Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/757002
46 December 1 • 2016 C amp Tamarack alums who bunked with Ben Fankhauser got to see this real-life music man back in the day. Now, they'll get to see his talents on the big-time stage. Fankhauser, 27 and a longtime camper from the time he was 11, holds a starring role in the touring production of Beautiful — The Carole King Musical running Dec. 13-Jan. 8 at the Fisher Theatre. He portrays Barry Mann, another songwriter of the 1960s who became a friend and competitor of the celebrated hit maker. The production, without any outright Jewish content, spotlights four Jewish songwriters, including Gerry Goffin, King's husband and writing partner, and Cynthia Weil, Mann's wife and writing partner — all making their entry into fame. "I attended Camp Tamarack for many years," Fankhauser says in a phone conversation from the road. "My mom [Binnie Gun] is from Michigan. I think my uncle went to Tamarack, and that's how my mom knew to send me there. "I sang and danced at camp and did all the plays. Anyone who went to camp with me knows I was a song-and-dance man then. I'm friends with a lot of campers on Facebook, and I hope to see some of my old buddies. For sure, I will see family." Fankhauser, who grew up in Ohio and had his bar mitzvah there, is related to Gun family members still in Michigan. Touring with this Tony and Grammy Award-winning show for over a year, he looks forward to reunions with relatives. Fankhauser's visit to Michigan awakens memories of family his- tory. He is reminded of his late grandparents, Manya and Anszel Gun, Holocaust survivors who came to Detroit from Poland after the war and built business success in scrap metal. "Audiences see a beautifully crafted show based in reality with lovely production numbers recall- ing favorite groups of the day like the Shirelles and the Drifters," he says. "Audiences get to hear the begin- nings of all the music they know. They get to see and hear the song- writers work out what each song is going to be, and they get to see the songs in full orchestrated produc- tion. "What I love most about the show is that people inevitably attach a sense of nostalgia to the story. That connects them so deep- ly. Everyone has special memories of the songs." Among the hits being per- formed, in addition to the title song, will be "I Feel the Earth Move," "One Fine Day," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "You've Got a Friend." Fankhauser's many num- bers include "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," made famous by the Animals, and "Walking in the Rain," made famous by the Ronettes. "Lately, with the current political climate, there's new meaning in the lyrics for 'We Gotta Get Out of This Place,'" he says. "That song was written at the time of the Vietnam War, and I've heard stories of vets being overseas and blasting that song whenever it would come on. "That song was about times changing and people wanting to put down the system and get out of an unhappy, war-filled time. I think the lyrics are pretty poignant today with this election." Fankhauser, who appeared at the Fisher Theatre six years ago with the musical Spring Awakening, began his career interests at a theater day camp in Ohio when he was 8. He instantly connected with the energy, storytelling, audiences and sense of community. Besides going on to school pro- ductions, he researched theater operations and read plays and musicals. Ithaca College was cho- sen for his theater major. "I auditioned in New York while at Ithaca, and it just so happens I got into the first national tour of arts & life t h e a t e r Celebrating the life and music of Carole King, Beautiful brings one of its stars, a Tamarack alum, back to Michigan. Suzanne Chessler | Contributing Writer details Beautiful — The Carole King Musical runs Dec. 13-Jan. 8, at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit. Tickets start at $39. (313) 872-1000; broadwayindetroit.com. Julia Knitel as Carole King PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS Ben Fankhauser as Barry Mann and Erika Olson as Cynthia Weil PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS T apestry King and Goffin co-wrote "Some Kind of Wonderful," sung by the Drifters in a scene from the play. Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney once said they wanted to be songwriters like Carole King (in photo) and Gerry Goffin . PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS PHOTO BY JIM MCCRARY