Meet the Broadway Icons of Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Oct 7, 2025
Taylor Swift’s new album The Life of a Showgirl dropped on October 3rd, and it includes plenty of references—some explicit and some ambiguous—to real showgirls throughout history. Many of these women have a Broadway past worth exploring that adds new context to Swift’s songs.
Review: Neil Diamond Musical A BEAUTIFUL NOISE Arrives at OC's Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - Aug 1, 2025
Overall, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE—now on stage at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through August 10, 2025—comes off as guaranteed musical candy for Neil Diamond devotees, thanks to its current form as a polished, tidy, nostalgia-baiting jukebox musical loaded with familiar hits, sprinkles of sparkle, and enough vocal authenticity to make fans of his music swoon. The impressive performances—from the lead vocals to the 'Beautiful Noise' ensemble's hypnotic, lyrical dance moves—bring a measurable level of enjoyment. But as a deep-dive drama? It's, well… just fine. The show's narrative stakes are satisfactory, but a bit paper-thin. While certainly clever in concept, the book often sacrifices real, emotional complexity for palatable, crowd-pleasing moments, and this therapy-session-as-framing-device never truly develops into the kind of character exploration one hopes for in a definitive bio-musical.
Review: A BEAUTIFUL NOISE at Hollywood Pantages Theater
by Cary Ginell - Jul 9, 2025
'Beautiful Noise' is a better-than-average jukebox musical about the career of superstar singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, presented as an aged Diamond goes through psychoanalysis with a therapist.
A History of Pop Music Bio-Musicals
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Jun 29, 2025
Just In Time’s origin story as well as overall conceit has much in common with one of Broadway’s very first jukebox musicals, which was ahead of its time. In 1985, Leader of the Pack, telling the story of pop singer-songwriter Ellie Greenwich, opened at the Ambassador on Broadway. Learn all about pop music bio-musicals here!
Photos: LEADER OF THE PACK at Bucks County Playhouse
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 27, 2025
Bucks County Playhouse has released new production photos of its high-energy production of the musical “Leader of the Pack: The Ellie Greenwich Musical.” The show celebrates the life and legacy of pop music icon Ellie Greenwich. See photos here!
Review: A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL at the Aronoff Center
by Ana-Brit Asplen - May 10, 2025
Nick Fradiani leads the First National Broadway Tour as Neil Diamond with an uncanny finesse, taking the audience through the heyday of his career. The show gives its audiences a newfound appreciation and perspective for fans across generations with incredible musical performances and a unique format.