Andrew Brewer: Beautiful tour

[BobNC]

Posted: 10/4/15 at 10:13am

The whole cast of the first North American tour of "Beautiful: the Carole King Musical" was fantastic (Durham, DPAC, 10/3/15), but, my eyes stayed glued on Abby Mueller, Liam Tobin, and especially Andrew Brewer.  Andrew did such a great job with "You've Lost That Loving Feeling."  He was also quite the eye candy, looking like a man-size version of Nick Jonas. What a talented HUNK.  I see great things ahead for him as a leading man in musical theater.

Updated On: 10/5/15 at 10:13 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/4/15 at 10:55am

He plays Nick and Bill Medley, right? I saw him in that Sex Tips play off-Broadway, where he was really funny (and hot), but alas, no singing. Glad the tour sounds to be in great shape!

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/4/15 at 12:25pm

You can read my review right here!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/raleigh/article/BWW-Review-BEAUTIFUL-THE-CAROLE-KING-MUSICAL-National-Tour-at-Durham-Performing-Arts-Center-20150926

[starcatchers]

Posted: 10/4/15 at 5:41pm

I saw him in that track on Broadway. Excellent. I'm trekking to DC to see the tour on Tuesday. Super excited! 

[BobNC]

Posted: 10/5/15 at 9:39pm

Let us know what you think.  

[starcatchers]

Posted: 10/7/15 at 4:49am

Caught the tour tonight (last night, technically), and I'm SO glad. 

Abby Mueller is absolutely stunning. Anyone who had qualms about her stepping into the role needs to go see this production. She has a wonderfully different take on the role, and it's a delight to watch. 

I was pleasantly surprised by Ben Fankhauser. I loved him in Newsies but I had a hard time picturing him as Barry Mann. Some of the music is far too high for him, but he was funny and worked excellently with Becky Gulsvig as Cynthia (who I also enjoyed). 

Having seen several different takes on the role of Gerry, Liam Tobin's might be my favorite. He sang and acted it very well, and the chemistry between him and Mueller was excellent. 

It was nice to see Ashley Blanchet, Andrew Brewer, and Noah J. Ricketts - standouts from the Broadway ensemble - in this production. 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 10/7/15 at 10:31am

A great looking fella indeed.

[allyk]

Posted: 10/7/15 at 3:59pm

I saw the tour about two and a half weeks ago in Providence on opening night (the 18th) and thought it was excellent. I saw the Broadway production twice (once with Jessie Mueller as Carole and the second time with Rebecca Lachance) and I thought Abby was dynamic as Carole. She took an entirely different approach to her acting in a few scenes and her choices were very effective. Her Carole has a bit of a maturity to her that I really appreciated.

The rest of the company was in top shape and the only negative, in my eyes, was the horrendous audience members around me. I've been attending shows at PPAC since I was in first grade (so, almost 20 years) and the audiences are getting worse and worse - talking, candy bar wrappers and singing. (I saw Josh Groban and Lena Hall at PPAC last weekend and the same thing... Lots of singing and talking - and it happens all over the theater. I was in the mid-orchestra for Beautiful, the rear orchestra last season for Cinderella and the mezzanine for Josh Groban last week and the audiences are just as bad no matter where you're sitting.) it saddens me a great deal, as I don't ever remember this happening before recently.

 

Eta: Sorry for the giant chunk of text! I'm on my phone and will fix it when I get to a computer later.

Updated On: 10/7/15 at 03:59 PM

[serene_embers]

Posted: 10/7/15 at 4:26pm

starcatchers said: "I was pleasantly surprised by Ben Fankhauser"

I'm really happy to hear that. I saw him in Big River in Sacramento this summer and he was so good!!

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 10/7/15 at 4:30pm

Does the set look the same, compared to Broadway? I saw a picture and it looked like the second row wasn't connected to each other. And do they sell a poster and program on tour?

[starcatchers]

Posted: 10/7/15 at 4:52pm

JoseLee_ said: "Does the set look the same, compared to Broadway? I saw a picture and it looked like the second row wasn't connected to each other. And do they sell a poster and program on tour?

 

"

 

The set is...odd. The sides are still bi-level with the stairs and there's nothing in the middle. It really only affected a couple of entrances, but it was just strange to look at. The only other change to the set is that the house in the second act doesn't have a door. Also for reasons beyond my understanding.

 

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 10/7/15 at 5:55pm

I hope it doesn't look cheap because when I got my season tickets Beautiful was the most expensive show. If it's expensive for season holders, then the price is going to go up when general public buys. They bump up the price for BIG shows. Either way, I'm excited to see it cause I've been listening to the cast recording since it came out.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/7/15 at 7:54pm

Please keep in mind that the set was altered in order to make it easier to move everything around the country because it's going to be taken apart and put back together again every two weeks or so.

Updated On: 10/7/15 at 07:54 PM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 10/7/15 at 9:38pm

The tickets I bought, even with a student discount, were definitely hiked up in price as opposed to most tours.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/7/15 at 11:18pm

What I loved about the design for Broadway was how layered it all was. When they go to the office and there are people all over and like 3 planes. I thought it was really beautiful. Is that gone? Is there still the background with all the chairs/instruments, etc?

[starcatchers]

Posted: 10/8/15 at 1:03pm

JoseLee_ said: "I hope it doesn't look cheap because when I got my season tickets Beautiful was the most expensive show. If it's expensive for season holders, then the price is going to go up when general public buys. They bump up the price for BIG shows. Either way, I'm excited to see it cause I've been listening to the cast recording since it came out.

 

"

Oh no, not cheap at all. Being familiar with the Broadway set, it just looked odd to me. 

 

For those saying they noticed a hike in the ticket prices for this show - how much are they asking? I don't see many tours so I'm not familiar with what is considered "normal" pricing. I was able to snag a $35 ticket for Tuesday through the Kennedy Center's MyTix program. 

[BobNC]

Posted: 10/8/15 at 10:12pm

I pad $150.00 for 2nd row orch in Durham.  The sets looked pretty much the same as Broadway to my eyes.

 

Updated On: 10/9/15 at 10:12 PM

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 10/11/15 at 7:38pm

BobNC said: "I paid $150.00 for 2nd row orch in Durham.  The sets looked pretty much the same as Broadway to my eyes."

 

Jeez. Wicked tickets weren't even that much in Durham. 

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 1:21pm

Saw the show last night, and liked it a lot!  Andrew Brewer happened to be riding the bicycle in front of me on my way to the Kennedy Center. As soon as he turned into the driveway I wondered if he was with the show (not knowing who he was).  Looked at my program when I took my seat, and he matched the guy I saw.

First rate tour.  Set looked great.  Performances all around were wonderful.  Abbey came across as very matronly (even as a teenager). I especially liked Becky Gulsvig as Cynthia.  The Drifters just made me smile, as did the guy playing Neil Sedaka. The show has been selling extremely well at The Kennedy Center.  I think I might go back.