Broadway at the Marcus Center presents A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL

Nick Fradiani as 'Neil - Then' (center) with Tasheim Ramsey Pack (left) and Cooper Clack and Jeilani Rhone-Collins (right) in A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.

By Mary Boyle

​In January of 2018, Neil Diamond was 77 years old and partway through his 50th Anniversary tour when he announced that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.  Arguably the hardest working man in music, Diamond has sold over 130 million albums worldwide, earning 38 Top 40 singles and 18 Top 10 albums, as well as 40 Gold albums, 21 Platinum albums, and 12 multi-Platinum albums, all while touring the country and world for over five decades.  Were it not for the recommendation of his doctors, “…my heart and soul would tour until the day I die,” Diamond said, “if only my body would cooperate.” 

While his touring days were over, Diamond didn’t stop working entirely.  In 2022, with Diamond’s help, a new musical was unveiled on Broadway that tells the story of his incredible journey from a poor Jewish kid growing up in Brooklyn to becoming one of the world’s greatest showmen.  At last, Milwaukee audiences can join in A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL from March 25-30 at the Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee, thanks to the Broadway at the Marcus Center series.

Directed by Michael Mayer and with book by Anthony McCarten, the musical features many of Diamond’s greatest hits, all written by him, including “America,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and “Sweet Caroline,” as well as his first hit that he wrote for The Monkees, “I’m A Believer.”  While I seriously doubt there are many songs in the show that aren’t familiar to anyone over the age of 40, it’s the story of Diamond’s life and how the songs were inspired that gives them all more dimension and meaning; a story that is told by “Neil – Now” (Robert Westenberg) as he works through a lifetime of struggle with depression in the office of his therapist, Dr. Lu Katzman (Lisa Reneé Pitts).

“Neil – Then” (Nick Fradiani) was a desperate man; a songwriter from Flatbush in need of a break with baby number two on the way with his first wife, Jaye Posner (Tiffany Tatreau).  The break came from Ellie Greenwich (Kate A. Mulligan), a pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer in New York who convinced Diamond to keep his real name and eventually convinced him to stop giving his songs to others and to perform them himself.  From his first live performance at The Bitter End in New York in 1967, Diamond seemed destined for fame, though he struggled to appreciate his successes and made several wrong turns.  The Bitter End was where Diamond met and fell in love with Marcia Murphey (Hannah Jewel Kohn), his second wife who was married to him for the next 25 years, until the constant touring finally took its toll.  It was Diamond’s third wife, Katie, who insisted he finally get some help with his depression, and this decision turned out to be the one that truly changed Diamond’s life for the better.

“There used to be a stigma around talking about mental health and thankfully through the years, it’s become an important and accepted topic of conversation,” Diamond wrote in his letter about the musical.  “…in the end, coming to terms with my life and accepting it has somehow come full circle.  I feel fortunate and full of gratitude for all the people in my life.  It is each of them who have impacted and shaped me in their own way to get me to the place where I am now…a better man.  A better father.  A better husband.  A better songwriter.”

As a child of the 80s, Neil Diamond’s music has been a part of the soundtrack of my life, though I never considered myself a huge fan; however, the musical caused me to revisit that soundtrack with new understanding, and I have a new appreciation for his songwriting.  Nick Fradiani is a ringer for the young Neil, with that voice “like gravel wrapped in velvet,” and nearly as effective as the real Diamond at getting the audience off their feet to clap and sing along, especially to “Sweet Caroline” – a song that even the twenty-something set can sing along to.  “Neil” is backed by a great band and talented backup singers and dancers, with music supervision and arrangements by Sonny Paladino and choreography by Steven Hoggett.  A Beautiful Noise is so much more than the music Neil Diamond created; it’s a fitting legacy for a man who worked hard all his life running away from his loneliness, only to find peace when he finally forced himself to sit down and listen. 

A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL runs through March 30,  2025, at the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Uihlein Hall, located at 929 N. Water Street in Downtown Milwaukee. Tickets may be purchased online at www.MarcusCenter.org, calling 414-273-7206 or by visiting the MPAC Box Office.  Groups of 10 or more can secure their seats by calling 414-273-7207.
 
About Marcus Performing Arts Center
A mission-based non-profit organization located in downtown Milwaukee, the Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) brings high-quality arts and cultural programming to Southeastern Wisconsin. MPAC strives to act as an energizing force that connects the community to the world through collaboration, innovation, social engagement, and the transformative power of the performing arts. Through multiple performance series, community events, and educational experiences, MPAC brings a diverse range of celebrated artists to the region. A fixture in Milwaukee for over 50 years, MPAC is proud to be part of the Milwaukee Theater District as well as a dedicated War Memorial facility. Learn more at www.MarcusCenter.org.

Johnson Financial Group, with offices in Wisconsin and Minnesota, is a privately owned financial services company offering banking, wealth and insurance solutions through its subsidiaries, Johnson Bank, Johnson Wealth, and Johnson Insurance Services. For more information visit  johnsonfinancialgroup.com.
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Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office, and Broadway Brands. Led by 22-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and Hamilton. Current productions include & Juliet, Hadestown, Hamilton, Hell’s Kitchen, MJ: The Musical, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Outsiders, and Stereophonic.