“You’ve got a friend” is a song I hold close to my heart, a song my friends and I sang every week while working at a camp as we sent that week of campers back home. It’s a song immediately brings a smile to my face. It’s not until the end of the musical that we get to hear this song but every single moment leading up to it is perfection. If you are a fan of Carole King or familiar with her music then BEAUTIFUL is the perfect for you, and if you are looking for a fun night out with delicious food, drinks, and entertainment the look no further than CDT.
I went in knowing very little of her story so cannot speak to any artistic liberties that made be in the script, but loved the story that was presented. We meet a teenage Carole as a songwriter working on songs to sell to a local producer. She is bright eyed and eager to take on the music world, regardless of what her mother has to say. She meets Gerry Goffin and they begin writing together. She’s got the music, he’s got the lyrics, a perfect match for writing songs and as a romantic pair. When Carole gets pregnant the two are married and continue to work trying to balance their music careers and parenthood. Shad Hanley plays Goffin excellently as we see the many sides of this man, from young love and new parent to struggling with his mental health and figuring out his place in the world.
Co- directed by father/daughter duo Michael Brindisi and Kat Brindisi this production of full of love and the incredible music of Carole King. The show focuses on two partnerships- Carole & Gerry and Cynthia Weil & Barry Mann a “will they won’t they pair” who add some hilarious banter and extra layer of love to the over all story. Performed by Shinah Hey and Alan Bach this duo was superb.
The entire ensemble is incredible filling in the world around them and covering multiple decades of musicians including the Shirelles and The Drifters. We follow the song writing duos as they write decades of songs for these popular groups, the music of the show covers so many of them through music montages. It was also such a bonus to see one of my fav #TCartisits Kim Kivens as Carole’s mom!
It leads us up to when Carole decides her next set of songs were written as the tapestry of the life we just watched, a personal set of songs that she knew had to be sung by no-one else than herself. (Cue “You’ve Got A Friend”). Monet Sabel has played Carole in various production and is perfection in this role moving from a bright eyed and shy teen, a woman in love and dedicated to the art she is creating, and the strong musician generations have loved.
We tried a few new items this time with the Espresso Martini and Empress Gin Lemonade plus the steak Entree (one I haven’t had there before). It was all great and served by an absolutely delightful staff. Overall this all in experience made for a fantastic GNO with my roommate and I hope you get a chance to see it for yourself.
BEAUTIFUL: The Carol King musical runs through September at Chanhassen Dinner Theaters and I am overjoyed to already have tickets so I can see it again this weekend. For tickets and more information check out the CDT website. I also recommend following them on social media for discounts and various offers to see the show at a price point that may be more accessible to you.
Lettered in Theatre 