How did you balance honoring her original compositions while also infusing them with a fresh theatrical energy?
In some ways it is challenging to produce a piece based on real people, but it also gives you so much material to draw from. Even though the songs may be familiar to many, seeing them in historical order and realizing how many popular songs and musical groups were influenced by Carole King as a composer is surprising and then aligning it with what she was experiencing as a woman in that time period gives the audience lots to consider and enjoy.
Can you discuss the creative process behind translating her story into a visual spectacle?
One of the biggest challenges to what is basically a Jukebox Musical (A jukebox musical is a stage musical or musical film in which a majority of the songs are well-known popular music songs, rather than original music.) is that in many ways it is more a series of concerts. The Broadway set had a very specific look and many regional productions did something similar. I know this is a show that many of our patrons may have seen on Broadway or on a national tour so I wanted our production to look different from the moment the curtain rises. Our Guest Scenic Designer Seth Howard (sethhowarddesigns.com) had designed the show for another company earlier in the year and was excited to take a new approach. We played with multiple looks but settled on “Mad Men” inspired office building as the main image. The show flips from writer rooms at 1650 Broadway to full TV performances or live concerts with no time between. Our Resident Lighting Designer Caleb S. Garner (calebsgarner.com) was quick to help find many ways for lighting design to take us in and out of the book scenes to musical performances.
What do you think it is about Carole King’s story that transcends generations and cultures?
I think familiarity is a theme that audiences always relate to. If you have never heard a single song Carole King sang or wrote, I would be very surprised BUT who can’t relate to a young person trying to follow their dream or someone struggling in love, marriage or parenthood. Her story includes strong friendships, family and career. We are reminded of various parts of our own life.
What qualities were you looking for in the actor portraying Carole King to ensure that she could capture the essence of her real-life counterpart?
Like any musical you need a well trained actor and with a beautiful voice. Portraying a real person is not about doing an impersonation but about looking for your shared truths with the character. Eliza Knode has been with Charleston Stage for two years as a Resident Actor. I knew her first year with us she would be a great Carole and she is one of the reasons we added the show for her second season. She has read plenty about Carole King and watched interviews and performances, but ultimately she created a character that is a joy to watch and hear.
What aspects of the show resonated with you personally or artistically?
I love a moment in the opening scene when Carole is talking to the audience at Carnegie Hall about her career:
“And you know what’s so funny about life? Sometimes it goes the way you want and sometimes it doesn’t. And sometimes when it doesn’t, you find something beautiful”
I find that to be true of life and being an Artistic Director.
How did you work with the cast and creative team to ensure that the musical performances captured the essence of her music?
Charleston Stage has committed to giving many artists full-time salaried positions with us. This includes Music Director Sam Henderson. Sam has built wonderful relationships with many of Charleston’s best musicians and so our live orchestra is something many theaters do not have. He also works tirelessly with the cast to not just teach the music but the styles and finesse that make each group stand out.
BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL is running at the Historic Dock Street Theatre from April 10-28, 2024. Click HERE to book your seats.
MARYBETH CLARK (Artistic Director and Director of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)
Marybeth is in her twenty-fifth season with Charleston Stage. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and grew up in Tolland, CT. Marybeth has a degree in theatre/performance from the University of South Florida and was cast in her first show at an Equity theatre at 18 years of age in Tampa. She worked as an actor in professional theatres throughout the Southeast for ten years before settling in Charleston in 1994 with her husband, actor Victor Clark. She was a member of the theatre faculty at Charleston County’s School of the Arts for middle and high school students. Though she moved to Charleston planning on ‘retiring’ from theatre and starting a family, she taught and directed for Charleston Stage part-time beginning in 1997, before joining the company full-time the following year.
She and Vic are the proud parents of 2 daughters, Lila and Prentice. Lila recently graduated from Drew University and is preparing for the Doctorate program at MUSC and Prentice teaches special needs students at the Washington Center in Greenville, SC. Marybeth and Vic do not have an empty nest but share their home with Marybeth’s mother and many adopted dogs and cats.
In her time at Charleston Stage she has directed over 70 shows, favorites include: Kinky Boots, Of Mice and Men, Mamma Mia! and Elf The Musical. She began the Resident Professional Acting program her second year with the company and continues to hire, train, and supervise our young professional actors.
As an actor for Charleston Stage, Marybeth has appeared in Shakespeare in Love, Helium, You Can’t Take It With You, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Steel Magnolias, A Christmas Carol and most recently as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit.