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.

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