A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical is a Joyous Celebration of Music, Life, and Healing

Nick Fradiani as “Neil- Then” (center) and “The Noise” in A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel.

Almost everyone knows a Neil Diamond song (if not two or three or more). However, not everyone is familiar with the man behind the music or the real-life inspirations for his 38 top-40 singles, not to mention his countless other songs. However, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, written by four-time Academy Award nominee Anthony McCarten and directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, takes a deep dive into his life, his mistakes, and, of course, his music, painting an honest, humanizing portrait of a living legend.

The show, which is onstage now at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), begins with an older Neil (Neil - Now), portrayed by a convincing Robert Westenberg, as he sits with his therapist (Lisa Reneé Pitts). She prods a reluctant Neil to share details about his childhood and ultimately turns to a book of his songs for revelation. This smart frame allows viewers to travel back in time and immerse themselves directly into key moments in Neil’s life, with occasional visits back to the present. 

The first transition into the past is marked with an eerie, well-done mash-up of several of Neil’s songs, performed by dancers who ooze out of the woodwork and surround him. This is just one instance in which Steven Hoggett’s original, always-entertaining choreography steals the show, and it’s also a nice example of Mayer’s smooth directorial style in which every moment, even the magical or over-the-top ones, feels effortless, ethereal, and surprisingly natural.

With the old Neil (Neil - Then) released on stage, viewers get a chance to see him before he was the Neil Diamond. They’re met with a young, somewhat brooding boy trying to get his big break. His first on-stage encounter is with Ellie, a straightforward, no-nonsense music producer performed by an indomitable Kate A. Mulligan. Mulligan adds instant humor with her biting-but-honest delivery, and she has an easy chemistry with Nick Fradiani’s young Neil.

And, speaking of indomitable, Fradiani, a past American Idol winner, is a hit from the moment he walks on stage. He looks and sounds just like the young artist, boasts a deep, sexy voice, and radiates instant likeability and charm. It also doesn’t hurt that the match-up between Fradiani and Westenberg is spot-on. Whenever they stand together, they truly look like time-separated versions of the same person, which makes for a gripping effect.

As the story’s young Neil rises slowly to success, truths about his relationships and personal struggles are revealed. He moves through a failed but never loveless relationship with his first wife Jaye, played by a sweetly sympathetic Tiffany Tatreau. Together, the two deliver a strikingly powerful version of “Love on the Rocks.” Then, he’s on to his second wife, Marcia, acted at Tuesday night’s performance by a captivating Ginger Hurley. At every turn, Hurley's characterization is intriguing, painting Marcia as a person who was every bit as complex as Neil.  She especially nails her rendition of “Forever in Blue Jeans,” doing justice not just to the music but to Hoggett’s high-kicking choreography. In both this number and others, he infuses retro style with modern touches and packs every dance with visual appeal.

What’s most endearing about this production, however, is that it’s never egotistical or self-serving. It doesn’t gloss over Neil’s struggles as a person, a partner, or an artist. Instead, it’s unflinchingly honest and surprisingly inspiring. The therapy lens adds a hopeful tone and transforms the musical from mere biography into something more like a redemption tale. It sends a message that we’re all human and that there’s power, strength, and incredible bravery in facing up to one’s demons and doing the hard work of self exploration. 

Uplifting, encouraging, and one heck of a good time, A Beautiful Noise is a joy in every way. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a Neil newbie, you’ll find something to celebrate here. And, yes—don’t worry—you’ll get to sing along to “Sweet Caroline,” as well as other unforgettable hits.