Carole King Musical to Hit West End in 2015

It has been announced that Carole King musical Beautiful will transfer from Broadway to London, opening at the Aldwych Theatre on 25 February 2015 with previews  from 10 February.

The show opened on Broadway in January to strong sales and critical reception. It tells the real-life story of King's childhood as a shy teenager, her rise to super stardom as part of a chart-topping songwriting duo with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in pop.

The production will feature an entirely English cast.

Photo: Sara Krulwich

Speaking today King said: "This show is an honest portrayal of my early life with Gerry Goffin and our friendship with our competitors Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. It captures the essence of my emergence as a singer and my growth as a woman. I love that the next chapter of the Beautiful story is taking place in London's West End. I have so many good friends in London and warm memories of good times there. I can't wait to re-visit."

Public booking for the show opens today, 5 September 2014, and the production is currently booking to 13 June 2015.

Casting Announced for West End The Scottsboro Boys

Casting has been announced for the West End transfer of the Young Vic's acclaimed musical The Scottsboro Boys. 

Amongst the cast is Brandon Victor Dixon, who originated the role of Haywood Patterson in the originial US production and is currently starring in Motown The Musical on Broadway. This will be his West End debut.

Reprising their acclaimed performances from the Young Vic are American cast members Colman Domingo as Mr Bones, Forrest McClendon as Mr Tambo and James T Lane as Ozie Powell. Game of Thrones star Julian Glover will reprise his well-received  role as the sinister Interlocutor - who is the only white actor to be in the show in an acclaimed creative decision from writer David Thompson, who wrote the book for the show.

They will appear alongside cast members Dawn Hope, Rohan Pinnock-Hamilton, Richard Pitt, and Carl Spencer at the Garrick Theatre from 4 October 2014.

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