Contact: Eric Pugh  
Director of Marketing & Communications 
(941) 351-9010 x 4808 
Eric_Pugh@asolo.org  

 

ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE ANNOUNCES COMPLETE CASTING FOR BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL 

 

Note to Press - For photos, please click here. 

(Sarasota, FL) – Asolo Repertory Theatre, the largest professional theatre in Florida, announces complete casting Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which opens the 2024-2025 season on November 13th.  Devin Archer (Berry Goffin), Emma Flynn Bespolka (Cynthia Weil), Matthew Bryan Feld (Donny Kirschner), Anne L. Nathan (Geni Klein) and Ryan Vona (Barry Mann) will join the previous announced Julia Knitel playing Carole King. 

“We are looking forward to this lively opening to the season. These actors, led by the star quality of Julia Knitel, will add an energy to the show that will not only bring it to life, but make it shine.” stated Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director, Peter Rothstein.   

Book by Douglas McGrath 
Words and Music by Gerry Goffin & Carole King, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil 
Music by Arrangement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing Orchestrations, Vocal and Incidental Music Arrangements by Steve Sidwell 
Directed by Shelley Butler 
Music Direction by Angela Steiner 
Choreography by Banji Aborisade 

November 16, 2024 – January 5, 2025 
Previews November 13 – 15 

Her journey was as extraordinary as her music. At eighteen, Carole King wrote number one songs for Aretha Franklin and The Drifters. At twenty-nine, she was the voice of a generation. The road along the way was full of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. It wasn’t always perfect, but it was real - and that’s what made it beautiful. A smash hit on Broadway and London’s West End, this soaring and inspiring musical features two decades of King’s hits, including “You’ve Got a Friend”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “I Feel the Earth Move.” 

 

 

CAST OF BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL (In Alphabetical Order) 

DEVIN ARCHER (Gerry Goffin) is thrilled to be making his Asolo Rep debut after just completing his two-year run as Enjorlas in the National Tour of Les Misérables. His other National Tours include Miss Saigon, Bright Star, and MAMMA MIA! Devin’s regional credits include Sweeney Todd (Anthony, South Coast Rep), Bright Star (Jimmy Ray, Musical Theatre West), The Last Five Years (Jaime, La Mirada), RENT (Roger, La Mirada), Tarzan (Tarzan, 3D Theatricals), Les Misérables (Marius, Musical Theatre West), Follies (Chicago Shakespeare), and the Las Vegas production of MAMMA MIA! He holds a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University.  

EMMA FLYNN BESPOLKA (Cynthia Weil) is a New York City based performer and she received her BFA in Musical Theatre from The Hartt School of Music. She is so excited to be making her Asolo Rep debut! Recent theatre credits include Cher Horowitz in Clueless (London/UK Premiere), Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (The Engeman Theatre), u/s Lauren in Kinky Boots (Norwegian Cruise Lines), Kim MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie (The Palace Theatre), and many more.  

MATTHEW BRYAN FELD (Donny Kirschner) began studying acting with The Barrow Group Theatre Company immediately after receiving his master’s in jazz performance at the Manhattan School of Music. He worked on the Netflix Series Manifest, Starz Series Power and won a Henry Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the original musical Rattlesnake Kate at DCPA. Other credits include Dirty Rotten Scoundrels & The Sound of Music.  

JULIA KNITEL (Carole King) has played Carole King on Broadway, on Tour, at Theatre Aspen (Henry nom), & at The Cape Playhouse. Additional Broadway/Tour: Bye Bye Birdie, Come From Away (Janice). Julia originated the role of Maggie/Millicent in the NYTimes Critic’s Pick Dead Outlaw (Outer Critics Circle Nomination). Off-Broadway: A Letter to Harvey Milk (Lortel nom), Panic of ‘29, The Tycoons (Rave Theatre Award - Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role). Regional: Louise in Gypsy (The Muny, St. Louis Theatre Circle nom), The Constant Wife (Denver Center - Dir Shelley Butler), The Producers (Casa Mañana), Brighton Beach Memoirs (Portland Stage). TV/film: The Other Two, Miles.   

ANNE L. NATHAN (Genie Klein) Anne’s Broadway credit include Funny Girl, It Shoulda Been You, Once, Sunday in the Park With George, Chicago, Assassins, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Ragtime. Off-Broadway she has been in Sing Street (NYTW), Broadway Bounty Hunter, Sundown Yellow Moon (Ars Nova/WP) Taming Of The Shrew (Delacorte) Wings (2ST) and Road Show (The Public). She has toured with Chicago (Carbonell Award), Les Misérables, and Aspects of Love. Anne’s Film & TV credits include Baby Mama, King of California, Fleishman Is In Trouble, Little America, Elementary, The Good Wife, among others. Web Series: “Submissions Only”. 

RYAN VONA (Barry Mann) is a Boston bred, New York based, Actor/Musician. Broadway: Parade, Once, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour. Off Broadway/Regional: The Untitled, Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical (La Jolla Playhouse), Love in Hate Nation (Two River); Jesus Christ Superstar (Connecticut Rep); Streets of New York (Irish Rep); You I Like (Pasadena Playhouse, 92Y); Little Shop of Horrors (Sharon Playhouse). Symphony: Grand Teton Music Festival, Detroit, Baltimore & Sioux Falls Symphony Orchestras. Original music streaming everywhere.  

Also featured in the cast ensemble: Aja Simone Baitey (Shirelle, Lucille), Maddi Bowman (u/s Marilyn Wald, u/s Betty, u/s Carole King), Landry Champlin (Marilyn Wald, u/s Cynthia Weil), Cornelius Davis (Drifter), Matt Dengler (Righteous Brother, Neil Sedaka, Bobby Vee, Lou Adler, u/s Barry Mann, u/s Don Kirschner), Aria Christina Evans (u/s The Shirelles, u/s Lucille, u/s Janelle Woods, u/s Little Eva, u/s “Uptown” Singer), Kianna Kelly-Futch (Shirelle, Janelle Woods), Steven Gagliano (u/s The Righteous Brother, u/s Neil Sedaka, u/s Bobby Vee, u/s Lou Adler, u/s Nick), Melvin Thomas Gray, JR. (Drifter, “On Broadway” Singer, u/s “Up On the Roof” Singer), Maya Jacobson (Betty, u/s Carole King), Torrey Linder (Drifter, Associate Choreographer), AJ Lockhart (Drifter), Michelle McCord (u/s Genie Klein), Jonah Nash (u/s The Drifters), Ayda Ozdoganlar (u/s Betty, u/s Marilyn Wald, u/s Cynthia Weil), Alyssa Enita Stanford (Shirelle, Little Eva), Andy Tighe (Righteous Brother, Nick, u/s Gerry Goffin, u/s Don Kirshner) and Tiana Wiliams (Shirelle, “Uptown” Soloist). 

CREATIVE TEAM 

Shelley Butler (Director), Bailey Dumlao (Assistant Director), Angela Steiner (Music Director), Banji Aborisade (Choreographer), Reid Thompson (Scenic Design), Alejo Vietti (Costume Design), Alan Edwards (Lighting Design), Alex Neumann (Sound Design), Roxann DeLuna (Wig Design), Michelle Hart (Additional Hair and Makeup Design), DeWanda Smith Soeder (Cultural Competency Consultant), Summer Dawn Wallace (Intimacy Coordinator), Patricia Delorey (Voice/Dialect Coach), Drayton Alexander (Dramaturg), Tara Rubin Casting, Céline Rosenthal (Additional Casting), Kimberly McCann (Production Stage Manager) Jaclyn Kanter and Sydnei Williams (Assistant Stage Manager), and Carl Haan (Associate Music Director).   

MUSICIANS 

Angela Steiner (Music Director/Keys), Carl Haan (Assistant Music Director/Keys), Aaron Nix (Drums), William Brown (Percussion), Chuck Stevens (Guitar 1), Norman Johnson (Guitar 2), Fernando Cruz (Reed 1), Ryan Redden (Reed 2), Isaac Mingus (Bass), Victor Mongillo (Trumpet), Anthony Garcia (Trombone), Ellen Saxton (Sub Reed 1 and 2), and Tom Ellison (Sub Reed 1 and 2) 

SPONSORS   

Asolo Rep is able to present BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL because of the generosity of its sponsors. The show sponsors for BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL are: Sarasota Magazine, LocaliQ Herald-Tribune, ABC 7, iHeart Media Sarasota, Tsunami Sushi and Hibachi Grill, and Asolo Rep’s Artistic Excellence Society.  

Asolo Rep’s 2024-25 Major Season Sponsors are Florida State University, the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the Huisking Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, the Koski Family Foundation, Designing Women Boutique/Groundworks and The Exchange. Asolo Rep is also sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts. Asolo Rep’s artistic programs are paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues, Sarasota, Florida’s Cultural Coast. 

ENHANCED EXPERIENCES   

Asolo Rep Talkbacks (FREE)   

Sunday, November 17, 1:30 performance
Tuesday, November 19, 7:30 performance
Sunday, November 24, 1:30 performance   
Sunday, December 1, 1:30 performance   
Tuesday, December 3, 7:30 performance 
Sunday, December 8, 1:30 performance     
Tuesday, December 10, 7:30 performance 
Sunday, December 15, 1:30 performance   
Tuesday, December 17, 7:30 performance 
Sunday, December 22, 1:30 performance   
Sunday, December 29, 1:30 performance   

Attendees can enhance their experience with this post-show conversations that are facilitated between the audience and members of the production team or cast.    

PlayDate (FREE)    
Saturday, December 28, 7:30 performance   
Saturday, January 4,  7:30 performance   

These show-based workshops for young people offer a FREE childcare option for adults attending a mainstage performance.   

Asolo Rep’s 2024 -2025 season includes Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (November 13 – January 5), the World Premiere of Ken Ludwig’s Lady Molly of Scotland Yard (January 17 – February 8), Anna in the Tropics (February 19 – March 13), Dancing in Lughnasa (March 19 – April 19), the Regional Premiere of Good Night, Oscar (April 2 – April 27), Jesus Christ Superstar (May 14 – June 15) and a special holiday event in partnership with The Ringling, All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (December 4 – 22). 

TICKETS   

Asolo Repertory Theatre subscriptions and single tickets for the 2024-2025 season are on sale now. Show times are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Matinees at 1:30 PM on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and select Thursdays. For more information, visit AsoloRep.org or call 941.351.8000 or 800.361.8388.     

ABOUT ASOLO REP  

Now in its 66th season, Asolo Repertory Theatre is recognized as one of the premier professional theatres in America and one of the largest in the Southeastern United States. Asolo Rep presents up to 7 productions each season, including classics, contemporary drama, musicals, and world premieres. A theatre district in and of itself, Asolo Rep is committed to expanding its reach into the community, furthering its collaboration with the best theatre-makers working in the industry today, and cultivating the next generation of artists through its affiliation with the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Under the new leadership of Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein and Managing Director Ross Egan, Asolo Rep’s ambitious theatrical offerings, commitment to new work, and ground-breaking education and engagement programs, ensure the company’s lasting legacy for future generations. Visit www.asolorep.org to learn more.