Full cast of Beautiful musical announced

ATLANTIS Theatrical Entertainment Group, which opened its 20th Anniversary Season this year with the critically acclaimed Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, has announced the full cast of its next production, the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which continues to run on Broadway.

Joining Kayla Rivera and Nick Varricchio, who will be playing Carole King and Gerry Goffin respectively, are some of the country’s most acclaimed upcoming theatre stars. Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante, last seen on the Atlantis stage as Lauren in Kinky Boots, will play Cynthia Weil, Carole’s friend and rival. George Schulze, last seen as Earl in Waitress, will play Barry Mann. Gab Pangilinan, currently starring in Ang Huling El Bimbo, will play the lead singer of The Shirelles and Marilyn Wald. Jill Peña, who last appeared in Side Show, plays one of the Shirelles and Janelle Woods. Teetin Villanueva, who previously appeared in Waitress, will play Little Eva and one of the Shirelles. Maronne Cruz, fresh from her critically acclaimed performance as Dawn in Waitress, will be playing Betty, Carole’s childhood best friend.

Among the actors who will be playing The Drifters are; Tim Pavino, who recently played the title role in Miong; Arman Ferrer, who last appeared in Side Show; Jep Go, who recently appeared in Eto Na! Musical nAPO!; and Markus Mann, last seen as Judas in Godspell in Florida. Nelsito Gomez, who just concluded his critically acclaimed turn as Louis in Angels in America last weekend, will play a number of roles including Neil Sedaka. Rhenwyn Gabalonzo, who last appeared in Kinky Boots will play one of the Righteous Brothers. Joining them are Gabby Padilla, Dean Rosen, and Alex Reyes.

Theater veterans Jamie Wilson and Carla Guevara-Laforteza, who are currently performing in Ang Huling el Bimbo, also join the cast as Don Kirshner and Genie Klein.

With a book by Douglas McGrath, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of one woman’s remarkable journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. From the string of pop classics she wrote for the biggest acts in music, to her own life-changing, chart-busting success with Tapestry, Beautiful takes the audience back to where it all began. It features such unforgettable classics as “You’ve Got a Friend,” “One Fine Day,” “So Far Away,” “Take Good Care of My Baby,” “Up on the Roof,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” and “Natural Woman.” Beautiful: The Carole King Musical continues to run on Broadway and on US National Tour.

Beautiful is the second show in Atlantis’ 20th Anniversary Season, which opened with Tony Kushner’s epic Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and closes with Stephen Sondheim’s musical thriller Sweeney Todd, starring Lea Salonga and Jett Pangan.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical will run from June 14 to July 7 at the Meralco Theater, Pasig City. Tickets are now on sale at www.ticketworld.com.ph or 891-999.