A Beautiful Noise is a jukebox musical based on the life and music of Neil Diamond. It opened on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre on December 4, 2022. It grossed more than $1 million at the box office in the week leading up to its Broadway premiere.
Titled for Diamond's 1976 album of the same name, A Beautiful Noise was written by Anthony McCarten and produced by Ken Davenport and Bob Gaudio. The musical is structured around a series of therapy sessions during which Diamond reacts to his lyrics as they are read by his psychiatrist from a second-hand copy of The Complete Lyrics of Neil Diamond. In a June 19, 2022 interview with The Boston Globe McCarten said: “She opens the book, and all 60 years of his songwriting and all that exploration pours out into a majestic musical collage, and once unloosed from the book, the songs take on lives of their own."
Production history Boston (2022) The show had its world premiere at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston in June 2022. Diamond and his wife, Katie McNeil Diamond, attended the opening in Boston. Will Swenson portrayed Diamond (then); Diamond (now) was played by Mark Jacoby. Robyn Hurder played Diamond's second wife, Marcia, and Linda Powell portrayed The Doctor. Broadway (2022–2024) In late 2022, A Beautiful Noise opened on Broadway with Swenson, Jacoby, Hurder and Powell reprising their Boston roles. The full Broadway cast included Jessie Fisher as Jaye Posner, Tom Alan Robbins as Bert Berns and Kieve Diamond, Bri Sudia as Ellie Greenwich and Rose Diamond, and Michael McCormick as Fred Colby and Tommy O'Rourke. The show began previews on November 2, 2022 at the Broadhurst Theatre and formally opened on December 4, 2022. Diamond led an unannounced sing-along of "Sweet Caroline" on opening night.
With ticket sales "up and down" during the preceding months, the show's producers announced in February 2024 that A Beautiful Noise would end its Broadway run on 30 June 2024 after 657 performances. It had grossed more than $63 million when the announcement was made.
North American tour (2024-2026) The touring cast includes Nick Fradiani (returning as Neil Diamond - Then), Robert Westenberg (Neil Diamond - Now), Hannah Jewel Kohn (Marcia Murphey), and Lisa Renee Pitts (Doctor).
A North American tour began at the Providence Performing Arts Center on September 21, 2024; it was the most successful tour launch in Providence's history. The tour recouped its investment in five months.
Australia (2026) A Beautiful Noise premiered in Melbourne, Australia at the Princess Theatre on August 5, 2026 and, after an extension, will run through October 25, 2026. Swenson reprises his role from the Broadway production, joined by Terence Crawford (Neil Diamond – Now), Ashleigh Rubenach (Marcia Murphey), Monica Sayers (Doctor), and Alana Tranter (Jaye Posner). The production will then transfer to the Sydney Lyric from November 2026.
Reception
Reviews of A Beautiful Noise on Broadway were mixed. Elizabeth Vincentelli wrote in the New York Times that the musical was both "timid" and an "ambitious, often rousing, occasionally heavy-handed biographical show". She praised Swenson's performance but criticized the narrative framework and the overall depiction of Diamond as "morose." A positive review in the New York Daily News predicted that the show would be a "box-office hit". In Variety, A.D. Amorosi wrote: "Ultimately, 'A Beautiful Noise' is victorious, but not without a few rough bumps along the way — much like the trajectory of Diamond’s life." The headline of an AP review by Mark Kennedy in the Washington Post read "Broadway's Diamond show isn't so good, so good" while noting that Swenson was "insanely great in every number." The review that appeared in Entertainment Weekly noted that "those going to A Beautiful Noise want to be entertained and entertained they will be." Songs
Act I "Opening Montage" – The Noise "A Beautiful Noise" – Neil and The Noise "Neil Pitches Song: I'll Come Runnin' (Oh No, No)" – Neil, Ellie "I'm a Believer" – Ellie and The Noise "Demo Medley: The Boat that I Row / Red Red Wine / Kentucky Woman" – "The Boat that I Row" Soloist and The Noise "Kentucky Woman" – Neil, Ellie and The Noise "Into The Bitter End" – Neil, Bitter End Trio Singers and The Noise "Solitary Man" – Neil and The Noise "Cracklin' Rosie" – Neil and The Noise "Song Sung Blue" – Neil, Doctor, Marcia, Fred and The Noise "Cherry, Cherry / September Morn' Medley" – Neil, Jaye and The Noise "Love on the Rocks" – Neil, Doctor and Jaye "Hello Again" – Neil, Marcia, Ellie and Jaye "A Heavenly Progression" – Neil and The Noise "Sweet Caroline" – Neil and The Noise
Act II "Entr'acte" – Company "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" – Neil and The Noise "Play Me" – Neil, Marcia and The Noise "Forever in Blue Jeans" – Marcia, Ellie, Jaye and The Noise "Stadium Medley: Soolaimón / Thank the Lord for the Night Time / Crunchy Granola Suite" – Neil, Marcia and The Noise "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" – Neil and Marcia "Brooklyn Roads / America Medley" – Neil, Doctor, Ellie, Bert and The Noise "Shilo" – "Shilo" Soloist, Marcia, Rose, Jaye, Tommy and Kieve "I Am... I Said" – Neil and The Noise "Holly Holy" – Neil, Marcia, Rose, Jaye, Kieve, Tommy and The Noise
Cast and characters +CharactersBroadwayNorth American Tour2022 2024Neil Diamond (Then)Will SwensonNick FradianiNeil Diamond (Now)Mark JacobyRobert WestenbergMarcia MurpheyRobyn HurderHannah Jewel KohnDoctorLinda PowellLisa Reneé PittsJaye PosnerJessie FisherTiffany Tatreau Fred Colby, Tommy O’RourkeMichael McCormickTuck MilliganBert Berns, Kieve DiamondTom Alan RobbinsMichael AccardoEllie Greenwich, Rose DiamondBri SudiaKate A. Mulligan
Notable cast replacements
Broadway (2022–2024) Neil Diamond (Then): Nick Fradiani Marcia Murphey: Amber Ardolino
Awards and nominations 2022 Broadway production YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult2023Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Featured Performance in a MusicalRobyn HurderMark JacobyOutstanding Wig and HairLuc VerschuerenDrama League AwardsDistinguished PerformanceWill SwensonOutstanding Production of a MusicalOuter Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding New Broadway MusicalChita Rivera AwardsOutstanding Choreography in a Broadway ShowSteven HoggettOutstanding Dancer in a Broadway ShowRobyn HurderJess LeProttoOutstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show
References
External links