Neil Diamond鈥檚 life story is told in 鈥淎 Beautiful Noise,鈥� with plenty of hits along the way
Jeremy Daniel
When you’re on vacation and hear a busker belting out “Sweet Caroline,” with a child no older than 8 singing along, you realize Neil Diamond’s music truly spans generations.
But who really is the man behind the music? That’s what audiences will learn when they see the jukebox musical “A Beautiful Noise,” which will be at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh through Sunday.
The musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2022, was created in collaboration with Diamond. It tells the story of how a kid from Brooklyn became one of America’s most beloved entertainers.
With 120 million albums sold and a catalog of classics, like “America” “Forever in Blue Jeans” and “I Am…I Said,” Neil Diamond’s music is enjoyed worldwide.
The 84 year-old has been off the road in recent years as a result of Parkinson’s disease, but he has said, “Some of my most thrilling nights have been while I was on tour, bringing my music to audiences across the world.”
Playing the wife behind the icon
Marcia Murphey was married to Diamond for 25 years, and was the second of his three wives. She is a significant character in “A Beautiful Noise,” and Hannah Jewel Kohn plays Murphey. Kohn has been dancing since she was 2, turning professional by age 15. Kohn has previously appeared in Disney’s “Frozen,” and the national tour of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” Other credits include roles in the musicals “Come Fall in Love” and “South Pacific”.
Kohn was drawn to the character because she saw many parallels between Murphey’s life and her own.
“I feel connected to her in that I understand what it feels to experience heartbreak, joy and the importance of showing up for people,” she said.
Murphey believed in Diamond’s talent and pushed him to embrace his gift, but the marriage ultimately suffered under the weight of his constant touring.
“There were many reasons, but the biggest one was that he was always on the road,” Kohn explained, adding that material possessions don’t always add up to happiness. Diamond communicates this in his hit “Forever in Blue Jeans.”
“While on the road, Diamond was missing so many things from the relationship with his wife, to his kids’ birthdays,” said Kohn.
A dream role
Now on her third national tour, Kohn describes her role as Murphey as a “dream role.”
“It allows me to use all my training since it is heavy on dancing, singing and acting,” she said.
When asked what songs resonate most with audiences, Kohn doesn’t hesitate – it’s “Sweet Caroline.”
“‘Everyone loves that song,” she said.
As for special moments in “A Beautiful Noise,” Kohn cites an interaction in the second act when Robert Westenberg, who plays Diamond, discusses with his doctor the struggle between being a show-stopping musician to an ordinary man when he’s not performing – a topic that’s addressed in “I Am…I Said.”
“He questions who he is without the adrenaline, and his doctor says there should be contentment in the ‘in between,'” said Kohn, adding that it’s a moving moment, especially given Diamond’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, which was announced in 2018 just before his 77th birthday. “It reinforces the fact that it’s beautiful to cherish every little moment. I’ve learned to walk into each day with gratitude.”
Why a musical?
For Kohn, it’s no accident that Diamond chose a stage musical to share his story. Ken Davenport, the producer of “A Beautiful Noise,” agrees.
“Neil is one of the best live entertainers the world has ever seen,” Davenport said. “In his long career, he’s performed for millions of fans around the globe. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to honor his legacy than to have ‘A Beautiful Noise’ touring North America and visiting the same cities where he gave so many people so much joy.”
Another producer, Bob Gaudio, who is also a songwriter and former member of the Four Seasons, echoed this sentiment.
“When Neil and I first talked about making a musical, I knew how daunting that would be and how vital it is to have a first-rate creative team making sure everything weaves together,” Gaudio said. “We have that in ‘A Beautiful Noise.'”
Kohn hopes that Pittsburgh audiences will appreciate Diamond’s choice.
“When you come to the show, you’ll understand why the story is told through a musical,” she said. “You’ll laugh, sing, cry and find it both moving and inspiring. It’s really one of those shows that you have to see to experience.”