'Beautiful' start to Broadway in Portland

Touring productions of high-caliber hits head to local stages

She may only be 23, but Julia Knitel has an old soul, music-wise.

She’ll listen to the likes of Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, The Monkees and The Beatles while preparing to play the role of the great singer-songwriter Carole King in “Beautiful — The Carole King Musical,” which stages in Portland, Nov. 1-8 at Keller Auditorium.

“I was actually raised by parents who have a wonderful taste in music — the 1960s and ‘70s,” Knitel says. “I was really lucky. I never liked the current stuff. There are some great artists writing and producing music, but nothing truly like then.

“I just think it’s more true and honest and raw and melodic and poetic than anything that comes out today, unfortunately.”

“Beautiful” begins another season of Broadway in Portland productions. They are Broadway shows that hit the road, playing to big crowds across the United States.

“Beautiful” tells the story of King, ages 16 to 28, a time when she sang such great songs as “I Feel The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” “So Far Away” and more.

Knitel, who has an 8-track of King’s “Tapestry” displayed in her dressing room, studied the role of King on Broadway for a year and a half before being hired to play her in the travelling show. She read King’s memoir, “A Natural Woman,” watched videos of performances and “absorbed as much of Carole as I could.”

She tries to emulate King’s tone, intonations and pace, while also relying on her own voice. “They gave us freedom to put our own spin on it,” she says. “I don’t want to do an impersonation, per se, but you color it in the shape of Carole. It comes across more strongly than you would expect.”

The musical tells of King’s struggles in early adult life, married with a child (at age 16) with husband/writer Gerry Goffin, living paycheck to paycheck, and their working with fellow writers Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann to produce such memorable music. It wasn’t easy; they wrote about 50 songs that producer Don Kirshner turned down.

Her career took off with “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.”

“Carole was a product of her time,” Knitel says. “She wanted to get married, have babies, and had the ambition to write music and live a normal life.”

The daugther of King and Goffin, Sherry Goffin Kondor, works as a producer on “Beautiful.” King has seen the show, and she likes it, says Knitel, who has met her once at the 1,000th staging.

“At first it was hard for (King),” Knitel says. “We only show one of the hardest times of her life; there is some sensitive and raw stuff. She didn’t want to relive it for awhile. Once she saw the show — it’s really well done and tasteful.”

Knitel enjoys singing King, especially the emotional “So Far Away.” She’s 23 and “I can understand those lyrics, being away from home and family and boyfriend and cat.”

“Beautiful” stages 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, Nov. 1-4, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at Keller Auditorium, 222 S.W.

Clay St. Tickets are available at www.BroadwayInPortland.com.

Here’s the rest of the Broadway in Portland season:

“Finding Neverland,” Jan. 3-8 — It’s Broadway’s biggest new hit, based on the Academy Award-nominated film starring Johnny Depp, and tells the story of the beloved Peter Pan.

“Rent — The 20th Anniverary Tour,” Jan. 20-22 (season option) — First staged in 1996, it forever changed the landscape of American theater. It’s a reimagining of Puccini’s “La Boheme,” about seven artists struggling to follow their dreams without selling out.

“The Illusionists — Live From Broadway,” Jan. 31-Feb. 5 — The mind-blowing spectacular showcases seven of the best illusionists doing sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions.

“Matilda The Musical,” Feb. 28-March 5 — It was voted Time magazine’s No. 1 show in 2013 and won four Tony Awards. It’s the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.

“An American in Paris,” May 16-21 — It’s the story of an American soldier, a mysterious French girl and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war, with songs by George and Ira Gershwin.

“Cabaret,” June 27-July 2 — From Roundabout Theatre Company, it’s direct from Broadway and celebrating its 50th anniversary season. Leave your troubles outside — life is beautiful with the show about shows and featuring songs such as “Cabaret,” “Wilkommen” and “Maybe This Time.”

For subscription information: www.BroadwayInPortland.com.