Will Swenson To Lead A BEAUTIFUL NOISE

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 10:29am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Will-Swenson-Will-Lead-Neil-Diamond-Musical-A-BEAUTIFUL-NOISE-20220304

SO GOOD! SO GOOD! SO GOOD!

[barcelona20]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 10:55am

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

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 10:56am

I was hoping for Andy Karl, but I'm happy with this!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 11:04am

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

[JasonC3]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 11:52am

I would assume the producers believe the show can attract Neil Diamond fans, whose devotion to him is legion—and spans many decades—and not just typical Broadway theatergoers.  Whether or not they can remains to be seen.

But if fans are flocking to see MJ, it isn't hard to imagine people of a certain age, particularly women, taking a look at this show.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 12:12pm

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.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 12:18pm

barcelona20 said: "Genuinely curious. Does anyone under the age of 50 have an interest in seeing this?"

 

I'm over 50 and have no interest in this.  To be fair, I have yet to enjoy any of the bio-musicals.  Just not my thing.

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 12:40pm

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. 

 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 12:46pm

barcelona20 said: "Genuinely curious. Does anyone under the age of 50 have an interest in seeing this?"

Nope. But Mr. Audra McDonald must be very happy! 

 

Updated On: 3/4/22 at 12:46 PM

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 1:06pm

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

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 2:02pm

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.

"

Agreed! Love Hoggett's work. Loved his work on "Let The Right One In" (and wish it had come to Broadway) - and Mayer is hit or miss for me. But I'm sure this will be a big, slick production, so that's exciting. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 2:30pm

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.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 3:12pm

barcelona20 said: "Genuinely curious. Does anyone under the age of 50 have an interest in seeing this?"

Without Will Swenson, I have zero interest. I don't think that's what they're going for...

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 4:37pm

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

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/4/22 at 10:33pm

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

Agree as is should be retitled ''Sweet Caroline'' if they were smart but Davenport is not that type of producer. Most have no idea who Neil Diamond is  - my parents yes but they're old!

[JasonC3]

Posted: 3/5/22 at 4:31am

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.

[BJR]

Posted: 3/5/22 at 7:53am

JasonC3 said: "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."

Actually Millennials outbumbered Boomers in 2019. BUT the latter half of that is true and most important here.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/5/22 at 7:55am

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

[White_Lotus]

Posted: 3/5/22 at 10:16am

this is an interesting choice for a show - because diamond has a more mature fan base

but he has amassed a back catalogue of classic songs to work with.

I consider myself a fan - he's a very talented songwriter...but I prefer early pre-"sweet caroline" diamond before he went middle-of-the-road-vanilla. 

give me "brother love's traveling salvation show" over "song sung blue" any day of the week.

looking forward to seeing what they do with this material.

swenson is an excellent choice.

[Loopin’theloop]

Posted: 3/7/22 at 7:12am

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!