Every Thursday, WGBH Arts Editor Jared Bowen sums up the exhibitions, theater, movies and music you should check out in and around Boston.
BEAUTIFUL—THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL , playing at the Boston Opera House through Nov. 15
Synopsis: A Tony Award-winning musical, “Beautiful,” traces the rise of Carol Klein, a young Jewish girl living in Brooklyn, who would become the world-famous singer known as Carole King. King is played by Abby Mueller—older sister of Jessie Mueller, who won the Tony for her 2014 rendition.
Jared says: "You're getting all of this great music, but you're also getting it in the context in which she created…It's a really, really fun story, and the star of this show is Abby Mueller…She's resplendent."
CHOICE , presented by the Huntington Theatre Company, at the Calderwood Pavilion, through Nov. 15
Synopsis: “Wicked” writer Winnie Holzman takes on journalism, abortion, middle age and choice in her first straight-play dramedy.
Jared says: “This is very heavy subject matter for what ultimately is a very funny and entertaining play.”
SPOTLIGHT , limited release Friday; expands Friday, Nov. 13
Synopsis: With a star-studded cast, “Spotlight” dramatizes the Boston Globe “Spotlight” team’s 2002 investigation into the Catholic Church’s sex-abuse scandal.
Jared says: “What has just blown my mind here is how phenomenal this film is … The directors and screenwriters here really managed to get the tone of what was happening in this city at the time.”
SPECTRE , in theaters Friday
Synopsis: Picking the story up just after “Skyfall” (2012), “Spectre” follows James Bond (Daniel Craig) as he travels to Mexico and Rome, following a cryptic message, and discovers a sinister organization.
Jared says: “It’s very old-school James Bond-style filmmaking. … It feels like those sets from the 1960s—great big sets, great costumes, the great cars.”
Looking for more arts coverage? This weekend on Open Studio , the Addison Gallery of American Art looks back at the relationship between Eva Hesse and Sol LeWitt; then composer Philip Glass reflects on a lifetime of music-making.
