Displaying items by tag: Josh Dawson
Beautiful: The Story of a Natural Woman
While I’d yet to see Beautiful: The Carole King Musical since it premiered to much acclaim (and a U.S. tour) a couple years ago, I entered the Cadillac Palace Theatre for its latest Chicago debut a lifelong Carole King fanboy. I knew her songs. I knew her story. But for a couple hours on Wednesday night, the cast of this latest touring production made me feel like I knew her.
But first, those songs. The audience, young and old, knew them all. The older ones, the ones who’d been there the first time around, giggled with nostalgia. And the rest of us – who know them from parents, from oldies radio, from YouTube, from simply being alive – were every bit as thrilled. From John Michael Dias’ mugging Neil Sedaka singing “Oh Carol” on national TV to his former high school flame, Carole Klein, to the ensemble’s medley of Brill Building tunes love-potioning and splish-splashing and yakkity-yakking, we were all Boomer kids taken back to a not-simpler time.
The real standouts of this jukebox time machine were two vocal quartets. Playing the parts of The Shirelles, Little Eva and her backing singers, and Janelle Woods and her own group, McKynleigh Alden Abraham, Traci Elaine Lee, Marla Louissaint, and Alexis Tidwell were magic as they brought classic takes on King’s “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “One Fine Day.” The dresses, the elegant moves, the wedding chapel harmonies, and those songs. Wow. They were only equaled by their male counterparts – Josh Dawson, Jay McKenzie, Avery Smith, and Kristopher Stanley Ward – whose coiffed hairdos, satin suits, and smooth moves as The Drifters made it look so easy as they doo-wopped and stepped to “Some Kind of Wonderful” and “Up on the Roof.” But Ms. King’s songs weren’t the only ones on display. While The Drifters did a nifty walk down Weil and Mann’s “On Broadway,” the rival songwriting duo’s “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” was retaken from Tom Cruise’s boozy Top Gun barroom ballad by Matt Faucher and Dias again as The Righteous Brothers. Faucher’s baritone filled the Cadillac, and Dias’ high harmonies brought it home. Again, wow. Wish I’d been there the first time around, but this cast showed off their chops while paying quite a tribute to the classic songs and their songwriters who the story’s about.
And about that story. Again, as a fan, I knew the outline: NYC kids slave away in a Times Square hit-making sweatshop, soundtrack a generation, and one of them makes it big herself later on. But the main cast fleshed out the story’s characters. They took them from characters to people. James Clow’s gum-chewing, contract-signing Don Kushner was intimidating but encouraging. Sarah Goecke’s witty, Cole-Porter-wannabe wordsmith, Cynthia Weil, was a woman ahead of her time. Jacob Heimer’s neurotic lady’s man, Barry Mann, made you root for him. And Andrew Brewer’s smoldering but sensitive Gerry Goffin made you swoon, even as you knew the dirty dog was sneaking around on his Carole.
And Carole. Oh, Carole. As Neil Sedaka sang, “there will never be another.” And throughout the show, lead Sarah Bockel not only proved Sedaka right, giving us Carole King’s look and playing and voice, she gave us Carole Klein, the person. Many talented performers could probably approximate King’s hair or her vocals. But Bockel went beyond that, giving us the perky and precocious 16-year-old writing those hits and falling for that hunk. She gave us the broken but devoted young mother finding out not just who she’s married to – Bockel and Brewer’s chemistry was very sweet and seemed very real – but who she herself is. And she gave us that self, finally confident to write her own words, to tell her own story, to sing it loud, for a crowd, for us. And that story, of a woman claiming her soul from the lost and found and using it to give voice to not just a generation, but many generations to come, was what wowed the Cadillac’s crowd the most. The voices will make you applaud. The songs will make you nostalgic. But the story this cast and their show tell of this natural woman, this national treasure, will make you feel. It made me feel.
For more show information visit www.broadwayinchicago.com.
Fallin’ to Pieces over “Always…Patsy Cline” at American Blues Theater
10 May 2026 in Theatre in ReviewOver the years, I’ve seen a lot of theater and a lot of musical performances. And because of that, people…
Paramount's Lush and Spectacular South Pacific Brings Island Love to Life!
10 May 2026 in Theatre in ReviewRogers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific has long been one of my favorite musicals, not just for its sweeping romance and…
A Night of Honesty and Humor: Isabel Klee Talks Dogs, Boys, and Growing Up
10 May 2026 in BCS SpotlightSuccessful storytelling – the kind that makes you laugh, cry, feel empathy, and, most importantly, inspires you to get involved…
32C This Weekend: Three Wildly Different Shows, All Worth the Trip
07 May 2026 in Now PlayingA strong Chicago theatre weekend starts with choosing your flavor, and this one offers a full flight. Whether you’re in…
Citadel Theatre announces a mix of classics and 21st Century works for its 2026–27 mainstage season
07 May 2026 in Upcoming TheatreLake Forest's Citadel Theatre has announced its 2026-27 mainstage season, which will include two favorites and two acclaimed recent pieces…
Promethean Theatre Ensemble to stage modern dress adaptation of Anouilh's ANTIGONE at The Den, May 31 – June 28
06 May 2026 in Upcoming TheatrePromethean Theatre Ensemble has announced it will perform the Lewis Galantiere adaptation of Jean Anouilh's ANTIGONE, from May 31 through…
CHICAGO TAP THEATRE PRESENTS SATURN RETURNS, JUNE 11 - 14 AT THE EDGE THEATER
06 May 2026 in Upcoming DanceChicago Tap Theatre (CTT) presents Saturn Returns, directed by Molly Smith and music directed by Anaiet Soul, June 11-14 at The Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway Ave.…
Chicago's Favorite Kids Show Returns This Summer The Second City's No Grown-Ups Allowed Starts June 6
04 May 2026 in Upcoming TheatreYour favorite kids show is back! The Second City is excited to welcome the return of its wildly popular summer…
Asgard Amplified: Loki’s Rock Revolution at Lifeline
04 May 2026 in Theatre in ReviewGet ready for a cosmic comedy of gods, monsters, and mayhem that refuses to play by the old rules. That’s…
Rom‑Com Spark and ’80s Verve Light Up Metropolis’ Wedding Singer
03 May 2026 in Theatre in ReviewThe Wedding Singer is currently onstage at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights, offering a faithful and upbeat interpretation…
E. Faye Butler directs stellar Chicago cast in comedy Nunsense this summer at Drury Lane
01 May 2026 in Upcoming TheatreDrury Lane Theatre continues its 2026/2027 season with the divine extravaganza Nunsense, featuring book, music and lyrics by David Goggin, directed by E. Faye…
Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces North American Premiere production of Brokeback Mountain
01 May 2026 in Upcoming TheatreChicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for Brokeback Mountain, the North American premiere production of Ashley Robinson's adaptation of the…
THE NOTEBOOK WILL PLAY BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S JAMES M. NEDERLANDER THEATRE AUGUST 4 - 16
30 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreProducers Kevin McCollum and Kurt Deutsch, along with Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce that single tickets for THE NOTEBOOK,…
YI Love Jewish and Arts Judaica Announce Chicago Premiere of A PEOPLE at Theater Wit June 18 – July 5
30 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThe South Florida based YI Love Jewish and Chicago-based Arts Judaica proudly join forces to present a limited engagement of the Chicago…
BTE marks 40 years with new season: 'Little Women," "Dial M for Murder" and “One Man, Two Guvnors”
30 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreBuffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional Equity theater company in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), announced it will…
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre's The Red Lion - Bramble Arts Loft - Through May 16th
29 April 2026 in Now PlayingEclectic Full Contact Theatre is proud to announce the cast and crew for their final show of season 14, THE…
Free Metra rides for all Broadway In Chicago Shows all summer
29 April 2026 in Theatre BuzzBroadway In Chicago and Metra are pleased to announce a new promotion featuring nine shows coming to Chicago this summer: CHICAGO THE MUSICAL, LES MISÉRABLES, SPAMALOT, KINKY…
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater 50th Anniversary Celebration
29 April 2026 in Upcoming DanceThe world‑renowned Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, in residence at Northeastern Illinois University, brings the passionate, expressive rhythms of Spain…
Alone Together: Three Guys Fishing for Love in Stellar 'Eelpout!'
28 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewShattered Globe’s world premiere of the delightful comedy “Eelpout!” delivers its punches with deceivingly understated skillfulness. Written by Paul W.…
Steppenwolf Theatre Announces LookOut Series' 10th Anniversary Season
28 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreSteppenwolf's LookOut Series is proud to unveil its lineup for Summer 2026, marking ten years of steadfast dedication to Chicago performing artists…
Marriott Theatre to present LET'S HANG ON: A ROCK 'N SOUL PARTY June 1 and 2
28 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFour favorite singers of past Marriott Theatre concerts will unite on Monday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 2 for LET'S…
Review: The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt at Steppenwolf Theatre
28 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewA show somewhere between a play, standup act, memoir, and PowerPoint presentation. A show so chaotic you think it could…
GEE'S BEND, playing May 23 – June 7 at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center
27 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFleetwood-Jourdain Theatre today announced full casting and production team for its season-opening production of GEE'S BEND, the 2008 play by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, to…
BrightSide Theatre presents THE PRODUCERS, June 12 – 28, 2026
27 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreConcluding BrightSide's 14th season will be THE PRODUCERS, the longest running Broadway musical comedy ever and the winner of 12 Tony…
Joffrey Ballet presents Chicago Premiere of Yuri Possokhov's EUGENE ONEGIN, June 4th-14th
27 April 2026 in Upcoming DanceThe Joffrey Ballet concludes its 2025-26 season with the highly anticipated Chicago Premiere of Yuri Possokhov’s Eugene Onegin, a richly layered and deeply human…
A Final Bow: Chicago Theatre Mourns Matt DeCaro
25 April 2026 in Theatre BuzzThe Chicago theater community is grappling with the sudden loss of Matt DeCaro, whose death early Saturday came as a…
Fault Shakes Up Chicago Shakespeare Theater with Fierce, Funny Chaos
25 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewDark comedies built around relationship dynamics have always drawn me in because they reveal conflict with a kind of honesty…
At Writers Theatre, a Tech “Job” Too Toxic Shatters an Employee
24 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewA psychotherapist is held hostage by a gun-toting patient demanding he certify her as stable enough to return to work.…
Curious Theatre Branch Announces Beau O'Reilly's TALKING ABOUT GODARD, May 29 - June 28
24 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreCurious Theatre Branch, launches its 38th Season, with the revival of Talking About Godard, written by Beau O’Reilly and directed by Beau O’Reilly with Briavael O’Reilly, May…
Latest Articles
-
Paramount's Lush and Spectacular South Pacific Brings Island Love to Life!
Written by Kimberly KatzRogers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific has long been one of my favorite musicals, not just for its sweeping romance and unforgettable score, but for the way it tackles big ideas with such touching honesty. Set on a remote island during… -
Fallin’ to Pieces over “Always…Patsy Cline” at American Blues Theater
Written by CJ BurroughsOver the years, I’ve seen a lot of theater and a lot of musical performances. And because of that, people regularly ask what the best show I’ve seen is. Without hesitation, I tell them it was the 2018 Jeff Award-winning… -
A Night of Honesty and Humor: Isabel Klee Talks Dogs, Boys, and Growing Up
Written by Maddie BurroughsSuccessful storytelling – the kind that makes you laugh, cry, feel empathy, and, most importantly, inspires you to get involved in making change – is difficult to pull off in any medium. Despite this, advocate, content creator, and now New… -
Citadel Theatre announces a mix of classics and 21st Century works for its 2026–27 mainstage season
Written by Buzz Center StageLake Forest's Citadel Theatre has announced its 2026-27 mainstage season, which will include two favorites and two acclaimed recent pieces that may be new to north shore audiences. The season will commence with the satirical comedy EUREKA DAY, which examines the…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.