Retirement has been good for Bob Westenberg, emeritus professor from Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance.

Not only is he now living near his children and grandchildren in Colorado, he’s also landed the job of a lifetime.

Westenberg is currently on a national tour, playing famed singer Neil Diamond in “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.”

The show launched Sept. 21 and will continue through August 2025.

Scheduled appearances include the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, Oct. 29-Nov. 10.

Get tickets to St. Louis performance

Audition leads to offer

Westenberg said he learned about the role through an old acquaintance from his New York days.

“Jim Carnahan of Carnahan Casting…reached out about two years ago and asked if I was interested [and] available to audition for the Broadway show,” he explained.

Westenberg then compiled and sent an audition tape with the help of Heather Luellen, Music Director and Accompanist in the theatre and dance department, and MSU theatre and dance alumna Olivia Schmitt, who read the scene with him.

He got a callback to New York, but had to wait to learn more about his future.

“Last November, they called again to have me go to New York for a session with the music director, Sonny Paladino, and also to see the show,” Westenberg said. “This audition was to replace Mark Jacoby in the role on Broadway, as they thought he was leaving when his contract ended at the end of December.”

But Jacoby decided to stay with the show, so Westenberg was offered the national tour.

“Neil Diamond-Now” a “substantial” role

“A Beautiful Noise” features two Neil Diamond characters — “Neil Diamond-Then” and “Neil Diamond-Now.”

Westenberg auditioned for the role of “Neil Diamond-Now” because he loves the show and is a fan of Diamond’s music.

“Also, there aren’t that many roles available for a 70-year-old man,” he said. “Also, it’s a Broadway show!”

According to Westenberg, his character experiences a kind of life crisis.

“[He] is difficult to live with at home, and his wife has forced him into therapy,” he explained. “I spend the entire play onstage speaking with my psychiatrist as she tries to get to the root of my unhappiness. As I open up, my earlier experiences come to life — ‘Neil Then.'”

Westenberg described the role as “quite substantial.”

“The scene I auditioned [for] is very strong, very emotional and also very spare,” Westenberg continued. “I was attracted to not only what was written, but what wasn’t written. I felt that this was a different type of ‘Jukebox Musical.’ And it is. It truly transcends the genre.”

Nick Fradiani, American Idol 2015 winner, plays “Neil Diamond-Then.” Westenberg described him as a “sensational” actor with an “unbelievable” voice.

Rehearsals and touring challenging but rewarding

Once on board, Westenberg spent three and a half weeks in rehearsal in New York. The show then traveled to Providence, Rhode Island for its launch performance Sept. 21.

“The rehearsal process was accelerated but amazing,” Westenberg said. “We have an incredible cast, great director, great choreographer, great stage management and production team. The experience has been professional and positive from contract negotiations all the way to opening. They are really taking care of us.”

Touring presents its own challenges, Westenberg said, but overall has been a rewarding experience.

“The audiences have been going ballistic,” he said. “It is a natural show for touring as Neil Diamond himself was a touring machine. He has a lot of fans.”

While on tour, Westenberg ensures he has a kitchen, eats well and gets plenty of rest. “It is an eight-show week, so you have to be disciplined about your health and energy level,” he said. The company also allows two one-week breaks in the schedule to go home.

Connections to MSU still strong

For now, Westenberg is seizing the moment.

“It’s been wonderful, living in Colorado with my children and grandchildren, teaching [and] directing part-time at [University of Colorado] Boulder, and now this unexpected gift,” he said. “I am counting my blessings.”

Yet he still holds fond memories of his time at Missouri State and maintains connections with the theatre and dance department, where for seven years he taught and served as coordinator of the musical theatre program.

“I miss everything about my experience [at Missouri State] and will always treasure it,” he said. “Great colleagues, spectacular students, wonderful support from the administration. It was a fulfilling part of my life, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity.”

Learn about opportunities in musical theatre