By Joanie Cox-Henry
Diamonds are made under pressure, and Neil Diamond is no exception. Diamond's musical contributions are immense, but I had no idea his life story was so compelling or that he had gone through bouts of self-doubt. Neil from Flatbush who started out performing for small crowds at The Bitter End in New York City, went on to sell 130 million records worldwide toured from the 1960s through the 2010s.
A Beautiful Noise at the Broward Center offers a riveting biographical journey through Neil Diamond's remarkable musical journey. This production transcends mere tribute, delivering an intimate exploration of artistic transformation.
The ingenious staging employs two vastly different Diamond personas—Nick Fradiani as the youthful dreamer and Robert Westenberg as the reflective elder—creating a nuanced narrative that chronicles the artist's evolution as a musician, a husband, a father and a human. Fradiani, with American Idol credentials, brings electrifying authenticity to his role, while Westenberg provides contemplative depth. Fradiani's voice is so all-encompassing, Broward Center felt like a stadium-sized arena show at times.
Complementing the lead performers, "The Noise" ensemble—including Cooper Clack, Chris Marsh Clark, Dennis Dizon, and others—provides vibrant musical and dramatic support, creating a dynamic theatrical canvas that pulses with Diamond's legendary energy.
Hannah Jewel Kohn was enchanting as Marcia Murphey, the woman who would become Diamond's second wife. Her rendition of "Forever In Blue Jeans" was nothing short of explosive.
The show's brilliance lies in its ability to transform iconic songs like "America" and "Sweet Caroline" into narrative signposts, revealing the human story behind the music we've all been singing along to for years but perhaps needed to dig a little deeper on the origin of its lyrics. There are moments where you completely forget you're at a musical and not a soldout rock concert, and a profound meditation on artistic resilience and personal transformation perfectly balances that. The crowd around me was often whispering to each other, "I didn't realize he had written that one!" This was in reference to The Monkey's "I'm A Believer," and "Red Red Wine."
Producer Ken Davenport's vision demonstrates this isn't just a musical but a celebration of Diamond's fifty-year legacy of bringing joy to millions.
A Beautiful Noise offers a compelling artistic odyssey that will resonate far beyond mere musical reminiscence. While Neil Diamond fans will rejoice in this experience, you don't have to be a Diamond fan to enjoy this show. But one thing is for certain. You will walk out of this show smiling and energized, confirming that Diamond really is forever.
A Beautiful Noise runs through Feb. 2 at Broward Center For The Performing Arts.
Click here for tickets.
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