Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Last week I had the opportunity to go see Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway.  I was excited about the last minute plan and couldn't wait to see the show after hearing wonderful things about it.  I love Carole King's music and knew that it would be a fun show if nothing else.  I was blown away by the performance.  Not only was it entertaining and funny, it was also so much fun and a great way to relax after a hectic day.  

The show reminded me a lot of Jersey Boys, following Carole King's journey as a singer/songwriter.  You get to see her big break and go through her career, hearing about songs she wrote you would have never guessed (like "The Locamotion" among others!) The play chronicles, not only her career, but also her personal life and relationships.  Detailing her early marriage to Gerry Goffin and her friendships with Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, Carole is portrayed as a compelling and fascinating woman. Someone so normal and down to earth, I immediately wanted to be her friend. I left the theater with an enormous amount of adoration and respect for her.  Chilina Kennedy is currently playing Carole on Broadway and her performance was incredible.  She looked so much like Carole King and was a phenomenal singer and actress.  

Beautiful is an excellent option if you're in the market for a fun, feel-good Broadway show! It has heart, it has humor, and most importantly, great music! At the end I was out of my seat and clapping along as the cast belted out "I Feel the Earth Move." The show is great for all ages, I can't wait to take my mom when she comes to visit soon! 

♥ Caro

The Curious Incident...

Last night I went to go see The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time on Broadway. 

It. Was. AMAZING.

I had to read the play for a class and after reading it I knew I wanted to see the performance, if nothing else, to see how they accomplished everything on stage.  We went after studio to try and get $27 student tickets but ended up having to get $35 partial view seats. Even though the view was partially obstructed I have to say it was totally worth it to pay more and see the show.  The play is adapted from the best selling book and tells the story of Christopher, a young boy living in England who is mentally disabled in a way (it is never named but many believe it to be Asperger’s or something on the Autism spectrum) He is very smart but lacks some social skills and everyday activities can be difficult for him, he also attends a special school.  The story is told through narration as well as scenes, mostly narrated by his teacher Siobhan or himself, there are only a few main characters – Mother, Father, Siobhan, Christopher.  The rest of the cast is made up of the ensemble.  The ensemble cast members remain on stage, changing their shoes or putting on a pair of glasses when you have your attention else where, so by the time they stand up again you are seeing a different character. 

{Partial view seating - still worth it}

As an actor, I was blown away by the performance – especially that of the actor playing Christopher.  His name is Alexander Sharp and he graduated from Juilliard in May.  That’s right, 5 months ago. In fact, he was cast while he was still in school.  In the program, an interview states that he only went to the audition after getting a text from a friend telling him that he would be perfect for the part.  He also picked Juilliard because it was the only acting school he knew of and he heard it was the best.  It was the only place he applied. And he was one of 18 in his class. So basically this guy was destined for success from the beginning – for a good reason.  Watching him reminded me why I do what I do and why I study this crazy art form.  His talent was remarkable and the character seemed to come with such ease.  Acting like his inspires me to continue to better my own.

{A publicity still from the website - the set was incredible}

Not only was the story great but the staging was remarkable.  The walls surrounding the stage are grids and they light up and display projections throughout the show.  The floor lights up too! The boxes around the sides provide seating for the ensemble members on stage and there are trap doors covering the walls and stage floor that the actors use to access different props as the story progresses. 

This show is a must see. An amazing story, great staging and even better acting, this play is not one to miss.  Go see it while you can!! When it opened in London it ended up winning 7 Olivier Awards and I have a feeling it will definitely be on a list for the Tony's.  Check it out here

♥ Caro

Rainy Day Reads: Jodi Picoult

I've always loved Jodi Picoult books, especially the most recent one I read entitled The Storyteller.  I started reading her books per my mother’s recommendation.  I have been in love with reading since I was younger and it was always a struggle for her to find books I hadn’t already read.  I started with My Sister’s Keeper (the book is SO much better than the movie) then I went on to read everything she published. She is an author I have continued to read over the years, as I have grown up and years later I still thoroughly enjoy her stories.  I love her writing because she knows how to keep you guessing.  Every book has some sort of twist ending that catches you by surprise. I also love that she deals with intense and poignant topics, relevant today. 

The Storyteller is about a shy baker, Sage, who befriends an old man, Josef, through a grief counseling group she attends after her mothers death.  When Josef unveils a dark secret, Sage must decide the right path to take and the mystery begins to unfold.  A moral dilemma, historical fiction, and many exciting twists and turns, this book kept me on the edge of my seat.  I loved reading it – it was one of those books I couldn’t put down and I could not wait to recommend it to you! Happy reading! 

♥ Caro