”It’s a beautiful noise
And it’s a sound that I love
And it makes me feel good
Like a hand in a glove
Yes it does, yes it does“
—Neil Diamond, “Beautiful Noise”
Once again, America appears to be having a “Neil Diamond moment.”
Besides the surprise success of last year’s film “Song Sung Blue” — the biographical drama starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson about a Neil Diamond tribute band – the 85-year-old singer/songwriter (with uber-producer Rick Rubin) last month released his 35th studio album, “Wild at Heart,” to critical acclaim.
Meanwhile, the hit jukebox musical “A Beautiful Noise” is touring across the country and getting rave reviews. Chronicling Diamond’s life and extensive musical catalog, “A Beautiful Noise” will be presented at downtown Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre from June 23-28.
Jmore recently spoke with Michael Mayer, director of “A Beautiful Noise,” about the show and its story of a scrappy Jewish kid from Brooklyn who became a musical icon.
A Bethesda native who lives in Manhattan with his partner, oncologist Roger Waltzmann, Mayer, 65, won a Tony Award in 2007 for best direction of a musical for “Spring Awakening.”
How would you characterize the eternal appeal of Neil Diamond? In other words, why do we all kneel to Neil?
Neil’s enduring appeal is the marriage of personal lyrics written with earworm hooks that stem from the great pop song structures of the 1960s
Was he indeed, as they say, ‘the Jewish Elvis’?
I think Elvis was such an icon for Neil that when he achieved a great level of success, he felt he could wear the sequins and pull off that kind of flashy Elvis-in-Vegas type concerts.
And his audiences agreed!
How did being Jewish influence the music and career of Neil Diamond?
Growing up in a Jewish home in Flatbush, Brooklyn, on the heels of World War II had a profound impact on Neil’s psyche, and perhaps unconsciously on his songwriting.
What makes this jukebox musical different from all other jukebox musicals?
The context of Neil Diamond now, in a moment of crisis [the singer retired from touring in 2018 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease], looking back on his life and career, gives us a nuanced and dramatic journey. So it’s not simply a “Then I wrote this and then I wrote that” kind of jukebox show. We learn more about him through his songwriting.
So tell the truth, have you always been a ‘Diamondhead’?
My mom was a serious fan of Neil’s, so his music was always playing in our house. I could have chosen to reject him, I suppose, but I totally embraced his music. It’s part of the soundtrack of my life.
When did you personally first become aware of Neil Diamond?
I don’t remember a time before I was aware of Neil’s music. I was first aware of him as a performer when I saw my mom’s album covers, and on TV.
Your favorite Neil Diamond tune of all time?
‘I Am … I Said.’
What makes Nick Fradiani ideal to portray Neil Diamond?
First of all, the uncanny voice, great guitar-playing, extraordinary musicianship and emotional availability.
His acting is honest and demonstrates charisma for days.
How does your own Jewish background inform your work on this show?
I was brought up in the 1960s with a sense of cultural Judaism. This baked-in reverence for Jewish food, music, literature, and any and all artistic endeavors has been a crucial element in all my work.
In making ‘A Beautiful Noise,’ I could access all of this lived experience in service of telling Neil’s story from an authentic perspective.
What kind of feedback have you received about the show?
Audiences love the show. They come for the tunes they adore, and stay for the story of Neil Diamond, and more often than not, they walk away understanding something new about themselves, which is what we always hope for.
Have you heard from ‘His Royal Neilness’ himself?
Neil has been a constant presence since the beginning of our work on the show. His passion for the work, and the evident pleasure he takes in it, has been an incredible gift for all of us.
Whenever he and his fabulous wife, Katie, come to see it — in Boston before Broadway, in New York, on tour — the company revels in the huge shot of adrenaline his presence delivers.
What do you think is the production’s showstopper?
There are a couple of surefire showstoppers: ‘Sweet Caroline,’ of course, ‘The Stadium Medley,’ ‘Forever in Blue Jeans,’ ‘I Am … I Said’ and ‘Holly Holy.’
What will surprise audiences about this show?
That the songs are so connected to Neil’s life. They’ll understand him in a new way.
What do you hope audiences take away?
I hope audiences will have a deeper appreciation of Neil the artist, as well as Neil the man. I also hope that all audience members will think about their own life journeys in different ways.
As a Montgomery County native, are you looking at the Hippodrome shows as a homecoming of sorts?
Absolutely! It’s such a kick to come back to Maryland and bring work that I made in New York but is so connected to where I grew up.
The Hippodrome is located at 12 N. Eutaw Street. For information about the show, visit baltimore.broadway.com/shows/a-beautiful-noise/
Duke Zimmerman and Lori Gale will talk at Towson University about their new book "People Get Ready" and the role played by Globe Posters in the civil rights movement.
The new exhibition revisits and updates a previous show about ritual hair covering in the observant community.
One of the most competitive local races for public office this political season is for Baltimore County Executive. Jmore recently spoke with four of the candidates about their views on how they hope to enhance life in the county.
The Pikesville resident's latest offering "There's a Dragon in the Tree House and He Won't Come out!" was co-written with her grandsons.