Local actress Abby Mueller brings 'Beautiful' home to Chicago
"Do you have any trepidation about playing a part that was created by your sister?"
Actress and Evanston native Abby Mueller has been asked variations on that question ever since she was cast in the title role for the national tour of "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical," which begins its Chicago run at the Oriental Theatre on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Mueller's younger sister, Jessie, first appeared as King in "Beautiful" during its 2013 San Francisco tryout and later on Broadway, earning rave reviews and winning the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. So it's understandable why Abby Mueller would have had second thoughts assuming the role.
"It's the obvious question, and the answer is of course I did," Mueller said. "But I had so many people encouraging me to try and look at it objectively and go and audition."
Mueller stresses that playing King was not a foregone conclusion, despite her family connections. She had to prove to the musical's original creative team, including director Marc Bruni and playwright Douglas McGrath, that she had what it takes to carry her first professional national tour.
"It's been such a gift to get to play this lady, to get to do this show and sing this music and to take it across the country," Mueller said. "The response we've been getting is just thrilling."
"Beautiful" has been out on the road since its launch this past September, but Mueller is especially excited for the show's extended Chicago run and the chance to spend the holidays at home. Her family includes a number of fellow actors, including her father Roger Mueller, who is starring as Santa Claus in "Elf" at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire.
Growing up, Mueller was well aware of King's impact as a singer and songwriter since she had her best-selling 1971 album "Tapestry." What Mueller didn't realize is that King had her hand in so many other pop hits such as "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" for The Shirelles and "The Locomotion" for Little Eva during her time working solely as a songwriter in New York's legendary Brill Building during the 1950s and '60s.
"Over the show you get to see the pre-'Tapestry' era and go behind the music," Mueller said. "King was writing songs since she was 16 and cranking out all these songs that everybody knows."
Much of the drama in "Beautiful" revolves around King's romantic troubles with her husband and songwriting collaborator, Gerry Goffin (Liam Tobin). There's also a friendly rivalry with lyricist Cynthia Weil (Becky Gulsvig) and composer Barry Mann (Ben Frankhauser), who also become a powerful songwriting couple themselves.
From the start, Mueller was concerned about living up to audiences' expectations of how King should act and sound.
"We're going toward an interpretation and not an imitation," said Mueller about the fact that so many "Beautiful" performers have to portray well-known singers. "So we have some freedom to bring yourself to it, but you also want to color it with the flavors of (the original artists)."
Mueller was also offered some solid advice by King herself during a live August appearance together on NBC's "Today" show.
"She said have fun being me," Mueller said. "And to just enjoy the music."
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Location: Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago, (800) 775-2000 or
Showtimes: Various times from Tuesday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Feb. 21, though largely 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and select Sundays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday; no shows Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.
Tickets: $27-$107