When the lights dim and the stage curtains are drawn open at Bergen County Players, Inc. this coming weekend, the spotlight will shine on one of Tenafly’s very own. Taking on the lead role in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, alumna Hadar Baron (’14) will bring Carole King’s story to life on the Bergen County stage. 

Beautiful, based on a book by Douglas McGrath, tells the story of the songwriter Carole King, who is regarded as one of the most successful American musical geniuses. Tracing her journey from youth as an aspiring songwriter to adulthood as a solo artist, the musical earned two 2014 Tony Awards and has been well loved. Much of its acclaim came from the complexity of the lead role, which is known for being difficult to portray.

But for Baron, the role was an extremely rewarding one due to the connection she felt with Carole King.

“As a singer-songwriter, I always knew this role would be a good fit for me, but when I did more research about Carole King for the show, I found synchronicities and similarities between Carole’s life story and mine that made the role that much more special,” she said. “A Jewish singer-songwriter living in NYC, working to make it in the music business and interweaving performing within those business endeavors, all while balancing a personal life—very relatable for me!”

Baron has been interested in music and performing since she was a child, first beginning her career at an elementary school talent show. As she entered THS, she became greatly involved in the school’s productions and music classes. Not only did she act in nearly 10 performances during her time here, but she also took SATB Honors Choir and was part of the a cappella club. 

Alongside acting, Baron also works as an independent musician and singer-songwriter, performing original music either solo or with a backing band. She can often be seen performing at venues around New Jersey and New York or at her day job at a music publishing company in Manhattan. 

Carole King has long been a dream role for her, and it was not her first time auditioning for the lead. On the day of the audition, she was, she admitted, a bit worried, especially because she was jet-lagged from a recent trip. However, once she got on stage, “it was natural; it felt right.” Baron recalls that the moment she learned she had gotten the role, she was filled with relief, excitement, and anticipation. 

Of course, taking on the role had its challenges as well–because the story is based on real events, Baron and the rest of the cast, crew, and production team had to find the balance between history and artistry. However, with effort and dedication, the team overcame such difficulties and put together a successful performance that they are excited to show on opening night.  

The show will be performed multiple times between September 13 and October 11 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. As Baron comes back to perform in Bergen County, she leaves one final message for Tenafly High School: 

“It may be cliché, but I really do attribute much of where I am today to the support and opportunities from THS. My teachers were my mentors, and to this day I invite them to my shows and share any achievements.”