| 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 Hamilton). She is unaware at this point that he is telling their love story due to her dementia.
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.
One of the songs that features Middle Noah and Allie includes the famed letter scene, in which the two realize that Allie never received the letters Noah wrote to her while they were apart. This introduction of the final versions of Noah and Allie also results in a few beautifully orchestrated musical numbers that feature all versions of the two characters.
One in particular is found in Act 1, where Younger and Middle Allie join their elder counterpart on stage. Older Allie trying and failing to remember her past is visualized by her walking around the stage, surrounded by her loved ones — including all three versions of Noah — but as she reaches out to touch them, they turn away from her. This scene is accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful ballad sung by the two younger women, as they almost beg Older Allie to remember the past.
Older Allie herself does not sing until the end of the show, leaving the audience to anticipate hearing her voice. When she does, it is one of the most emotional moments of the musical, because she sings only 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 together and pass away peacefully in each other’s arms.
The closing number starts shortly after and 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. Strips of light turn on above the stage, revealing the orchestra and bringing the musical to a close. [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 main roles of Allie and Noah were demonstrated across their lifetimes in the production. The list presented 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 2 time Tony winner, 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 & Schele Williams and choreography by Katie Spelman.
Portraying the principal roles of Allie and Noah across their lifetimes were Jordan Tyson as Young Allie, Joy Woods as Middle Allie, and Tony winner, 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 6th, 2024 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, and officially opened on March 14th, 2024. The production has the same creative team as the Chicago production. Casting includes 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]
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|
| Character | Chicago [9] | Broadway [10] |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2024 | |
| Younger Noah Calhoun | John Cardoza | |
| Younger Allison "Allie" Nelson | Jordan Tyson | |
| Middle Noah Calhoun | Ryan Vasquez | |
| Middle Allison "Allie" Nelson | Joy Woods | |
| Older Noah Calhoun | John Beasley | Dorian Harewood |
| Older Allison "Allie" Calhoun (née Nelson) | Maryann Plunkett | |
| Nurse Lori / Mother / Others | Andréa Burns | |
| Fin / Johnny / Others | Carson Stewart | |
| Sarah Tuffington / Others | Sophie Madorsky | Hillary Fisher |
| Father / Son / Others | Jonathan Butler-Duplessis | Charles E. Wallace |
| Georgie / Others | Dorcas Leung | |
| Lon Hammond Jr. / Others | Omar Lopez-Cepero | Chase Del Rey |
| Nurse Joanna / Others | Yassmin Alers | |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | Pending | |
| Distinguished Performance | Dorian Harewood | Pending | ||
| Maryann Plunkett | Pending | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical | Maryann Plunkett | Pending | |
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