With 13 Cast Members Out, A Beautiful Noise Associate Director Austin Regan Stepped Into the Show

The company of Broadway's A Beautiful Noise has had quite an eventful week.

September 14 saw star Will Swenson, who was out on a scheduled break, having to journey back to the city after his standby, Nick Fradiani, took ill (alongside multiple other company members). Then on September 17, 13 different cast members had to call out of the production. Such a large number of absences led to the productions associate director, Austin Regan, making his Broadway performance debut as Fred Weintraub/Tommy O'Rourke.

On social media, the company of A Beautiful Noise has openly acknowledged the continued worldly presence of COVID-19 and its impact on the show. The production's swing and co-dance captain Robert Pendilla shared the production's September 17 call board on social media, to memorialize the feat carried out by the swath of understudies and swings that performed at the matinee.

Said Regan on an Instagram story after making his debut, "Yesterday was a crazy day. I have literally 199 Instagram messages from all of you darling friends. I have to thank everyone at the Broadhurst and in the ABN company for getting me clothed, prepared, choreographed. It was a bonkers day at the theatre for so many reasons and me somehow being onstage in a principal track (two roles, and even doing a quick change) was only one of them. Although perhaps the craziest. Feeling so lucky and honored to have a life in the theatre and mostly happy I didn't fall down on Broadway."

A Beautiful Noise takes a look at the life of the Grammy-winning Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Neil Diamond, then and now, accompanied by hits from his decades-long career in popular music. All songs are written or co-written by Neil Diamond. Tony winner Michael Mayer directs the musical, which officially opened on Broadway December 4, 2022.

The current principal cast of A Beautiful Noise features Tony nominee Will Swenson as Neil Diamond (Then), Tony nominee Mark Jacoby as Neil Diamond (Now), and Tony nominee Robyn Hurder as Marcia, alongside Linda Powell Jessie Fisher, Michael McCormick, Tom Alan Robbins, and Bri Sudia.

READ: Will Swenson Has Been Preparing His Whole Life to Play Neil Diamond on Broadway

The ensemble, swings, and standbys include Neal Benari, Ninako Donville, Paige Faure, Nick Fradiani , Kalonjee Gallimore, Samantha Gershman, Becky Gulsvig, Alex Hairston, Makai Hernandez, Philip Hoffman, Sydney Jones, Jess LeProtto, Tatiana Lofton, Aaron James McKenzie, Mary Page Nance, Robert Pendilla, Max Sangerman, MiMi Scardulla, and Deandre Sevon.

Also featured on the creative team are choreographer Steven Hoggett, scenic designer David Rockwell, costume designer Emilio Sosa, lighting designer Kevin Adams, sound designer Jessica Paz, properties designer Kathy Fabian, and hair and wig designer Luc Verschueren. Jamie Harrison is the illusion consultant. Music supervision and arrangements are by Sonny Paladino with incidental music and dance music arrangements by Brian Usifer, and vocal design by AnnMarie Milazzo. Orchestrations are by Bob Gaudio, Sonny Paladino, and Brian Usifer.