Marc Bruni creates a Lyric- sized 'Sound of Music'
Last week, the Broadway production of "Beautiful," the backstage musical featuring the music of Carole King and starring Chicago's Jessie Mueller, grossed more than $1 million. There are plenty of directors on Broadway whom you might term rising stars, but that is a tentative, even perilous designation on that mercurial street. Rising stars with big, fat, mostly unexpected hits are a far rarer breed.