Will Swenson To Lead A BEAUTIFUL NOISE

Genuinely curious. Does anyone under the age of 50 have an interest in seeing this?

I do not think Neil Diamond has the popularity among full-priced Broadway ticketbuyers that this team thinks he does. Especially if this is indeed playing the Broadway Theatre.

But this is kind of a classy team... written by Anthony McCarten (screenwriter of the terrible BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY but also of some good movies), directed by Michael Mayer, choreographed by Steven Hoggett, starring Will Swenson. And that artwork is quite beautiful.

If there's a really good story here, it could transcend the jukebox genre. Or it could be absolute crap put up by overqualified artists and a producer desperate to make money.

Updated On: 3/4/22 at 11:04 AM

Still way too early to tell if MJ will be a hit, though. Many a jukebox musical has opened strong and then sales weaken. Look at SUMMER and THE CHER SHOW: really solid grosses for 4 months, grosses soften, and they were gone by month 9 without recouping.

Many a producer has wanted to reach an audience that doesn't typically attend Broadway musicals. Few succeed. JERSEY BOYS was the rare crossover in that it's both a good story, a popular music catalogue, and a slick production, and it all appealed to the "bridge and tunnel" crowd.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "But this is kind of a classy team... written by Anthony McCarten (screenwriter of the terrible BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY but also of some good movies), directed by Michael Mayer, choreographed by Steven Hoggett, starring Will Swenson. And that artwork is quite beautiful.

If there's a really good story here, itcouldtranscend the jukebox genre. Or it could be absolute crap put up by overqualified artists and a producer desperate to make money."



I just looked up McCarten's credits - I've seen his last 4 movies, and frankly I haven't been impressed by any of his screenplays.

But also, regardless of one's feelings about McCarten's work: if there's one thing I've learned about these music biopics/bio-jukeboxes, it's that a talented dramatist is no match for a team of producers and estate representatives who want to stick to to the formula. I've been burned over and over on this. Dominique Morisseau with Ain't Too Proud, Colman Domingo for Summer, Katori Hall for Tina, and so on, and so forth. I'm always reeled in by the hope that these talented writers will work their magic, only to discover they've been squished into the formula like all the rest.

Michael Mayer might add a slightly fresh, creative edge, but I doubt he'd be able to transcend the genre if the book isn't there.

Oddly enough, it's Stephen Hoggett who excites me the most - not that his presence means the show will be good, but Hoggett never fails to noticeably elevate every project he works on.

Is that the best title they could come up with? Will Carole King be a supporting character?

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I do not think Neil Diamond has the popularity among full-priced Broadway ticketbuyers that this team thinks he does. Especially if this is indeed playing the Broadway Theatre.

But this is kind of a classy team... written by Anthony McCarten (screenwriter of the terrible BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY but also of some good movies), directed by Michael Mayer, choreographed by Steven Hoggett, starring Will Swenson. And that artwork is quite beautiful.

If there's a really good story here, itcouldtranscend the jukebox genre. Or it could be absolute crap put up by overqualified artists and a producer desperate to make money."



Agreed. Hopefully Ken Davenport won't f*ck it up too badly.

It's fine for certain shows to have limited-to-no appeal to audiences under 50. This is certainly not the first such show. BUT the demographics of Neil Diamond fans may not overlap much with full-price Broadway theatergoers. Especially in a barn of a theatre like The Broadway (if that rumor is true).

Are MOTOWN, AIN'T TOO PROUD, and BEAUTIFUL the only jukebox bio-musicals to have recouped on Bway post-JERSEY BOYS?

Updated On: 3/4/22 at 04:37 PM

I'm not saying they will be interested in this show, but let's not forget that Baby Boomers are the largest generational cohort alive right now and are in their prime income years.

Not going to lie... I am more excited for this show than I should be.

JBroadway said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "But this is kind of a classy team... written by Anthony McCarten (screenwriter of the terrible BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY but also of some good movies), directed by Michael Mayer, choreographed by Steven Hoggett, starring Will Swenson. And that artwork is quite beautiful.

If there's a really good story here, itcouldtranscend the jukebox genre. Or it could be absolute crap put up by overqualified artists and a producer desperate to make money."



I just looked up McCarten's credits - I've seen his last 4 movies, and frankly I haven't been impressed by any of his screenplays.

But also, regardless of one's feelings about McCarten's work: if there's one thing I've learned about these music biopics/bio-jukeboxes, it's that a talented dramatist is no match for a team of producers and estate representatives who want to stick to to the formula. I've been burned over and over on this. Dominique Morisseau with Ain't Too Proud, Colman Domingo for Summer, Katori Hall for Tina, and so on, and so forth. I'm always reeled in by the hope that these talented writers will work their magic, only to discover they've been squished into the formula like all the rest.

Michael Mayer might add a slightly fresh, creative edge, but I doubt he'd be able to transcend the genre if the book isn't there.

Oddly enough, it's Stephen Hoggett who excites me the most - not that his presence means the show will be good, but Hoggett never fails to noticeably elevate every project he works on.

"

Never have truer words been spoken. Very well put!