Stepping Out

'Good times' with Robert Neary's Neil Diamond tribute

Posted Wednesday, June 10, 2026 2:02 pm

Robert Neary enthusiastically gets his audiences involved in true Neil Diamond-style.

Courtesy Robert Neary

When & Where

• Sunday, June 14, 3 p.m.

• Tickets available at tillescenter.org or ticketmaster.com or (516) 299-3100

• Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville

By Karen Bloom

For those who can’t get enough of Neil Diamond, perhaps the next best thing to seeing him perform, is when Robert Neary takes on the legendary singer-songwriter’s persona.
            The multi-hyphenate performer brings his acclaimed show, ”So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience,” to Tilles Center, on Sunday, featuring his band and a special “hometown” guest performance. The East Meadow High School Chamber Choir concludes the concert with a six-song finale, under the direction of Chorus Director Samantha Schick. The collaboration is especially meaningful, as Neary is an alumnus of East Meadow High School, and the production’s trumpet player, Stephen Engle, formerly served as head of the music department at the school.
            The stage, TV and film star has created an acclaimed tribute experience. The show celebrates the timeless songs and storytelling of Neil Diamond, with the beloved hits from Diamond’s extensive catalogincluding “Sweet Caroline,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “America, ,” and many more. Known for his remarkable vocals, Neary has earned praise for delivering a heartfelt and high-energy tribute to one of America’s most iconic entertainers. The concert was also filmed as a documentary feature that is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, where it continues to receive rave reviews from audiences nationwide.
            With decades in the entertainment industry, Neary has starred in three Broadway lead roles and appeared in more than 60 major television and film guest-starring roles. He has also built a worldwide social media following of more than half a million fans. Neary created “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience” in 2019 and, alongside New York-based band The Mystic, developed the show into the nationwide hit it is today. The production continues to sell out venues across the United States and is now set to expand internationally.
            “I’ve always been a fan,” says Neary, of Diamond. “I even learned how to play the piano to Hello Again and knew I could emulate his voice since high school. I was an actor for 40 years, but in 2018, the business for me, started to slow down. After hearing he was retiring due to Parkinson’s, I set out to create the best Neil Diamond tribute I could.”

                 And audiences certainly agree.
            “We always hope that for the two hours they come to our show, they [audiences] are able to forget about the craziness going on in the world, and relive the happy moments with the Neil Diamond’s iconic music. People relate to his music and so many favorites bring so many people back to those beautiful days,” Neary continues.
                 Part of the show’s enduring appeal is Neary’s commitment to honoring Diamond’s catalog while keeping the performance dynamic and engaging for both new and returning audiences.
“I went right to his 50th anniversary hits album and compared each song to the success of each one and chart history. We now touch on 28 of them in a full show. We do various medleys that are able to incorporate more songs and with the fabulous multimedia, it really brings the songs to life. I also go into the audience for Sweet Caroline and high five and hug on as many people as I can,” Neary adds.
            Over the years, the production has evolved into a full-scale theatrical concert experience.

“I set out to do exactly what it has become. So having it all continue to fall into place, has been all part of the plan. We continue to evolve in our production. Its started with eight members on stage and 22 songs. We now have amazing background singers, a violinist and a full multimedia presentation that is amazing. We also have included a full overture highlighting Neil’s career through the decades.”
His band, The Mystic, certainly adds to the experience.
            “I am beyond blessed to have this amazing band,” Neary says, enthusiastically. “I met them playing at a huge Halloween party and asked if they would like to join me in this venture and they said, yes. To have this band and the comradery that they possess, having been together for 30 years, is just icing on the cake. We have such a great time on stage as well as touring together and it shows. Countless accolades say how amazingly tight the band is and that we all look like we are having fun.”
            One could say that that that this performance’s special closing is the icing on the cake for Neary.
            “I’m incredibly proud to return home and share this experience with students from East Meadow High School. Music education played such an important role in my life, and having these talented young performers join us for the finale makes this performance especially meaningful. It’s going to be a really memorable afternoon,” he continues.
            “I’ve always wanted to add a choir, and with this Tilles show, being as big as it is, I figured now’s the time to make it happen. My best friend from junior high Stephen Engle, suggested them and I I immediately said, “Of course!”            Neary, who now resides in Melville after leaving East Meadow all those years ago to pursue his dreams in L.A., is delighted to be back on his home turf, especially reconnecting with his high school.
            “It feels wonderful. So humbling and so blessed to be back where I was when my career was only a dream away. The first time we played Eisenhower Park, was very emotional and now to play the Tilles Center with the EMHS choir, on such a grander scale, is even more unbelievable.”

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