Every great story needs a grounding force, and in Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, that role belongs to Genie Klein, Carole King’s strong-willed, sharp-tongued, and deeply loving mother. In this installment of our “Get to Know” series, we’re honored to introduce a performer who knows this character inside and out.
Suzanne Grodner joins the Transcendence family with a truly beautiful legacy—she’s portrayed Genie Klein on Broadway, in the National Tour, and now brings her brilliance to Sonoma Valley. With a rich background in theater, from Off-Broadway to nearly 100 regional roles and appearances on television, Suzanne’s artistry brings heart and humor to every scene she touches.
1. What keeps bringing you back to this role, and what makes this production at Transcendence feel special?
I’ve had the honor of playing Genie, Carole King’s mother, on Broadway, for 4 years on the National Tour and for a number of regional Theatres across the country, and when given another crack at the role, I can’t say YES fast enough. Genie’s strong, she’s sassy, she takes no prisoners, and her love for Carole is fierce. Working at Transcendence Theatre is magical, and the bar that they set is high. You can’t help but love and admire the Transcendence “family.” They are committed to their community, and I can’t wait to bring this formidable woman to life for Sonoma audiences, and to add some humor and a bit of bravado to Carole’s story.
2. What do you love most about playing Genie, and how has your understanding of the character evolved over time?
I just get a kick out of this woman, and her “no holds barred” approach to life and to her family. Douglas McGrath wrote a delicious script, and I appreciate a writer who understands comedy and timing. The role is challenging every time I walk onstage, because it has to be fresh and new every night. Add to that a different and talented cast with each new show, and that adds up to a new experience every time I perform it. There’s always something to discover, even after all these years.
3. From Broadway to regional stages to television, how has your journey as a performer shaped your approach to storytelling in Beautiful?
The more comedy I do, the more I understand how delicate the process is to land a moment and connect with both my fellow actors and my audience. After 40+ years of working on scripts that required both comedy and drama, every piece of work gives me the opportunity to fine tune my skills, which will hopefully cross over into the next project.
4. What are you most looking forward to about performing under the stars in Sonoma with Transcendence?
Susan Draus, our Musical Director for Beautiful, was my MD on the National Tour for all four years. She’s the best of the best and has relayed to me her experiences working at Transcendence over the years. I know that when Susan is blown away, it must be something special.
This company sounded like no other company I had ever worked with, and I must say that after even two weeks of being here, I am beyond grateful to be associated with them. They are truly a family, dedicated to their actors, their staff and their audiences, to “transcend” what is possible in theatre. I’m looking forward to connecting with our audience for the pre-show picnic, for getting a chance to perform outdoors (a rarity these days) and to step into Genie’s shoes again and give people some laughter and joy to fill up their hearts.
5. What do you think audiences will enjoy the most?
I’ve seen firsthand the effect this show has on an audience. Carole’s story is incredible, and people are astonished when they hear all of the music that Carole and her husband Gerry Goffin created, along with Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann’s music, which for a generation was “the soundtrack of their youth.” As the show delivers one great hit after another, we hear the gasps from the audiences, we witness both men and women tearing up when a song begins, and people wait for us after the show to tell us their stories of how much the music has meant to them throughout their lives.
I tell people to avoid looking at the Music List page in their Playbill, so they can be surprised as the music begins, and they hear the first few notes of the song and realize what they’re about to hear. It’s truly magical.