Meet the ‘American Idol’ star bringing the Neil Diamond musical to Toronto

For the past several years, he’s lived out his fanboy fantasy in “A Beautiful Noise,” playing one of two Neil Diamond characters in the hit musical based on the legendary singer-songwriter’s life and work. First he was the alternate Diamond on Broadway in 2022, performing at least twice a week. Then he headed the national tour, which hits Toronto this week for a six-week stay.

All of which means the former “American Idol” champion (he won in 2015) has been appearing not just forever in blue jeans but also in the sparkly shirts and generously piled hair that Diamond wore onstage in his heyday.

The Star chatted with him on the phone recently from the tour’s leg in Rochester, N.Y., where he just returned to the show after a month-long illness.

How have you been? I heard you were out of the show for a while.

After years of doing this, my body just failed me. I got pneumonia during the tour in Florida and was hospitalized for four days. It basically beat the hell out of me. I missed 29 performances. Last night was my first show back, so I’m kind of easing myself back.

Your father Nick Fradiani III is a working musician, and you credit him for your early love of all kinds of music, from Diamond to the Beatles. Was the plan to follow in his footsteps?

I think that actually scared me. My mother, who is a teacher, told me how difficult the life of a working musician was, and she convinced me to have a backup plan — so I went to school to also teach. I’m still amazed at what my dad has done in his life, and how hard he worked and how he stuck with it. It’s what he loves. He loves music more than I do.

How excited was he when he found out you were going to play Diamond on Broadway?

I don’t think he really understood the concept of making one’s Broadway debut. I think he’d only seen “The Phantom of the Opera.” But once he understood what the show was, he was pretty freaked out. I think he was as proud the first night I went on as he was when I won “American Idol.” He probably saw me 50 times on Broadway, and he and my mom love seeing it across the country. They’re coming up to Toronto, too.

After winning “Idol,” was musical theatre ever on your career map?

Never. After winning, I was brought in to audition for the live-on-TV “Hairspray” and “Rent.” I’d only seen two musicals in my life and never acted. Then, a couple of years later, a casting director messaged me on Facebook for the tour of the musical of “A Bronx Tale,” which was one of my favourite movies.

Chazz Palminteri, who wrote and starred in the film, basically gave me acting lessons for three months. He told me to react like a real person onstage and listen to what the other person was saying. Great advice. I feel very natural now when I’m onstage. I don’t feel out of place.

Is there a secret to producing that Neil Diamond sound?

There are really two important things: how he phrases words, how he delivers his voice from a certain part of the throat and also his rich baritone. He has such a powerful lower voice. I never wanted it to sound like an impersonation. I always wanted to keep myself in there and then add a little Neil flair every so often. I think the audience knows I’m doing Neil but they don’t feel like they’re watching a tribute act.

Does wearing the clothes and putting on the wigs affect your performance?

They help in the way I move. I’m not Nick anymore. The first time I put on that ‘70s wig, I looked in the mirror and thought, ‘Whoa.” Putting on that and the sequins, it’s easy to feel like a famous rocker in the 1970s. Also super fun.

You sing more than 25 songs in the show. Do you have a favourite and… least favourite?

It’s changed over time. Right now, there’s a part in the show where I sing a version of “Solitary Man” at the Bitter End club, which is where he had his start as a solo artist rather than just a songwriter. The musical directors did a great job with the arrangement; it starts off acoustic, slower than the recorded version, and the orchestra surrounds it and the ensemble joins in. That’s my favourite song to do in the show.

“Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show” opens the second act and is one of the biggest production numbers. I’m in this awesome outfit, and it has a really fun monologue where he’s basically becoming a preacher, with a lot of yelling. But when you do that eight times a week, it can be physically and vocally exhausting. After I get through that, I feel OK.

With many shows based on an artist’s catalogue, the audience can often get caught up in the spirit and sing along. Has that happened a lot?

Oh yeah. And sometimes they’ve been in the front row. I’ll be singing a ballad and can hear them. I feel sorry for the people around them. There is a moment at the end of the show where we encourage people to sing along — I’m sure you can figure out what the song is.

You’ve met Diamond, who’s now 85 years old, several times. What have you discussed?

I’ve had conversations with him about vocal health; he’ll check in on me and ask how my voice is doing. He’s given me advice about letting the room or theatre’s natural reverb do a lot of work. We sang “Sweet Caroline” at a benefit where he was given an award and just practicing with him in a hotel room with my guitar was something I’ll never forget.

He’s become the most important artist in my life. I don’t think I’ll ever feel more connected to an artist. He doesn’t get enough credit for being one of the greatest songwriters of all time — I mean just to write “I’m a Believer” and “Sweet Caroline” in a 10-year period in your 20s is absurd. These songs will live on; my grandkids will know them.

This interview has been edited and condensed. “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” is now playing at the Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W., until June 7. mirvish.com or 1-800-641-3333 for tickets.