A Beautiful Noise shines like a Neil Diamond

A Beautiful Noise is a Broadway musical that opened at the Broadhurst Theatre in 2022 and tickets sold quickly thanks to the built-in following of the subject Neil Diamond. In 2024, the show has hit the road for a national tour and lands it in the Windy City where tickets have once been selling at a record pace.

The title is taken from his 1976 album of the same name and the plot centers around therapy sessions where the performer reflects on his past. It's a slow start for the show, but as the catchy tunes come rolling in things pick up.

The audience learns that Diamond started from humble beginnings and wrote songs for other artists before becoming a solo artist. There's a joke early on in the script about using the singer's real name instead of a fabricated one but no mention of his middle name Leslie to have fun with. As he rises to the top the curtain is pulled back on his life. The way the cast conveys his catalog in lively segments throughout is what makes this musical a joy for theatergoers.

American Idol winner Nick Fradiani pitches down Diamond's voice when speaking then soars when he sings. Hannah Jewel Kohn has the looks of Rebecca Romijn and runs away with the part of Marcia Murphey. The choreography is admirable and several dancers in The Noise stand out like Cooper Clack and Ellen McGihon. Spencer Donovan Jones has a nice vocal acoustic moment with “Shilo” towards the end of the show after dancing up a storm earlier.

Emilio Sosa's costume design is outstanding and reflects colors coordinated with song choices. The backing band supports Fradiani well as he does much of the heavy lifting throughout the jukebox musical.

The songs keep the narrative moving as Diamond rides the roller coaster of the music business and tries to maintain a personal life during the ups and downs required of him.

Massive hits such as “Hello Again”, “Sweet Caroline” and “Love on the Rocks” are tackled with gusto by the cast before the end song of “Holly Holy.”

The therapist scenes slow down the pacing of the lengthy show and could easily be trimmed down. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical didn't use this crutch to tell her biography and instead smartly focused on the incredible songwriting aspect of her work. Diamond deserves more flowers than what he's given here during the bookends of the text.

The world can be divided into Neil Diamond and Barry Manilow music fans for the over 50 crowd and they share many commonalities. The iconic singers both have enormous catalogs of work with singalong tunes that folks love to croon to. When is The Barry Manilow: A Beautiful Bandstand Boogie coming out?

Until then Diamond lovers can go to the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 West Randolph Street, from now until Nov. 24, 2024. Visit broadwayinchicago.com to pick up tickets before the holiday.