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“Beautiful – The Carole King Musical” has made its worldwide debut at San Francisco’s Curran Theater, where it will play until October 20.

The musical will begin its Broadway previews at the Stephen Sondheim Theater on November 21, ahead of its official opening on January 12.

Directed by Marc Bruni, “Beautiful” tells the story of Carole King’s impressive career, from her early days as one of the most creative and successful songwriters of the 1960s, through to her emergence as a popular singer with the release of the classic album “Tapestry” in the early 1970s.

The musical almost didn’t get off the ground, as King was reluctant to have her story told by someone else. When her daughter, Sherry Goffin Kondor, took over as her manager in 2011, one of the first tasks that the departing manager recommended was to “kill” the musical. However, after seeing an early reading of the show, Kondor persuaded her mother to attend a rehearsal, which was enough for King to give the show the green light.

King recently told the San Francisco Chronicle:

“Hearing it aloud in a room full of people left me conflicted. I had to leave after the first act because the excellence of the writing and the actors’ interpretation awakened long-buried emotions. But the artist in me realized how good the show was, and I knew I couldn’t stand in its way. I gave ‘Beautiful’ its title, which has multiple layers of meaning for me, and now I give ‘Beautiful’ my blessing.”

“Beautiful – The Carole King Story” was written by Doug McGrath, who was nominated for both an Academy Award and a BAFTA award for his “Bullets Over Broadway” screenplay.

The role of Carole King is played by Tony nominee Jessie Mueller, whose previous credits include the Broadway shows “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” “The Mystery Of Edwin Drood,” and “On A Clear Day You Can See Forever.”

“Beautiful – The Carole King Story” – promo

Other cast members include Jake Epstein as Gerry Goffin, Anika Larsen as Cynthia Weil, Jarrod Spector as Barry Mann, and Jeb Brown as Don Kirshner.

“Beautiful – The Carole King Story” – Cast meet and greet

Carole King has been named the 2014 MusiCares Person of the Year in recognition of her charitable and philanthropic work. She will receive the honour at a star-studded gala in Los Angeles on January 24, with musical performances expected from the likes of Bette Midler, James Taylor and Lady Gaga.