Roger Faxon News

Founding Executive Director Kathy Evans announced the 27 writers of nine new musicals for Rhinebeck Writers Retreat's summer weeklong residencies. This year's artists include Obie-winner Heather Christian, Kleban-winner Brian Crawley, TV and film writers Bekah Brunstetter (THIS IS US) and Cinco Paul (DESPICABLE ME), inaugural Stephen Schwartz Award winner Oliver Houser, and ASCAP Foundation scholarship winner Khiyon Hursey. The musicals cover a wide range of subjects. Four have LGBTQ themes: a historical look at Florida in the 1950s (IN A SUNSHINE STATE), a Palestinian/Israeli love story (BORDERS), a modern coming of age of a young black man (SEAN'S STORY PART I | THE AWAKENING), and a fantasy queer rock musical celebrating lady love (TL;DR: THELMA LOUISE; DYKE REMIX). Two are darkly comedic historical musicals: one featuring Mary Magdelene (A.D. 16) and the second a WWII plot to foil Hitler (OPERATION MINCEMEAT). Other subjects include the opioid crisis (ALMOST HEAVEN), the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 (THE GOLDEN SPIKE), and a mystery involving a woman with a sleep disorder (NARCOLEPSY).

Rhinebeck Writers Retreat is producing a reading of the new musical THE TATTOOED LADY, book by Obie-winner Erin Courtney, music and lyrics by Lucille Lortel-winner Max Vernon, and direction by Ellie Heyman. THE TATTOOED LADY was selected for Rhinebeck Writers Retreat's Triple R program, giving the writers 2 readings and a residency to do extensive development of their musical in a compressed time frame.

Chilina Kennedy will return to her hometown of Toronto to reprise her Broadway role in the Tony & Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL. Kennedy, will join the first national tour in this exclusive encore engagement for Toronto - April 9 - May 5, 2019 at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

The cast of 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,' stopped by 'The View' on Monday to perform a medley of Carole King hits.

National Endowment for the Arts Acting Chairman Mary Anne Carter has approved more than $27 million in grants as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2019. Included in this announcement is Rhinebeck Writers Retreat's award of $10,000 for their musical theatre writer residencies and Triple R program - 2 readings and a residency.

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announce that the Tony & Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will make its highly anticipated return to Rochester at RBTL's Auditorium Theatre for a limited 1 week engagement, January 22-27, 2019.

Yesterday, rock and roll icon Carole King surprised the audience at Beautiful, by taking the stage of the Stephen Sondheim Theatre as the hit musical celebrates its fifth anniversary on Broadway.

Kathy Evans, Founding Executive Director of Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, announced applications are open for this summer. Nine musical theatre writing teams will be awarded nine consecutive weeklong residencies in the Hudson Valley between June 30 and September 1. Each team gets a private retreat to focus solely on writing their new musical. All writers are eligible and their musical can be at any stage of development. All costs are covered including travel up to $750, and each writer gets a $500 stipend. Writers with children are welcomed to apply. There is no fee for applications received by February 6 and there is a fee of $20 for the final deadline of February 16.  More information and the online application can be found at https://www.rhinebeckwriters.org/2019-residencies.

The Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit BEAUTIFUL-THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will play the Boston Opera House January 29 - February 10, 2019 as part of the 2018-2019 Lexus Broadway In Boston Season. Tickets for the upcoming engagement will go on sale Sunday, October 7, 2018.

The Tony, Olivier, and Grammy Award-winning smash hit Beautiful - The Carole King Musical will perform live on Monday's episode of ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars.' The cast of Beautiful lead by North American tour star Sarah Bockel will perform 'Natural Woman' for contestants Mary Lou Retton and Sasha Farber as part of 'Dancing with the Stars.' The wild popular program airs locally on WABC-7 at 8 PM ET.

The Tony & Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will make its Vancouver premiere at The Queen Elizabeth Theatre for one week only, November 13-18, 2018. Single tickets will go on sale Monday, October 1st at 10am.

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announce that the Tony & Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will make its Calgary premiere at Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium for one week only, October 30-November 11, 2018. To purchase tickets, visit  BroadwayAcrossCanada.ca, ticketmaster.ca, or call 1-855-985-5000. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 1-800-889-8457. Broadway Across Canada Subscribers can visit BroadwayAcrossCanada.ca or call 1.866.542.7469. Ticket prices start at $30.50 and are on sale to the public starting Monday September 17, 2018.

Tony & Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will make its Edmonton premiere at Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium for one week only, November 6-11, 2018.

The North American tour of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical will welcome Dylan S. Wallach (Gerry Goffin) and Alison Whitehurst (Cynthia Weil) beginning September 4 in Denver, CO. The two artists join Sarah Bockel (Carole King), Jacob Heimer (Barry Mann), James Clow (Don Kirshner) and Suzanne Grodner (Genie Klein).

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing have announced the National Tour of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning hit musical BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL will make its Minneapolis return as part of the of 2018-2019 Bank of American Broadway on Hennepin series Monday, Oct. 22 to Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018 at the historic Orpheum Theatre (910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis).

The National Theatre announces that tickets for the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway smash hit Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will go on sale Friday, July 27, 2018. BEAUTIFUL is onstage at the National Theatre for a 5-week run over the holidays from November 27 thru December 30, 2018.

Founding Executive Director Kathy Evans announced the 19 writers of 9 new musicals in this summer's Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. This year's writers include 2018 Jonathan Larson winners Andrew Farmer and Andrew Butler, 2018 Kleban winner Amanda Yasnowitz, Tony-winner Ken Davenport, 2018 Lucille Lortel winner for Outstanding Musical (KPOP) Max Vernon, Emmy winner Doug Katsaros, Obie winner Erin Courtney, and the writers of the podcast musical 36 questions who are developing their next musical, Chris Littler and Ellen Winter.

Rhinebeck Writers Retreat is presenting a private reading of the new musical, THE PROXY MARRIAGE, book and lyrics by Michele Lowe and music and lyrics by Adam Gwon, on May 7 in New York City, which includes actors Jason Tam (Jesus Christ Superstar Live on NBC, Broadway: A Chorus Line, If/Then), Whitney Bashor (The Bridges of Madison County), Anika Larsen (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Avenue Q), and Daniel Jenkins (Mary Poppins, Billy Elliot, Big River). The reading is directed by Lonny Price (Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close) and music directed by Vadim Feichtner (Falsettos Broadway revival).

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announce that the Tony & Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will return by popular demand to the Connor Palace at Playhouse Square for two weeks, June 5-17. Tickets are available now starting at $10.00.

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announced today that Melissa Benoist, who currently steals the screen in the title role of The CW's hit show, 'Supergirl', will make her Broadway debut as Carole King this summer in Broadway's hit, Beautiful-The Carole King Musical. Ms. Benoist will begin performances on June 7 and will play a limited run through August 4th, 2018.