Nick Fradiani as ‘Neil – Then’ (center) and ‘The Noise’ in “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.” Photo credit Jeremy Daniel.
By Jim Roberts
“A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” ran for less than two years on Broadway, but a national tour featuring “American Idol” winner Nick Fradiani as “Neil Then” and Drama Desk Award winner Robert Westenberg as “Neil Now” has been breaking box office records since it opened in 2024.
Tiffany Tatreau, who plays Jaye Posner, Diamond’s first wife, has a theory about the show’s success. “Neil didn’t really get to do a proper farewell tour,” she said. “So we really feel like this is the opportunity for fans who didn’t get that moment to come out and feel transported. … That’s really special to bring to people.”
Tatreau, who is performing in her first national tour, recently spoke to Veer Magazine about the show and the lasting appeal of Diamond’s music. Here are her comments about five of the songs she’s featured in.
“Cherry Cherry”
“I actually sing a chunk of ‘September Morn’ during ‘Cherry Cherry.’ … It’s a very interesting arrangement in how it tells the story. We kind of get two different versions of what’s going on in Neil’s life at the time–the juxtaposition of this young musician taking off and his life at home. Those songs kind of come together in a really interesting way that I don’t want to spoil before anyone sees the show, but it’s very fun.”
“Love on the Rocks”
“I get to sing with Nick Fradiani. He’s just one of the best musicians and singers that I’ve ever worked with. When you sing with somebody who’s so great, it makes you better. I think getting to do that every night, we both kind of get to press the gas pedal down and rock out a little bit. So that’s always a lot of fun.”
“Forever in Blue Jeans”
“I love that I get to come out for that one, because that’s actually sung by Hannah Jewel Kohn, who plays Marcia Murphey, Neil Diamond’s second wife. … It’s a lot of fun because it’s a big, big production number. I’m not in our incredible dancing/singing/acting ensemble that we call The Noise, but for one moment, I get to kind of play with them, and that’s a great moment.”
“Shilo”
“That’s another memory play moment where we come out. It’s such a beautiful rendition. It’s a very unique arrangement to this show, and that’s sung by Spencer Jones, who’s in The Noise as well. It’s a number that kind of stops time. It’s one of my favorite moments of the show every single night.”
“Holly Holy”
“‘Holly Holy’ is kind of a big ‘all skate’ moment for us, where we all get to come out and be together at the end of this story and bring the music and the joy and the full circle nature of the piece together.”
Diamond, who stopped touring in 2017 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, attended a recent performance of “A Beautiful Noise” in Los Angeles.
“It was something else to know that he was in the audience and we were performing his music and his life for him,” Tatreau said. “And then such a moment at the end of the show when he stood up and started singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ in the audience. You’ve never heard the sound barrier just like go out the window! It was absolutely thrilling to be there for that moment and see how he’s impacted our audience and our company. I did get to say hello and thank him, and he was hilarious and wonderful and kind and all of those things. So it was an extremely special day.”
“A Beautiful Noise” will run from Sept. 2-7 at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk. Ticket prices start at $61.95. For tickets or more information, visit sevenvenues.com.