Beautiful

Merideth Kaye Clark as Carole King

Merideth Kaye Clark is making her Broadway Rose debut! Merideth has performed in major roles in theaters around the country. Previous roles include Elphaba standby in Wicked (1st National Tour), Nancy in Oliver! (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Alice Murphy in Bright Star (Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities), and Eva Perón in Evita (Northern Stage). Portland area credits include performances at Portland Center Stage in It’s a Wonderful Life, Winter Song (co-writer & performer), Cathy in The Last Five Years, and Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof. At Clackamas Repertory Theatre, Merideth appeared as Maria in The Sound of Music, The Melody Lingers On, and Lilli/Katharine in Kiss Me, Kate. At Portland Playhouse, Merideth appeared as Clara in The Light in the Piazza. Merideth has toured internationally with her acclaimed concerts Joni Mitchell’s BLUE (with Mont Chris Hubbard) and Happy Days Are Here Again: The Music of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand (with Susannah Mars). Merideth is a multi-instrumentalist and half of the popular folk-Americana duo, Siren Songs. Television credits include Portlandia and the Emmy-nominated Documentary Now! episode, “Original Cast Album: Co-op.” Merideth was most recently seen as Miss Honey in Matilda the Musical at Portland Playhouse.

Benjamin Tissell as Gerry Goffin

Benjamin Tissell is a Portland-based actor, director, and musician. Locally, he has performed at Portland Center Stage, Portland Playhouse, Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Lakewood Theatre Company, and others. Ben is delighted to be returning to Broadway Rose, having previously performed in Loch Lomond, Ordinary Days, Fly By Night, and A Very Merry PDX-Mas. Ben works at George Fox University where he serves as a theatre professor and artistic director. His directing has been recognized with Meritorious Achievement awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Ben also performs as a singer-songwriter; you can hear his music on Spotify and elsewhere. When he’s not doing theatre and making music, you can usually find Ben reading, backpacking, or playing with his niece and nephews. Follow his work at BenTissell.com

Jennifer Lynn Teel as Cynthia Weil

Jennifer Lynn Teel is thrilled to be making her Broadway Rose and Portland debut. Having recently moved to Portland, she has performed professionally since 2011 in many theatres, from her hometown of Oklahoma to Florida to New York. Some of her regional credits include: All Shook Up (Miss Sandra) at Madison Theatre; Freaky Friday (Katherine Blake), James and the Giant Peach (Ladybug), Big Fish (Jenny Hill), Sweet Charity (Ursula March), Spring Awakening (Adult Woman) at Lyric Theatre, Oklahoma; Next to Normal (Diana) at Gulf Coast Symphony; American Idiot (Extraordinary Girl), Company (Kathy), In the Heights (Vanessa), Passing Strange (Desi/Renata/Sherry), Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Pattie), Beehive: The ‘60s Musical (Janis Joplin) at The Pollard Theatre; Cabaret (Fraulein Kost/Fritzie) at Reduxion Theatre; and Bye Bye Birdie (Rosie), Oliver! (Nancy), Into the Woods (The Witch), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), John & Jen (Jen Tracy) at Poteet Theatre.

Norman Wilson as Barry Mann

Norman Wilson is elated to be back at Broadway Rose after a few years living in the Lowcountry of Charleston, South Carolina. Previous Broadway Rose appearances include Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone, Skimbleshanks in Cats, Corny Collins in Hairspray, Marcellus Washburn in The Music Man, and more. Norman has also trod the boards at Lakewood Theatre Company (Frank in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Charlie in Annie Get Your Gun, and Sir Robin in Spamalot), Bag&Baggage Productions (Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Nick in Bell, Book and Candle, and Thelma Greenwood in The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate…Murder Mystery), Live On Stage (Mendel in Falsettos, and various roles in The Mini Musicals Festivals), and triangle productions! (God in Act of God and Rod in Avenue Q).

Kristin Alarcon as Marilyn Wald

Kristin Alarcon is thrilled to return to the Broadway Rose stage, having appeared in the 2023 production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella and the 2022 production of Sleeping Beauty. Recent roles include Hamilton in Jester Educational Theater’s 2024 production of The Revolutionary Revue and Prince Bobby in Portland Panto Players’ 2024 production of Sleeping Beauty. She is looking forward to performing the role of Columbia in STARS’ fall 2024 production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. By day, Kristin is a teaching artist at Northwest Children’s Theater and is the director of IT for Oregon’s Dance and Drill Association. Additionally, Kristin dances for the One More Time Around Again Marching Band alumni team, owns a princess party company, and is training to run a marathon in January.

Robert Altieri as Righteous Brother/Neil Sedaka/Lou Adler

Robert Altieri is excited to return to Broadway Rose for another summer after playing Gad and the Butler in last year’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other recent credits include Holiday Inn and Celebration (Lost Treasures Series) at Lakewood Theatre Company. Active in musical theatre since 2016, his highlights include Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Max in Lend Me a Tenor, featured ensemble parts in Urinetown and Singin’ in the Rain, and most excitingly, a short-lived cameo as Steve in the West End production of Heathers: The Musical. Off stage, Robert works as a construction project manager and is a competitive bowler. He would like to thank the entire production team and cast for this incredible opportunity and experience!

Nate Ayers as Righteous Brother/Nick/Bobby Vee

Nate Ayers has been acting and improvising in the Portland area since 2014, most recently in the titular role in Crybaby at Funhouse Lounge. This is his fourth show with Broadway Rose, having appeared in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Lord Pinkleton), Gypsy (Farmboy), and Beauty and the Beast (Beast). You can find him improvising regularly around town, most often at Kickstand Comedy and Funhouse Lounge. Follow @nate.thanael on Instagram to keep up! Nate gives all credit to his community of family, friends, and collaborators, all of whom are wonderfully patient teachers in their own right.

Bree Boswell as Shirelle 1/Little Eva

Bree Boswell, a rising sophomore at the University of Oklahoma’s Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre, hails from Atlanta, Georgia. Making her professional debut in this show, Bree is thrilled to take this significant step in her career.

Darion Elie as Drifter

Darion Ellie is thrilled to join Broadway Rose’s production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. His recent credits include serving as a standby for Lincoln in Topdog/Underdog with Stage Center LA, and portraying Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with the Caddo Magnet Players. Darion is currently pursuing his B.F.A. in musical theatre at the University of Oklahoma.

Chloe Evans as Shirelle 2

Chloe Evans has lived in Dallas, Texas, and Olympia, Washington, and is now entering her fourth year as a musical theatre major at Pennsylvania State University. @Chloe_g_evans

Lydia Fleming as Shirelle 4/Janelle Woods

Lydia Fleming, from a young age, was entranced with the theatrical arts, passionately pursuing any avenue to absorb and evolve herself in the craft. Recently she has been seen in roles such as Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors, Mrs. Potiphar in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and has repeatedly worked with the Portland Panto Players as both an actress and music director.

Jeff George as Onstage Swing

Jeff George trained with Ballet Minnesota and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. He has performed on the East Coast tour of Sesame Street Live! and with the Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cruise line ships. Jeff has also performed with many Portland companies such as BodyVox, Polaris, Dancing People, SubRosa, Broadway Rose Theatre Company, Artists Repertory Theatre, Pixie Dust Productions, and DO JUMP!, where he got to join the company on Broadway. Jeff recently choreographed The Drowsy Chaperone at Oregon City High School, Othello: The Remix with Portland Actors Conservatory, Urinetown at Stumptown Stages (PAMTA nomination for Outstanding Choreography), Made to Dance in Burning Buildings with Shaking the Tree Theatre (Drammy award for Outstanding Choreography), You My Love with Shaking the Tree Theatre, and All Together Now, a Netflix film. Recent credits include The Full Monty, Young Frankenstein, It’s a Wonderful Life, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, and Cabaret which earned a Broadway World Award for Best Choreography with Stumptown Stages.

Kurleen George as Shirelle 3/Lucille

Kurleen George sings many genres of music with theaters and ensembles all over Oregon. Some of her favorite performances were with the American Metropole Orchestra (with the late Allen Toussaint), the Portland Opera, the Willamette Master Chorus, The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts, Lakewood Theatre Company, Enlightened Theatrics, and The Cheeseburgers band. This is her debut performance with Broadway Rose. She also acts in film, most recently with Cosmic Tomato Productions in their TV series, Invisible Cities. Kurleen received a Bachelor of Music degree from Western Oregon University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Oregon State University. She also studied opera at The American Institute of Musical Studies in Austria. Kurleen teaches general music and choir in Salem. She owns Elevated Singing LLC, teaching private voice lessons and singing workshops.

Joey Klei as Don Kirshner

Joey Klei is ecstatic to return to Broadway Rose and for the opportunity to work with Lyn again and this stellar cast!  He was last seen at Broadway Rose as Bill Austin in Mamma Mia!. Joey’s other Broadway Rose credits include: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Protean), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Ensemble), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (CJ Scruggs), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Dan, 2011). Joey has also worked with Lakewood Theatre Company (Chancellor/Fox in Will Vinton’s The Kiss, Sailor in Anything Goes, Not-Dead-Fred/Prince Herbert in Spamalot, Carmen Ghia in The Producers, Deputy in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie). Other Portland area theatre credits include productions at Clackamas Repertory Theatre, Stumptown Stages, Northwest Children’s Theater, Live On Stage, and the Fertile Ground Festival (Judy’s Father/Ensemble in Starstruck).

Emily Sahler as Genie Klein

Emily Sahler is thrilled to be working with Lyn and this stellar cast. Previous Broadway Rose roles include Mary Jo (Audition From Hell), Mrs. Cratchit/Fezziwig (A Christmas Carol), Miss Adelaide (Guys and Dolls), Jenny (Company), Domina (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Mrs. Meers (Thoroughly Modern Millie – Drammy Award finalist), Doatsy Mae (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), Mrs. Tottendale (The Drowsy Chaperone), and Barbara (The Bikinis). Other favorites include Connie (Jack Goes Boating), Sister Lidwina (Gracie and the Atom), and Bette (The Marriage of Bette and Boo) at Artists Repertory Theatre; Rose (Gypsy), Jack’s Mother (Into the Woods), and Dorine (Tartuffe) at Lakewood Theatre Company, among others. Film and television credits include Alone, Trinkets, Life After First Failure, The Librarians, Grimm, Portlandia, and Leverage. Proud member of SAG-AFTRA.

Belle Shippy as Onstage Swing

Belle Shippy, Seattle-born and Pacific Northwest-raised, is thrilled to make her debut with Broadway Rose. Belle studied at Portland State University and Berklee College of Music. Favorite credits include Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors (Village Theatre), The Oregon Symphony Gala, TNT’s The Librarian, and HBO’s Here and Now. Outside of theatre, Belle works as a music teacher in Seattle. She would like to thank her friends and family for their love and continued support. @iambelleshippy

Richaun Stewart as Drifter

Richaun Stewart is an Ohio-born, Indiana-raised, and Chicago-bound photographer, choreographer, and performer. His previous credits include Last Stop on Market Street (Young People’s Theatre of Chicago), Only Hope (The Franklin Theatre), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Suncoast Broadway Dinner Theatre), The Spirit of Christmas (Gaylord National), FANGS: After Dusk (Cedar Point) and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Something Rotten!, and Pirates of Penzance (Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre). He is excited to perform this show for the third time. You can follow his journey on his website: RichaunStewart.com and on Instagram: @chaun_shamar_stewart.

Myles Sturns-Thomas as Drifter

Myles Sturns-Thomas is ecstatic to join the cast of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical as one of The Drifters. This production marks his professional debut, and he is deeply thankful to his family, friends, teachers, and mentors for their unwavering support and love, and most of all, he thanks God for always making a way for him to succeed and excel in his endeavors. Myles is currently pursuing a B.F.A. in musical theatre with a minor in economics from the University of Oklahoma. You can follow his pursuits on Instagram @mylesbst.

Sydney Valaer as Betty

Sydney Valaer is a graduate of Oklahoma City University’s Wanda L. Bass School of Music. Previous credits include Prince U/S in Cendrillon and Ensemble in The Bartered Bride. Recently, she had the pleasure of music directing Once Upon a Mattress at Washougal High School. Off the stage, she is passionate about pollinators and is looking forward to joining Washington State University’s Master Gardner program in the fall.

Bryce Williams as Drifter

Bryce Williams is thrilled to be making his Broadway Rose debut. His most recent credits include being a swing in Crazy For You at the University of Oklahoma, and Billy Flynn in Chicago with Kansas City Cappies. He is currently a student at the University of Oklahoma where he plans to get a B.F.A. in musical theatre.

Thursday, July 18, 7:30 p.m. – Preview performance – Limited availability
Friday, July 19, 7:30 p.m. – Opening night
Saturday, July 20, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 21, 2:00 p.m. – SOLD OUT

Thursday, July 25, 7:30 p.m. – Limited availability
Friday, July 26, 7:30 p.m. – Limited availability
Saturday, July 27, 2:00 p.m. – Limited availability
Saturday, July 27, 7:30 p.m. – Limited availability
Sunday, July 28, 2:00 p.m. – SOLD OUT

Thursday, August 1, 7:30 p.m. – Limited availability
Friday, August 2, 7:30 p.m. – Limited availability
Saturday, August 3, 2:00 p.m. – Audio Descriptions available and Post-show talkback – Limited availability
Saturday, August 3, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 4, 2:00 p.m. – SOLD OUT

Thursday, August 8, 7:30 p.m. – SOLD OUT
Friday, August 9, 7:30 p.m. – SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 10, 2:00 p.m. – SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 10, 7:30 p.m. – SOLD OUT
Sunday, August 11, 2:00 p.m. – SOLD OUT

Thursday, August 15, 7:30 p.m. – SOLD OUT
Friday, August 16, 7:30 p.m. – SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 17, 2:00 p.m. – SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 17, 7:30 p.m. – SOLD OUT
Sunday, August 18, 2:00 p.m. – SOLD OUT

Directed by
Lyn Cramer

Music Direction by
Billy Thompson

Choreographed by
Rosharra Francis

Scenery Design by
Bryan Boyd

Costumes Designed by
Allison Dawe

Lighting Designed by
Kristeen Willis

Prop Design by
Sam Manilla

Sound Design by
Brian Karl Moen

Stage Manager
Jessica Junor

Keyboard 1
Billy Thompson

Keyboard 2
Ben Quintel

Keyboard 3
Jesse Ehrenberg

Reed 1
Marc Grafe

Reed 2
Sean Kelleher

Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Levis Dragulin

Trombone/Bass Trombone
Justin Canfield

Drums/Latin Percussion
Yuya Matsuda

Percussion/Timpani/Latin Percussion
Joey Craighead

Guitar 1
Attila Csikos

Guitar 2
Joseph Mammarella

Electric/Upright Bass
Will Amend

Rehearsal Pianist
Wendy Vece

Beautiful is suitable for most theatergoers over the age of 13. Contains adult themes including sexual references, depression/bipolar disorder or similar, an instance of underage pregnancy, mention of drugs, infidelity, and mild language.

Click here for our pre-viewing guide for sensory and content-sensitive patrons (PDF).

Preview performance seats for adults are $35.00.
Back section seats (last 2 rows) for adults at every performance are $35.00.
Upper and Back section seats for young adults (ages 19-35) at every performance are $25.00, and $20.00 for youth (ages 6-18).
Join us for a talkback question/answer session after the Saturday, August 3 matinee. No tickets necessary to attend the talkback.
Children under 6 years of age are not permitted to mainstage productions.

Accessibility:
Audio Description is a program for patrons who are visually impaired or blind to experience live narration of the onstage action. The Audio Description performance of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is Saturday, August 3 at 2:00 p.m. Call the box office to reserve service.

SNAP Recipients: Discounted $5 tickets are available for Oregon Trail Card holders through the Arts for All program.

Carole King is one of the most famous singer-songwriters in the world and one of the first musicians to famously sing songs written about her own life. King has inspired hundreds of musicians since her seminal album Tapestry was released in 1971.

Carole King was born as Carol Joan Klein in February 1942. She spent her entire childhood in Brooklyn, born to Jewish parents.  As a teenager, Carole attended The High School of the Performing Arts and started Queen’s College at 16.  This is where our musical takes flight.

Carole recorded Tapestry in just three weeks. This album includes the reinterpretation of many of Carole’s previously written songs. Tapestry was an instant success and held the No. 1 spot for 15 consecutive weeks, remained on the charts for nearly 6 years, and has sold over 25 million copies worldwide. The album won four Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance Female, Record of the Year for “It’s Too Late,” and Song of the Year for “You’ve Got a Friend,” making King the first woman to win the award.

Since 1971, Carole has released 15 albums, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, been awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song (the first woman ever to receive the distinction), and was a 2015 Kennedy Center Honoree.

In 1971, I was in the eighth grade and owned the album Tapestry. I played it on my yellow treasure chest turntable in my bedroom non-stop. I can sing every single word of every single song to this day. This album truly impacted my life as I know it did many of yours. On behalf of all the cast, crew, and creative team, welcome to Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

– Lyn Cramer, Director