Long before the jukebox musical A Beautiful Noise was a glint in anyone’s eye, Will Swenson used to say, “I’m just waiting for the Neil Diamond musical to come around.”

“I grew up with him,” explains the Broadway star. “He’s my dad’s favourite singer of all time, so his music was always playing in our house. I played the guitar and as a middle-schooler, I used to do this Neil Diamond impression as a party trick. I’ve even sung a couple of his songs in cabaret here and there.”

Will Swenson plays Neil Diamond in the jukebox musical A Beautiful Noise. Photo supplied

So, when he heard there was a show in development, Swenson admits he “legitimately wanted the part”.

Asked how hard he had to gun for it, he says, “Well, I think they had done some development with another actor. Actually, a friend of mine, who knew I could do a Neil Diamond impression, happened to mention it to the producer and said, “You should seek him out.”

Swenson is chatting to Limelight a few days before the start of rehearsals for the Australian production of A Beautiful Noise,...