A Beautiful Noise (musical)

Last updated
A Beautiful Noise
A Beautiful Noise Graphic Black.jpg
Broadway Promotional Poster
Music Neil Diamond
LyricsVarious artists
Book Anthony McCarten
BasisThe life and music of Neil Diamond
PremiereJune 21, 2022: Emerson Colonial Theatre
Productions Boston (2022)
Broadway (2022)

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. [1] [2] [3] It grossed more than $1 million at the box office in the week leading up to its Broadway premiere. [4]

Contents

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. [5] 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." [6]

Production history

Boston (2022)

The show had its world premiere at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston in June 2022. [1] [2] [7] [8] [9] Diamond and his wife, Katie McNeil Diamond, attended the opening in Boston. Will Swenson portrayed Diamond (then); Diamond (now) was played by Mark Jacoby. [10] Robyn Hurder played Diamond's second wife, Marcia, and Linda Powell portrayed The Doctor. [11]

Broadway (2022-2024)

Neil Diamond at A Beautiful Noise Opening Night.jpg

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. [12] The show began previews on November 2, 2022 at the Broadhurst Theatre and formally opened on December 4, 2022. [13] Diamond led an unannounced sing-along of "Sweet Caroline" on opening night. [14]

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. It had grossed more than $63 million when the announcement was made. [15]

Planned North American tour (2024)

A North American tour is scheduled to begin at the Providence Performing Arts Center in the fall of 2024. Casting is yet to be announced. [16]

Reception

Reviews of A Beautiful Noise on Broadway were mixed. [17] 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." [18] A positive review in the New York Daily News predicted that the show would be a "box-office hit". [19] 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." [20] 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." [21] The review that appeared in Entertainment Weekly noted that "those going to A Beautiful Noise want to be entertained and entertained they will be." [22]

Songs

Cast and characters

CharactersBroadway
2022
Neil Diamond (Then) Will Swenson
Neil Diamond (Now) Mark Jacoby
Marcia Murphey Robyn Hurder
Doctor Linda Powell
Jaye PosnerJessie Fisher
Fred Colby, Tommy O’Rourke Michael McCormick
Bert Berns, Kieve Diamond Tom Alan Robbins
Ellie Greenwich, Rose DiamondBri Sudia

Notable cast replacements

Broadway (2022-2024)

Awards and nominations

2022 Broadway production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2023 Drama Desk Awards [24] Outstanding Featured Performance in a MusicalRobyn HurderNominated
Mark JacobyNominated
Outstanding Wig and HairLuc VerschuerenNominated
Drama League Awards [25] Distinguished Performance AwardWill SwensonNominated
Outstanding Production of a MusicalNominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards [26] Outstanding New Broadway MusicalNominated
Chita Rivera Awards [27] Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway ShowSteven HoggettWon
Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway ShowRobyn HurderWon
Jess LeProttoWon
Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway ShowNominated

Related Research Articles

Mark Jacoby is an American musical theatre performer who has had leading roles on Broadway in Show Boat, The Phantom of the Opera, Sweet Charity and Ragtime, among others. He has also performed widely in national tours, regional theatre and Off-Broadway.

<i>Dancin</i> 1978 musical by Bob Fosse

Dancin' is a musical revue created, directed, and choreographed by Bob Fosse and originally produced on Broadway in 1978. The plotless, dance-driven revue is a tribute to the art of dance, and the music is a collection of mostly American songs, many with a dance theme, from a wide variety of styles, from operetta to jazz to classical to marches to pop. The original production received seven 1978 Tony Award nominations, with Fosse winning for best choreography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Swenson (actor)</span> American actor and singer

Will Swenson is an American actor and singer best known for his work in musical theatre. He also has developed a film career, primarily in LDS cinema.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Timbers</span> American writer and director

Alex Timbers is an American writer and director best known for his work on stage and television. He has received numerous accolades including two Tony Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a Drama Desk Award, as well as nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Grammy Award. Timbers received the Drama League Founder's Award for Excellence in Directing and the Jerome Robbins Award for Directing.

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical was an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City. The award was one of eight new acting awards first presented in 1975, when Drama Desk retired an earlier award that had made no distinction between work in plays and musicals, nor between actors and actresses, nor between lead performers and featured performers.

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical was an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City. The award was one of eight new acting awards first presented in 1975, when Drama Desk retired an earlier award that had made no distinction between work in plays and musicals, nor between actors and actresses, nor between lead performers and featured performers.

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical was an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City. The award was one of eight new acting awards first presented in 1975, when Drama Desk retired an earlier award that had made no distinction between work in plays and musicals, nor between actors and actresses, nor between lead performers and featured performers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Greenberg</span>

Gordon Greenberg is an American stage director, a theater and television writer, and an Artistic Associate at The New Group.

<i>Beautiful: The Carole King Musical</i> 2014 jukebox musical

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a jukebox musical with a book by Douglas McGrath that tells the story of the early life and career of Carole King, using songs that she wrote, often together with Gerry Goffin, and other contemporary songs by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Phil Spector and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Fradiani</span> American singer

Nicholas James Fradiani IV is an American singer from Guilford, Connecticut. He rose to regional attention as the lead singer of pop/rock band Beach Avenue when they won the Battle of the Bands at Mohegan Sun in 2011. He gained national recognition in 2014 when he competed on the ninth season of the reality talent show America's Got Talent, although he only made it to "Judgment Week".

<i>Girl from the North Country</i> (musical) Musical by Conor McPherson

Girl from the North Country is a musical with a book by Conor McPherson and songs with music and lyrics by Bob Dylan. It is the second show to use Dylan's music after Twyla Tharp's The Times They Are a-Changin'.

<i>Moulin Rouge!</i> (musical) 2018 musical based on the 2001 film

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a jukebox musical with a book by John Logan. The musical is based on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! directed by Baz Luhrmann and written by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce.

<i>MJ the Musical</i> Jukebox musical

MJ the Musical is a jukebox musical based on the life of the American entertainer Michael Jackson. It features Jackson's music with a book by Lynn Nottage, and choreography by Christopher Wheeldon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micaela Diamond</span> Actor and singer

Micaela Diamond is an American actress and singer. She made her Broadway debut as Babe in The Cher Show (2018–2019). Diamond starred in the critically acclaimed Broadway revival of the musical Parade as Lucille Frank, a performance for which she was nominated for the 2023 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Flying Over Sunset is a musical with music by Tom Kitt, lyrics by Michael Korie, and book by James Lapine. The musical is a fictional account of a meeting between Aldous Huxley, Clare Boothe Luce and Cary Grant, who all used the drug LSD.

Fat Ham is a dramatic stage play written by American playwright James Ijames. It is a modern-day adaptation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

<i>Almost Famous</i> (musical) 2019 musical based on the 2000 film

Almost Famous is a 2019 stage musical with music by Tom Kitt, lyrics by Cameron Crowe and Kitt, and a book by Crowe. It is based on the 2000 film of the same name written and directed by Crowe.

<i>The Devil Wears Prada</i> (musical) American stage musical

The Devil Wears Prada is a musical based on the novel and film of the same name, with music by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and a book by Kate Wetherhead.

<i>Here We Are</i> (musical) 2023 musical

Here We Are is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by David Ives based on two films by Luis Buñuel.

Crystal Lucas-Perry is an American actress, singer, songwriter and producer. She is known for her performances on Broadway starring in the musical revival of 1776 (2022), and the Jordan E. Cooper sketch-play Ain't No Mo' (2023), the later of which earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play.

References

  1. 1 2 Evans, Greg (2022-05-18). "Neil Diamond Musical 'A Beautiful Noise' Sets Fall Broadway Opening" . Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  2. 1 2 Shaffer, Claire (2021-04-06). "Neil Diamond Musical 'A Beautiful Noise' Announces World Premiere". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  3. ↑ Aucoin, Don. "Neil Diamond musical will have a pre-Broadway premiere at the Colonial in 2022 - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  4. ↑ Evans, Greg (2022-12-06). "Neil Diamond Musical 'A Beautiful Noise' Scores $1M For Opening Week – Broadway Box Office". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  5. ↑ Libbey, Peter (2021-04-06). "Neil Diamond Bio-Musical Sets Sights on Broadway". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  6. ↑ Wallenberg, Christopher. "'A Beautiful Noise' aims to tell Neil Diamond's story, inside and out". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  7. ↑ Aucoin, Don. "Neil Diamond musical will have a pre-Broadway premiere at the Colonial in 2022 - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  8. ↑ "Watch: Neil Diamond sings 'Sweet Caroline' at Fenway Park". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  9. ↑ "Neil Diamond surprises audience at Boston premiere of musical about his life". www.cbsnews.com. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  10. ↑ Kennedy, Mark (2022-03-05). "Neil Diamond Stage Musical Reveals Its Broadway Veteran Star". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  11. ↑ Evans, Greg (2022-04-21). "Neil Diamond Musical 'A Beautiful Noise' Adds Tony Nominees To Pre-Broadway Cast". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  12. ↑ "A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical, Starring Will Swenson, Confirms Full Broadway Cast". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  13. ↑ Paulson, Michael (May 18, 2022). "A Neil Diamond Musical Is Coming to Broadway, After a Stop in Boston". The New York Times .
  14. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (2022-12-07). "Bah-Bah-Bah!: Neil Diamond Surprises Broadway Audience With 'Sweet Caroline' on Opening Night". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  15. ↑ Evans, Greg (22 February 2024). "Broadway's Neil Diamond Musical 'A Beautiful Noise' Sets June Closing". Deadline . Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  16. ↑ "A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical to Launch North American Tour". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  17. ↑ "A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical". Did They Like It?. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  18. ↑ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (2022-12-05). "Review: 'A Beautiful Noise' Makes for a Morose Neil Diamond Musical". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  19. ↑ "Broadway review: Neil Diamond jukebox musical 'A Beautiful Noise' is nostalgic fun". New York Daily News. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  20. ↑ Amorosi, A. D. (2022-12-05). "'A Beautiful Noise' Review: Neil Diamond Musical Unpacks Hitmaker's Life in Therapy and Song". Variety. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  21. ↑ "Review: Broadway's Neil Diamond show isn't so good, so good". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  22. ↑ Quinn, Dave (2022-12-06). "Neil Diamond pulls back the curtain on his catalog of hits for 'A Beautiful Noise'". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  23. ↑ Evans, Greg (2023-10-05). "'American Idol' Winner Nick Fradiani Joins Broadway's 'A Beautiful Noise' As Neil Diamond". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  24. ↑ "2022-2023 Drama Desk Awards nominations announced". www.ny1.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  25. ↑ Eckmann, Sam (2023-05-20). "2023 Drama League Awards winners: Annaleigh Ashford ('Sweeney Todd') takes Distinguished Performance". GoldDerby. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  26. ↑ Rosky, Nicole. "SOME LIKE IT HOT, LEOPOLDSTADT & More Win 2023 Outer Critics Circle Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  27. ↑ "A Beautiful Noise Wins Big at 2023 Chita Rivera Awards". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.