There’s officially a date for the debut of the highly-anticipated Broadway musical based on Neil Diamond’s life. A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical begins previews on November 2nd and opens on December 4th at New York’s Broadhurst Theater. Before its stint on Broadway, the musical will premiere at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theater for a six-week run, beginning on June 21.
Will Swenson, who had roles in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and The Greatest Showman, will star as young Diamond, and Broadway veteran Mark Jacoby will play current-day Diamond. The cast also includes Jessie Fisher as Jaye Posner and Robyn Hurder as Marcia Murphey.
The book was written by Anthony McCarten, the screenwriter behind Academy Award-winning Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. It’ll be produced by Ken Davenport and Bob Gaudio, and directed by Michael Mayer, who won a Tony for his directing of Spring Awakening in 2007. The musical is also choreographed by Tony nominee Steve Hoggett, who has helmed such Broadway hits as American Idiot, Once, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
The singer-songwriter behind such hits as “Sweet Caroline,” “America,” and “Cracklin’ Rosie” had previously released a statement about the honor of having his life turned into a musical.
“I’ve had the joy of coming to Boston on countless occasions, but one of the most special was my 2013 trip to Fenway where I had the honor of being part of a moment of relief, unity, strength, and love,” he said. “Next summer, when A Beautiful Noise has its first performance at the Emerson Colonial Theatre, and we’re all able to safely be in the same space together, experiencing the thrill of live theater, I imagine those same emotions will wash over me and the entire audience. Relief… Unity… Strength… Love… I can’t wait to share that experience.”
