Westenberg brings ‘Neil — Now’ to life

By Nancy Black

Actor Robert Westenberg is living a fairy tale life. As an original cast member in the 1987 production of Steven Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” Westenberg not only received a Tony nomination for his performance as Cinderella’s Prince, but he also met his future wife, Kim Crosby, who was playing Cinderella. They soon married and have lived happily ever after since.

Westenberg comes to Dallas this week to join fellow cast members in “A Beautiful Noise,” for a two-week run at The Music Hall in Fair Park. Westenberg plays “Neil – Now” in the hit musical about legendary singer Neil Diamond’s life.

Westenberg is no stranger to the area. When not performing on stage, Westenberg was the musical theatre coordinator and associate professor in the theatre and dance department at Missouri State University. He would visit Dallas often recruiting students from local high schools, like Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, to join his university’s theater program. 

“Sixty-five percent of my students came from Texas,” Westenberg said. He now serves as a lecturer of Musical Theatre at the University of Colorado Boulder when he’s not touring the country.

Born in Florida but raised in California, Westenberg made his Broadway debut in the 1983 revival of “Zorba.” He won a Theatre World Award for his portrayal of Nikos. Westenberg went on to star in “Sunday in the Park with George” with Bernadette Peters and as Inspector Javier in “Les Misérables.” His many credits also include film and television performances.

As “Neil – Now” in “A Beautiful Noise,” Westenberg plays the legendary musician later in his life. When asked what he would say to his own younger self, Westenberg said: “Dig deeper. Find stronger focus. Live more fully on stage. I think I could have just applied myself a little bit more.”

Westenberg said he, like most fans across the world, already knew the lyrics to the hit songs in the “A Beautiful Noise,” which include classics like “America,” “Forever in Blue Jeans” and “Sweet Caroline.” 

When he met the Grammy Award-winning singer for the first time at the Pantages’s Theater in Los Angeles, Westenberg found him to be incredibly generous and kind. “He [Diamond] and his wife, Katie, spent time with every member of the cast.”

“A Beautiful Noise” runs through March 22 at the Music Hall at Fair Park as part of the 2025/2026 Broadway Series presented by Broadway Dallas. The Music Hall is located at 909 1st Ave. in Dallas. For tickets, visit BroadwayDallas.org or call 800-982-2728.