Beautiful The Carole King Musical
Tracing the career of Carole King, and endorsed by the beloved Grammy winner herself, this inspiring true story about Carole King spans from her early days as a Brooklyn teenager struggling to enter the record business to her years spent as a chart-topping music legend and one of the most successful singer-songwriters in music history.
Before she was a star, Carole King was crafting chart-toppers for artists like The Shirelles, The Drifters, and Aretha Franklin—songs that defined a generation. As her personal life shifted, so did her voice, culminating in the groundbreaking “Tapestry” album and a sound all her own. With unforgettable hits like It’s Too Late, You’ve Got a Friend, So Far Away, and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Beautiful is a moving, music-filled portrait of resilience, self-discovery, and the healing power of song. PG13*
Approximate Run Time: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
*Content Guide: Rated PG13 for Adult themes.
We encourage you to use your judgment based on your own research of the show, and your child’s age and maturity level.
PLEASE BE ADVISED – THIS PRODUCTION USES FLASHING LIGHTS AND THEATRICAL HAZE.
Customer Comments:
“The show was unbelievable! I have seen the show before including once on Broadway. This show would rank one of the best! The actors portraying The Drifters, Shirelles and especially the Righteous Brothers were spot on! And of course Carol , closed your eyes and you heard Tapestry all night long! Don’t miss this opportunity to get some real true stories of the Iconic Queen Carole King” – Samuel Pitkowsky
“We saw this show last night and LOVED it! It ranks as one of our top favorite shows we have seen at Dutch Apple. The lead actress is phenomenal!” – Pamela Albert
“Wonderful show! Highly recommend to anyone in the Lancaster area.” – Rachel Harvey Higgens
Review: BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre By Dan Marois, Broadway World in Maine and New Hampshire
There are some musicals where you know virtually every song before the curtain goes up. Beautiful – The Carole King Musical is one of them. I’ve seen the show twice before at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine, so I knew the story, knew the music and had a pretty good idea of what to expect when I arrived at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster. What I didn’t know was how this cast would make the familiar story their own.
Breanna Lemerise answered that question almost immediately.
Lemerise is beyond compare as Carole King. Her voice doesn’t attempt to closely mimic King’s in the way some actresses I’ve seen in the role have done, but that hardly matters. She creates a Carole King who feels genuine and believable, and when she sits down at the piano, she becomes a force of nature. Lemerise is a vocal powerhouse and an impressive piano player, and there were several moments when I found myself watching her hands as much as listening to her voice.
That’s one of the pleasures of Beautiful. We aren’t just hearing a collection of familiar songs. We get to see where they came from.
The story follows King from her teenage years as an aspiring songwriter through her partnership with Gerry Goffin, their marriage and the eventual breakup of both their personal and professional relationship. Along the way, we discover that King and Goffin were responsible for far more of the songs we know than many of us probably realize.
Austin Wicke gives Goffin a particularly interesting dimension. He could easily be played as the husband who simply makes a series of bad choices, but Wicke gives us a troubled man wrestling with his own demons. His relationship with King is complicated, and Wicke lets us see the talent, frustration and personal problems that are all tangled together. His performance makes it easier to understand why King would remain connected to him even as their marriage was coming apart.
Then there is the other songwriting team—Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann.
Bridget Carrow is vibrant and engaging as Weil, and she has terrific chemistry with Cameron Nies, whose Barry Mann is more laid-back and understated. The contrast works. Carrow gives Weil plenty of personality without turning her into a caricature, while Nies provides an easygoing counterpoint. Nies also shows off his musical ability with strong vocals and guitar playing.
And then the songs start piling up.
“Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “The Loco-Motion,” “Up on the Roof,” “One Fine Day,” “On Broadway,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “It’s Too Late,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “Beautiful” are only some of the familiar numbers packed into the show.
The fun is realizing who wrote them.
That was one of my favorite things about seeing Beautiful the first time, and it still works. We watch King and Goffin create songs for other performers, while Weil and Mann are doing much the same thing. The songs become hits, but the people who wrote them remain largely behind the scenes.
Eventually, King realizes that she doesn’t have to remain behind the piano writing songs for somebody else to sing. She has a voice of her own.
That’s where Lemerise really takes over.
Her transition from songwriter to performer doesn’t feel like a sudden theatrical transformation. It feels like a woman finally realizing what she is capable of. By the time we reach the success of Tapestry, the journey feels earned.
There is also a lot to like about the supporting cast and the production’s ability to keep the show moving. Beautiful has plenty of music, but it doesn’t feel like a concert with a thin story attached. The songs are woven into the narrative, which is why the familiar numbers still have an impact even after you’ve heard them countless times. The performances by the Drifters, the Shirelles and the Righteous Brothers are spot on with this brilliant cast.
Of course, Dutch Apple is a dinner theater, so the evening begins with dinner.
Unfortunately, the buffet wasn’t nearly as memorable as the show.
I had visited Dutch Apple about two years ago and remembered the food being considerably better. This time, the salad bar was pretty unimaginative, and the potato salad was difficult to recognize as potato salad. The meatloaf tasted burnt and had more spice than I expected, although the chicken was good. The desserts were easily the best part of the buffet.
So, the dinner part of the dinner theater was disappointing. I simply expected something better. Fortunately, once the lights went down, the buffet became a distant memory.
I’ve seen Beautiful before, but that’s the nice thing about a show built around songs this familiar. Give me a good cast and I’ll happily hear them again. And if Breanna Lemerise is portraying King once again, I’ll be the first to buy tickets.
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Breanna Lemerise
(Carole King) is thrilled for the chance to perform with Dutch Apple Dinner Theater! She graduated from Rider University in 2025 with a BFA in Musical Theater. Her recent credits include: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Carole King, Clear Space Theatre Company CSTC), Mean Girls (Regina George, CSTC), The Cher Show (Lady, CSTC), Reefer Madness (Sally, CSTC), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey, Grandstreet Theater), Xanadu (Erato, Cortland Repertory Theater), and The Wizard of Oz (Toto, Cortland Repertory Theater). She would like to thank her family for their constant encouragement and love. Enjoy this Beautiful show (pun intended!) IG: @Breanna.Lemerise
Austin Wicke
(Gerry Goffin) is excited to return after recently appearing as Chad in the All Shook Up production at Dutch Apple and Broadway Palm. His previous credits include the National Tour of Pretty Woman and Disney Cruise Line productions of Disney's Frozen and Disney's Aladdin. Real life Midwesterner. Go Hawks! Love you Mom and Dad, baby bro and friends. @austinwicke austinwicke.com
Megan Opalinski
(Genie Klein) was most recently on the Dutch Apple stage as the deliciously devious Mrs. Peacock in Clue: The Musical. Other Dutch Apple favorites include: Martha Watson in White Christmas, Sandra Snyder in Grumpy Old Men, Earth Mother in Menopause the Musical, Sister Mary Lazarus in Sister Act, and Nurse Norma in Waitress. Other favorites include: National and International Tours of Sister Act, The Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone, Marie (aka Fairy Godmother) in Rodger & Hammerstein's Cinderella, Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music, Muriel Eubanks in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown, Beulah in Come From Away, and Rosie in Mamma Mia! Much love to her ever supportive friends and family. Namaste.
Bobby Guenther
(Don Kirshner) Bobby is thrilled to join the cast of Beautiful The Carole King Musical after recently appearing here in Pretty Woman! Bobby is an NYC based actor and coffee enthusiast. Favorite past credits include Mary Poppins, Jersey Boys, A Christmas Carol, and Noises Off. When not playing the fool, you can find Bobby walking obscene distances, enjoying the great outdoors, and drinking concerning amounts of caffeine. He'd like to thank his family and friends for their love and support. Proud Western Carolina Alum (Go Cats!) IG @bguenther_50. Always for you, Dad.
Bridget Carrow
(Cynthia Weil) is overjoyed to be making her Dutch Apple debut! She’s NYC-based with training from Pace University. Regional credits from across the country and in the sea include: 9 to 5 (Violet Newstead), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide), Tootsie (Rita Marshall US), Beautiful (Marilyn), Hairspray (Velma Von Tussle), Catch Me If You Can (Paula Abagnale), and Damn Yankees (Gloria Thorpe). Deepest gratitude to the Dutch Apple and Prather teams: thank you so very much for inviting me along. Nick, Mom and Dad, dear friends, The Movement Talent Agency: WE DID IT. This is a dream come true! @thebridgetcarrow
Cameron Nies
(Barry Mann) last performed here on stage in Pretty Woman and Clue The Musical. Other credits include Million Dollar Quartet Christmas (The Little Theatre on the Square), Buddy The Buddy Holly Story and We Will Rock You (both at Dutch Apple), Jersey Boys, Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 (Pioneer Theatre Company), and Beautiful The Carole King Musical (Broadway Palm). Cameron thanks his family and friends for supporting him. @cameron_nies
Sydney Noller
(Marilyn Wald/Carole US) is a NYC based artist who is delighted to make her Dutch Apple debut! Select credits include: Grease (Sandy, NCCA at Jeans Playhouse), The Sounds of 1967 (Carrie Ann, Broadway Palm Dinner Theater), Jersey Boys (Lorraine, NCCA at Jeans Playhouse), and Annie (Star to Be, The Milton Theater). Sydney is forever grateful for the support of her friends and family. @sydney_noller
Timothe Bittle
(On Broadway Soloist/Drifter) is excited to be back on the Dutch Apple stage and tell this beautiful story! He was in Little Shop of Horrors as the voice of the plant, Audrey II. When not on stage, Timothe serves as company manager and assistant to the artistic producer here at Dutch Apple. Some of his favorite roles have been Mr. Henshaw in the National Tour of Finding Neverland, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Sebastian in Disney's The Little Mermaid, Lumière in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Jim in Big River, and Frankenstein in Monsters Live Rock-n-Roll Show with Universal Studios Japan. Many thanks to Mom for yout continued love and support and to my Dutch Apple family!! @tlbittle
Dante Hill
(Up On The Roof Soloist/Drifter) is excited to be back on the Dutch Apple stage after appearing here in Hairspray and Jersey Boys. Off-Broadway: The Drunk Musical production of Wicked. TV: American Horror Story Season 11. Theatre: Grease (Eugene), 42nd Street (Ensemble), Shrek (Donkey). Tours: The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man). Dante is ready to share his joy of being on stage, and thanks his strong support system for pushing him to follow his dreams. @_danterayvonne_
Adeleke Goring
(On Broadway Soloist/Drifter) is thrilled to be making his Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre debut! Recent credits include The Book of Mormon (North American Tour), Sonny Malone in Xanadu, and Ferdinand in The Tempest. Adeleke holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Temple University. He is grateful for the continued love and support of his family, friends, and everyone who has been a part of his journey! @adegoring
Travis Wroten
Replacement Track Beginning 10/10 (Some Kind Of Wonderful Soloist/Drifter) is beyond excited to make his Dutch Apple debut and join such a wonderful group! He is a Connecticut-based actor and Hartt School alum where received his BFA. Credits: Pete The Cat (Jimmy Biddle), Midsummer Night’s Dream BDS (Lysander), Sister Act (TJ), Footloose (Garvin), Godspell (All Good Gifts), Summer of '42 (Benji). Travis would like to thank his grandmother, fellow gamers, anime watchers, and all of his friends and family for the continued support and motivation! @Travis.wroten
Mariah Belle Williams
(Little Eva/Shirelle) is delighted to make her Dutch Apple debut honoring one of music history's trailblazing girl groups! Past credits include You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (Sally/Lucy US) at The Secret Theatre. Big thanks to her village—especially Mama, Daddy, and Drea—for their unwavering support. @mariah.belle_
Charis Milan
(Lucille/Shirelle) is thrilled to make her Dutch Apple debut with the cast of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Her most recent artistic pursuits include: Hair (Gretna Theatre), Broadway’s Best (Gretna Theatre), The Motown Club (Prima), and The Celebration of the Evolution of Black Music (THEM The Collective). In her freetime, Charis loves salsa dancing, powerlifting, and city exploring. All glory to her Divine Creator, and special thanks to her parents and dear community for their love and support. IG: @charis.milan
Blessett Anderson
(Janelle Woods/Shirelle) is an American actress based in Connecticut. She received theatrical vocal training at Western Connecticut State University where she has also trained with Fosse and Broadway veterans MaryAnn Lamb, Elizabeth Parkinson, and Scott Wise. Some credits include Mean Girls (Ensemble/Understudy Female Authority), F-Word: Musical (Ms. Whipple), Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (Dara/Swing), Next to Normal (Dr. Madden/Fine), The Crucible (Tituba), Legally Blonde (Judge/Store Manager/Ensemble), and more. Instagram: @blessett_anderson Website: blessettanderson.com
Remi Veronica
(Uptown Soloist/Shirelle) is excited to return to Dutch Apple. Theatrical credits include: Deloris Van Cartier (Sister Act, Dutch Apple and Broadway Palm); Leading Player (Pippin, The Garden Theatre); Scaramouche (We Will Rock You, Dutch Apple); and Janelle Woods (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Argyle Theatre). Enormous amounts of gratitude are extended toward her family and loved ones. @remiveronica www.remiveronica.com
Nathan Roberts
(Nick/Righteous Brother/Don US) previously performend at Dutch Apple in Elvis A Musical Revolution. He is best known for portraying Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash in various productions of Million Dollar Quartet, most notably with Norwegian Cruise Line. Regional credits: West Side Story (Tony), 9 to 5 (Joe), Into The Woods (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf). Much love to his wife, Kasie! Representing agency: Resolute Artists Agency NathanMichaelRoberts.com
Hunter La Salle
(Lou Adler/Righteous Brother/Barry US) is is an actor and filmmaker based in Austin, Texas. His films have shown across the world but most notably at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. His theatre credits include Elvis Presley (Million Dollar Quartet), Danny Zuko (Grease), and Jud (Oklahoma!). He is so excited to be making his Dutch Apple debut in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical! @hunter_la_salle
Ellie Kallay
(Betty/Genie US) returns to Dutch Apple after appearing here in Holiday Inn (Louise) and Clue The Musical. Select credits: Rock of Ages (Regina), Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (Bus/others), Hair (Crissy), White Christmas, and The Polar Express (Bailey). Ellie is also an early childhood educator in music, dance, and chess. BFA Syracuse University. Much love to family, friends, and her boyfriend, who have all helped her grow into the powerful, capable clown she is today! @Ellie_Kallay
Kasie Buono
(Swing/US for Cynthia, Betty, Marilyn) Credits: Million Dollar Quartet (Dyanne, Walt Disney World Entertainment), 9 to 5 (Doralee), Shrek (Fiona), Young Frankenstein (Inga), Marvelous Wonderettes (Cindy Lou), Heartbreak Hotel (Ann-Margret/Priscilla Cover), Gilligan’s Island The Musical (Mary Ann). Kasie is a University of Tampa graduate with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Love always to her amazing husband, Nathan!
Qawiyya Haqq
(Swing) is from New Jersey. She is excited to be making her Dutch Apple debut and to be swinging a show for the first time! Most recently, she originated the role of Jennifer Parker in the production of Back To The Future: The Musical onstage Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas! Previous credits: West Side Story (Consuela, Maria US), Prince of Egypt (Yocheved, Tzipporah US), A Chorus Line (Val), Pippin (Leading Player), Ain't Misbehavin' (Charlaine) and many more! Love and hugs to her friends and family for their endless support. You can find more of Qawiyya on Instagram and YouTube @qawiyyahaqq.
Ethan Achee
(Swing/Gerry US/Righteous Brother US) is beyond thrilled to be in the Dutch Apple production of Beautiful! His credits at Houston Broadway Theatre include: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Frederic Charlus/Ensemble/ Phoebus Cover), American Psycho The Musical (Sean Bateman/Security Guard Lloyd/Dorsia Host). Sam Houston State University: Austen's Pride (George Wickham), Carrie (George), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Alfred), American Son (Officer Larkin), Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Ensemble/Anthony US). He would like to thank his family and friends for supporting his dream of performing, and most of all, God! @ethan-achee
Devin Michael Leming
(Swing/Dance Captain) is thrilled to be back on the Dutch Apple stage after performing in the production of All Shook Up (Dutch Apple and Broadway Palm Dinner Theatres). He is a recent graduate from the Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Stephens College. Devin is ready to support this incredible cast while bringing versatility and dedication to every role!