The Notebook (musical)

The Notebook
Broadway Promotional Poster
Music	Ingrid Michaelson
Lyrics	Ingrid Michaelson
Book	Bekah Brunstetter
Basis	The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Productions	2022 Chicago 2024 Broadway

The Notebook is a musical with music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson and a book by Bekah Brunstetter. It is based on the 1996 novel of the same name, written by Nicholas Sparks. The musical opened on Broadway on March 14, 2024 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.^[1]

In a modern day nursing home, an elderly man, Noah Calhoun, opens a notebook worn from years of use, which he is determined to read to his wife Allison "Allie" Calhoun (née Nelson.) (Time). He begins to read her a story about two young people, Noah and Allie, who meet while Noah is performing at a local bar along with his friends (Dance With Me). Though Allie is hesitant at first, since she's from a completely different world, than Noah, she agrees to let him take her for a walk. At a dock, Noah claims he's falling in love with her, while Allie laughs at that. Noah then tells her that he knows their future and that one day he'll carry her to their home as a couple. Allie is enchanted (Carry You Home). Later we see the couple is sneaking around to avoid Allie's parents who disapprove of Noah's class and background. Noah sees an abandoned old house and decides he'll fix it and build it into his and Allies's home, starting by painting the shutters blue (Blue Shutters) Some time later Noah and Allie have dinner with her parents. The evening does not go well and Noah leaves angry. Him and Allie argue and Noah notices she's holding a painting. Allie explains that it was a present for him (I Paint). Noah sees the painting and is stunned by its beauty mentioning that it contains both sadness and joy. Allie is surprised that someone understands her so deeply (Sadness and Joy).

Back in the present day Noah keeps reading to Allie trying to make her remember their story.

There is a change of scenery and atmosphere as Younger Noah and Younger Allie take the stage, reflecting the story that Older Noah is reading. Their meeting is followed closely by a duet in which the two admit they are falling for each other.

The musical weaves between the timelines, bringing the audience from Younger Noah and Allie back to the nursing home, where Older Allie is beginning to have some familiarity with the story, but still can not remember its significance.

The audience is also soon introduced to Middle Noah and Middle Allie. The duo take on more of a lead role in the second act as they are reunited after years of separation; the audience still keeps up with their younger and older counterparts in brief scenes.

Middle Noah and Allie realize that Allie never received letters Noah wrote to her while they were apart.

Older Allie herself does not sing until the end of the show, when she finally remembers that Noah is her husband, and that the story he had been reading to her was theirs. The number ends as the two lie in bed and pass away peacefully in each other’s arms.

The closing number features all three Noahs, all three Allies and the characters that accompanied them throughout their love story, such as friends, family and nursing home staff.^[2]

The Notebook was workshopped by the New York Stage and Film at the Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College on June 23, 2019. It was directed by Michael Greif.

On June 12, 2019, the leading actors cast in the show were announced. The cast included Hailey Kilgore as Young Allie, Vanessa Hudgens as Middle Allie, and Candy Buckley as Older Allie; Antonio Cipriano as Young Noah, Clifton Duncan as Middle Noah, and James Naughton, as Older Noah. ^[3]

In September 2022, the show had its "world premiere" at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The production featured direction by Michael Greif and Schele Williams, and choreography by Katie Spelman.

Portraying the principal roles of Allie and Noah were Jordan Tyson as Young Allie, Joy Woods as Middle Allie, and Maryann Plunkett, as Older Allie; John Cardoza as Young Noah, Ryan Vasquez as Middle Noah, and John Beasley as Older Noah.

This production was initially slated for fall 2020, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Michaelson and Brunsletter used the additional time to hold online previews and tweak their work.^[4]

The show began previews on February 10, 2024 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, and officially opened on March 14, 2024. The production has the same creative team as the Chicago production. Casting included Jordan Tyson as Young Allie, Joy Woods as Middle Allie, and, Maryann Plunkett, as Older Allie; John Cardoza as Young Noah, Ryan Vasquez as Middle Noah, and Dorian Harewood as Older Noah. The musical opened to mixed reviews.^[5][6][7] The show is scheduled to play its final performance on December 15, 2024.^[8]

On August 16, 2024, it was announced that the musical is scheduled to embark on a North American tour. It is expected to begin in September 2025 at the Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio. Casting and further dates are still to be announced.^[9]

• Official website
• ​The Notebook​ at the Internet Broadway Database