NEW YORK (AP) — A musical about Neil Diamond has found
the polished theater gem who will play the icon onstage, Will
Swenson.

Swenson has been tapped to lead "A Beautiful Noise, The Neil
Diamond Musical" this summer when it makes its debut at Boston’s
Emerson Colonial Theatre. Swenson calls it a not straightforward musical.

Swenson’s Broadway credits include "Waitress" opposite Sara
Bareilles, creating the role of Javert in the 2014 revival of "Les Misérables," and starring in "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert"
and  "110 in the Shade."

Diamond, 81, is the singer and songwriter of massive hits like
"Sweet Caroline," "Song Sung Blue" and "Cracklin’ Rosie."
He’s also written hits recorded by other artists, such as "I’m a
Believer" by the Monkees, "Red Red Wine" by UB40 and "You
Don’t Bring Me Flowers" by Barbra Streisand.

WILL SWENSON

NEIL DIAMOND

NEW YORK (AP) — The Shubert Organization’s Cort Theatre on Broadway will be renamed after James Earl Jones, fulfilling a
promise by the theater giant to honor a Black artist in such
a way.

According to a statement by the Shuberts,The James Earl Jones
Theatre renaming is "in recognition of Mr. Jones’ lifetime of
immense contributions to Broadway and the entire artistic
community,"

The Cort Theatre is 110 years old and was built by and named for
John Cort, general manager of the Northwestern Theatrical
Association, who died in 1929. There are 41 Broadway theaters,
four are named for women and now two for Black artists.

Actor Denzel Hayes Washington Jr.  is 67 years old today.

Washington has earned various awards including two Academy
Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild
Award, and a Tony Award. In 2016, he received the Cecil B.
DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2020, The New York
Times ranked him as the greatest actor of the twenty-first
century.

Comedian Bob Hope gave what he says is his last Christmas show
to U.S. servicemen in Saigon. Hope was a star of stage, radio, TV
and over 50 feature films.
 

Hope was one of many Hollywood stars who followed the tradition
of traveling overseas to entertain American troops stationed abroad.

The 1972 show marked Hope’s ninth consecutive Christmas Vietnam appearance. Although some antiwar protesters criticized Hope for supporting government policies in Vietnam, the comedian said he believed it was his responsibility to lift spirits by entertaining the
troops.

The USO Christmas Show at Tan Son Nhut Air Base.

Harold Rowe Holbrook Jr.
(February 17, 1925 – January 23, 2021)

(Fox News) – Hal Holbrook, the Emmy and Tony award-
winning actor best known for his portrayal of Mark
Twain in his famous one-man-show, died on Jan. 23 at
his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. No cause of death has
been given.

Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain in his one-man show in 2005.