There’s no denying it – A Beautiful Noise hits all the right notes when it comes to musical nostalgia. Packed with beloved hits and powered by a show-stopping performance from American Idol winner Nick Fradiani, the touring production at the Pantages Theatre delivers a crowd-pleasing tribute to the legendary Neil Diamond. While the storytelling doesn’t break new ground, the energy, the music, and Fradiani’s uncanny vocals make for an undeniably entertaining night at the theater.
That said, A Beautiful Noise doesn’t exactly reinvent the autobiographical jukebox musical. Telling the story of Neil Diamond’s rise to global fame, the show uses a therapy session as its framing device – an older Neil (Robert Westenberg) revisits his past with the help of a therapist (Lisa Renee Pitts), trying to understand his emotional distance from the people in his life, especially his wives and children. While this structure is rooted in Diamond’s real-life years in therapy and commitment to mental health advocacy, the show never fully capitalizes on the potential for deep introspection. The result is a somewhat muddled psychological journey that explains rather than explores.
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It’s another story of a reluctant superstar: brilliant, brooding, and torn between art and fame. Fortunately, Nick Fradiani, as “Neil-Then,” is the show’s secret weapon. His voice is a jaw-dropping match for Diamond’s, pulling the audience in from the very first song. Most of the musical numbers are staged as concert performances, which helps keep the show grounded. But occasionally, the production veers into traditional musical territory with characters breaking into song mid-scene. These moments have mixed results.
One such moment is Hannah Jewel Kohn’s rendition of “Forever in Blue Jeans” as Marcia, Neil’s second wife. Though Kohn sings it beautifully, the number exists primarily to give the song stage time. The staging, complete with her literally prancing around in blue jeans, feels thin, backed by choreography that comes off more like a first-year drama school project than a professional tour. Still, the cast throws themselves into every move, with special props to Cooper Clack, who gives 150% in every sequence.
Despite its uneven storytelling, A Beautiful Noise is consistently engaging, especially for fans of Neil Diamond. It’s genuinely fascinating to learn about the early songs he wrote for others and the deeply personal connection he had to his own work. Robert Westenberg brings quiet gravitas to the older Neil, while Lisa Renee Pitts gives the therapist a regal, Angela Bassett-style presence with a wink of camp. Kate A. Mulligan steals every scene she’s in, especially as Neil’s first record executive, Ellie Greenwich. And Kohn, as Marcia, plays well off Fradiani with a charismatic, spirited energy that gives their scenes a needed spark.
But make no mistake, this is Fradiani’s show. His vocals, stage presence, and emotional commitment elevate the entire production. With him at the center, it’s hard not to be swept up in all the beautiful noise.
“A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” runs through July 27th at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. For more information and tickets, visit www.broadwayinhollywood.com.
