Photos provided by Brett Beiner

No matter how often “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” makes the touring or regional rounds through the Chicago area, it’s a perennial favorite that’s just as fresh as when it debuted on Broadway a little over a decade ago.

Chances are its because the double Tony Award winner showcases one of the world’s most timeless and talented songwriters, who is now 82-years-old and more or less refrains from the road at this point.

As a result, “Beautiful” at the Drury Lane Theatre, running until Sunday, March 23 with direction by Jane Lanier, is the next closest chance fans of all ages can encounter the “Tapestry” troubadour, thanks in part to an exceptional portrayal by Samantha Gershman (Broadway’s “Water For Elephants” and “A Beautiful Noise”).

She’s joined by the similarly compelling Alex Benoit as primary love interest/co-writer Gerry Goffin, plus their best friends/fellow songwriters Barry Mann (Andrew MacNaughton and Cynthia Weil (Alexandra Palkovic), alongside everyone’s boss Donny Kirshner (Michael Lawrence Brown).

Despite humble beginnings and an unlikely route to showbiz, the two couples compete for getting the hottest acts of the 1960s to take their tunes to the top of the charts, which means a soundtrack stacked with “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” “Up On The Roof,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” “The Locomotion,” “Pleasant Valley Sunday” and “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place.”

As the two-plus hour show progresses, it’s easy to loose count regarding the amount of smashes these Rock and Roll Hall of Famers accumulate, yet they can’t stop significant problems from arising between them to put every aspect of their relationship on the ropes.

Luckily for Carole, it lights a spark to crafting an even more personal and mature body of work, making her an unlikely solo star of the ‘70s responsible for the iconic likes of “It’s Too Late,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “I Feel The Earth Move.”

A subsequent concert at Carnegie Hall finally gives closure to some of the lingering loose ends and firmly establishes King as an artistic queen, while audiences are bound to be swept away by this Drury Lane adaptation living up to its “Beautiful” namesake.

“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” continues at the Drury Lane Theatre through Sunday, March 23. For additional details, visit DruryLaneTheatre.com.

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