In the few hours that Elizabeth Nestlerode gets to inhabit King’s shoes, she knows she’s just scratching the surface. “We only cover from when she’s 16 to 29,” Nestlerode said of her title role as King in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at Albany’s Capital Repertory Theatre. “She’s done so much beyond that, but just those 13 years gave us enough for a full musical.
” “Beautiful,” a jukebox show that opened on Broadway in 2014 and saw Jessie Mueller’s portrayal of King earn a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, tells the story of King’s early life and career, her fruitful songwriting partnership and tumultuous romantic relationship with Gerry Goffin, and her eventual shift from songwriter to performer with the release of her landmark 1971 album “Tapestry." For Nestlerode, finding her footing as King was a delicate process. “You want to find that balance of honoring who they are and kind of finding their essence, without doing an impression of them,” she said.
Stepping into the role began with lots of research on Nestlerode’s part. She did plenty of reading. Sheila Weller’s biography “Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon — and the Journey of a Generation” was a valuable resource, as was King’s own memoir “A Natural Woman.
” Nestlerode also found King’s voice through listening to both “Tapestry” and “The Legendary Demos,” a compilation of demo recordings King made from 1962-71, along with watching concert footage and online documentaries. “Then,” Nestlerode said, “once we start getting into rehearsal, you’re kind of letting that go and trusting that it’s going to seep through with that information and knowledge. We’re working with the New York dialect, so that kind of places us there, and then you’re finding your way with the folks who are onstage and taking what the other incredibly generous actors are giving, so that we’re all present with what’s happening.
” “Beautiful,” which began preview performances at the North Pearl Street theater on Friday, marks Nestlerode’s return to theREP, having previously portrayed Darlene in “Honky Tonk Angels” and Evelyn/Mary Bailey in “It’s A Wonderful Life.” The New York-based performer, who has extensive experience in off-Broadway and regional theater, has a particular fondness for the Albany venue. “It’s such a treat,” she said.
“They take good care of us here, which really means a lot. Part of that is having a place for us to stay and taking care of things. This is a contract where I’ve been able to bring my pets along with me, which means so much and makes it feel homey.
” For all the time that Nestlerode is front and center during “Beautiful,” perhaps her favorite moment in the show is one during which she’s backstage. The show’s subplot follows the romantic and professional relationship between King and Goffin’s friends and songwriting rivals Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Late in the first act, Mann and Weil put the finishing touches on one of the most famous songs in pop music, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin',” performed by a pair of actors portraying the Righteous Brothers — complete with a full ensemble replicating the iconic Wall of Sound developed by producer Phil Spector.
“The entire cast, other than me, [Nikita Bursteyn as] Gerry and a couple of the principals who are changing, are singing backup backstage,” Nestlerode said. “We get to be in the midst of this incredible, stunning Wall of Sound. It’s truly my favorite moment.
” It’s a moment emblematic of one of Nestlerode’s favorite things about “Beautiful,” that nearly all the music is diegetic — sung naturally as part of the plot. “It’s all happening within the world of the show,” she said. “For anyone who is hesitant on the whole idea of musicals and going, ‘Well, why are people suddenly singing?’ this really solves that problem.
You know why they’re singing? They’re pitching a song, or the Shirelles are performing. It’s really a great way in.” Following this weekend’s preview performances, Tuesday is the official opening night for “Beautiful.
” The show runs through Aug. 18, with evening performances Tuesday through Saturday and matinee performances each Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available online at https://attherep.
org/event/beautiful-the-carole-king-musical/ ..
