DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 49 up in the Bronx, ” said Blake who, at age 80, is one year older than King. “The entire world of Beautiful — The Carole King Musical is all about Jewish kids growing up and making their careers in New York City. It’s a Jewish success story. ” And successful it is. The Tony and Grammy Award- winning Beautiful — The Carole King Musical was the 27th longest-running musical in Broadway history when it closed after nearly six years in October 2019 just before the pandemic. The touring production was originally scheduled to play at the Fisher Theatre in May 2020 and was rescheduled to Jan. 4-9, 2022. It resumed touring last month in Chicago. Blake said that he’s in talks to bring the show back to Broadway as well as make a film adaptation with Sony Pictures and Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman as co-producers. “We are thrilled to be com- ing back to Detroit, ” Blake said. “This is a total Equity produc- tion because we insist on the highest standards and want to give the audience the best show that we can. ” The Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) is the per- formers and stage managers union that protects actors’ rights, provides fair pay, ben- efits and work environments including strict adherence to safety and COVID protocols. This North American tour of Beautiful — The Carole King Musical features many of the cast members from the Broadway production. Sara Sheperd, who is Jewish, under- studied the role of Carole King on Broadway and takes on the title character in this produc- tion. “Beautiful is filled with music that you grew up with — the soundtrack of your youth, if you’re over 45, ” Blake said. “The audience is going to have a wonderful time. ” JOAN MARCUS continued from page 46 Details Beautiful — The Carole King Musical runs Jan. 4-9, 2022, at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit. Tickets start at $39 (including facility and parking fees) and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-982-2787 or in person at the Fisher Theatre Box Office. THEATER Sara Sheperd as Carole King Highland Park from Detroit. “I lived a half-mile from there,” recalled the Prentis res- ident of almost five years. “It’s nice to look back.” WORKING TOGETHER Adams and Singer worked together professionally for about 15 years, a time after the digital approach to draw- ing cars took over the respon- sibilities that Adams had long enjoyed. “I’m 81, and I wanted to bring back my childhood through these images,” Adams said. “My parents didn’t have a car when I was a kid, but we went all over the city on buses and streetcars. It was fun bringing back the places we saw.” When Adams started work, he defined Detroit as the art center for advertising. “I did brochures and newspaper ads when it was all flat art, but that died in the early ’90s,” Adams said. “That’s when I started going to outdoor fairs, including the Michigan State Fair and a couple in Birmingham. “I can’t do art fairs now because it’s too hard. I loved doing them from each May to late September, meeting the people almost every weekend. I think I did well because peo- ple like reminiscing.” Adams’ favorite print shows the Vernors’ plant, which was by the waterfront. He recalls stopping there to get a Boston Cooler (ginger ale and vanilla ice cream) when his family was on the way to Boblo Island Amusement Park. “I put the cars of the times in my pictures,” said Adams, whose work also can be seen in hospitals and Buddy’s Pizza locales as his current renderings focus on railroad projects. “I always loved trains, and they have a lot of train shows,” he said. “I work according to the mood I’m in — from two hours a day to all day.” In November, Prentis Apartments had a reception honoring Adams and Singer. “Everybody here seems thrilled with the display, and I hear a lot of stories from those who used to go cruising down Woodward,” Singer said. “ A lot of the buildings that are shown along Woodward are gone, but the White Castle is still there. I like being remind- ed of those other buildings.” Print of Downtown Detroit 1951.