A Neil Diamond stage musical is on the way
2 July 2019, 11:15 | Updated: 11 October 2023, 13:17
A new Neil Diamond musical developed by the man himself is heading for Broadway.
Currently untitled, the musical will be directed by Michael Mayer, and the music will feature many of Neil Diamond’s greatest hits, alongside a book by Anthony McCarten, the man behind Bohemian Rhapsody and The Theory of Everything.
Diamond said: “I’ve always loved Broadway. The inspiration for many of my early songs came from shows like West Side Story, My Fair Lady and Fiddler on the Roof, so it seems only fitting to bring my songs to The Great White Way. I’m honoured and excited to be working with this great team.”
“On the mantle-piece in my childhood home in New Zealand, there were always two pictures: one was of the Pope, the other of Neil Diamond,” McCarten added.
“The epic musical catalogue of this Rock and Roll Hall of Famer flowed endlessly off our family record player. As a child you took it into yourself, and to this day I can recite the lyrics of his hits deep into their second or third verses.
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline High Quality neildiamond
"Imagine my excitement, then, when the opportunity arose to work with Neil on a musical based on his life and music. A very, very easy and so sweet ‘Yes!'”
Bob Gaudio said: “Having been intimately associated with one very special biographical musical, I am clearly a fan of the form. And as a fellow member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I remain in awe of Neil Diamond’s contribution to American popular culture, music, and of his incredible life story."
QUIZ: How well do you know Neil Diamond's songs?
The musical will follow Diamond's life story, from his upbringing as a poor kid in Brooklyn, to one of the greatest entertainers in history.
More details will be announced soon, and we can only hope it transfers to the West End soon after!
Neil Diamond announced his retirement from performing last year, following his Parkinson's disease diagnosis.
