Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

As the lights dimmed in the elegant McCallum Theater in Palm Springs — an intimate yet grand venue known for bringing Broadway-caliber productions to the desert – I settled into my seat with a sense of anticipation.

For me, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical wasn’t just another holiday show; it was an opportunity to revisit the soundtrack of one of my favorite singers.

Plus, what father wouldn’t cherish my experience:  I was on a father-daughter date with my daughter, Lissy, who was in town from Woodinville, Washington.

We had a great time together as we watched a play that wove together Diamonds life with his music.

I knew every song portrayed by a great traveling cast.

At the McCallum, first impressions matter.

From the moment we walked into the theater, we appreciated the relaxed yet cultured atmosphere the McCallum fosters — there’s no strict dress code, which makes every performance feel welcoming, whether you’re dressed up for a night out or in smart casuals.

The audience’s energy changed over the course of the evening:  Curious chatter before the curtain rose, followed by collective recognition and joy as the first familiar chords of Diamond’s songs filled the hall.

Our energy changed, too.

This musical isn’t just a show — it’s a communal experience where fans and newcomers alike find themselves singing along silently (or not so silently) to classics.

A Beautiful Noise weaves Diamond’s life and music into a narrative that’s more than a concert — it’s a theatrical journey.  The production was created with his active involvement because he now has stopped touring as he deals with a diagnosis of Parkinsons.

Hearing hits like Sweet Caroline, America, and ‘Forever in Blue Jeans performed live evoked both nostalgia and reflection for me on how deeply these songs have threaded themselves into my life over almost as many years as Diamond has sung them.

The production showed not just Diamond’s rise to fame, but the personal challenges and triumphs that shaped him.  

About halfway through the show, the cast performed a rendition of Diamon’s most famous song, Sweet Caroline, which always involves audience participation whether at a restaurant we love in La Quinta, California, or, yes, at the McCallum.

Oh yeah, two more things.

Neither at the McCallum or our favorite restaurant, do I sing along to Sweet Caroline, which is a good thing because I can’t sing a lick and Sweet Caroline deserves solid voices like Diamond’s.

And, my daughter loved the McCallum performance as much as I did.