 2015/2016 it toured the US. The London production ended its triumphant two-and-a-half-year run at the Aldwych on 5 August. The Tokyo production opened this July, and the Australian production in September.

Bronté Barbé was a finalist in Andrew Lloyd Webber's BBC1 television series Over The Rainbow in 2010. Since then she has appeared on stage in both London's West End and around the UK. Previous credits include Cool Rider in the West End and Princess Fiona in the UK Tour of Shrek - The Musical. She most recently starred in The Wild Party at The Other Palace.

Kane Oliver Parry has starred in Carousel and Sweeney Todd at London's Coliseum. West End credits include Wicked and Urinetown. Kane also appeared in The Light Princess at the National Theatre and the International Arena Tour of We Will Rock You.

Amy Ellen Richardson's West End theatre credits include Merrily We Roll Along, Crazy For You and Les Misérables. After appearing in the UK Tour of Singin' in the Rain, Amy recently reprised the role of Kathy Selden in Tokyo at Theatre Orb.

Matthew Gonsalves is currently appearing in the West End production of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical. His other theatre credits include Dirty Dancing and Dreamboats and Petticoats both on UK Tour. Matthew has also been a singer and vocal arranger for artists including Florence and the Machine, Westlife, Will Young, Leona Lewis, and Barry Manilow.

Carol Royle's theatre credits include Moonlight at the Donmar and the UK Tour of An Ideal Husband. Carole has also appeared in many television series including Crossroads, Casualty, Doctors, and Life Without George.

Adam Howden's previous theatre credits include Offie-nominated The Talented Mr Ripley, Romeo & Juliet, Richard III, and Spring Awakening. Television credits include Doctors, The Interns, Whitechapel, New Tricks, and Holby City.

Leigh Lothian is currently appearing in Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at the Aldwych Theatre. Her other West End credits include Chariots of Fire at the Gielgud Theatre. Leigh has also appeared in The Beautiful Game at the Union Theatre, and Avenue Q and Kiss Me, Kate, both at the Gatehouse Theatre.

The cast is completed by Merryl Ansah, Lauren Byrne, Matt Campbell, Khalid Daley, Jessica Joslin, Esme Laudat, Emma Lucia, Grant McConvey, Jacob McIntosh, Paige Miller, Matt Mills, Simeon Montague, Ben Morris, David O'Mahony, and Saran Webb.

BEAUTIFUL - THE Carole King MUSICAL tells the inspiring true story of King's remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history.

Along the way, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation, including one of the best-selling albums of all time Tapestry, and countless classics such as (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman; Take Good Care of My Baby; You've Got a Friend; So Far Away; It Might as Well Rain Until September; Up on the Roof; and The Locomotion.

The show also includes the Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann hit songs You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling; On Broadway; and We Gotta Get out of This Place.

BEAUTIFUL - THE Carole King MUSICAL has a book by Douglas McGrath with words and music by Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

www.beautifulmusical.co.uk/tour

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