The Notebook (musical)

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] and closed on December 15, 2024.

Act 1

Noah Calhoun lives with his wife, Allie, in a retirement home. Allie is suffering from Alzheimer’s and struggles to remember her husband and life ("Time"). Noah reads a love story to Allie from a notebook – the story of the two of them, around when they were seventeen and during a period about ten years later.

Allie, who comes from a wealthy family, and Noah, a working-class boy, first meet when Allie arrives in his town for summer break from high school. They are interested in each other, but their friends dissuade them from pursuing a relationship because of their differing social classes ("Dance with Me"). Noah is undeterred, walking Allie home and declaring that he is falling in love with her (“Carry You Home”). Their relationship deepens, and Noah promises to fix up an abandoned house for Allie (“Blue Shutters”). Allie is hesitant to introduce Noah to her parents, upsetting Noah. During the ensuing argument, Noah notices a painting that Allie is holding (“I Paint”). The painting is a gift for him, and he is moved by its melancholic beauty (“Sadness and Joy”).

In the present day, Allie asks Noah to skip ahead in the story. Ten years after they met, Noah, after fighting in Vietnam, has purchased the abandoned house and renovated it, hoping that it will bring Allie back to him (“Leave the Light On”). Meanwhile, Allie has gotten engaged to Lon, a wealthy man her parents approve of. A newspaper article featuring Noah and the restoration of the house catches her eye, shocking her – she wonders if Noah has moved on ("What Happens”). Back in the nursing home, Allie can no longer remember her children or grandchildren ("I Wanna Go Back”).

When Allie first brings Noah to her family's home for dinner that first year, her parents show disapproval of his working-class background, and Noah storms out. Allie's mom informs her they are leaving town the next day. Allie meets up with Noah in the abandoned house ("If This Is Love”), and the two are intimate for the first time (“Kiss Me”). Afterwards, Noah’s friend Fin warns them that Allie’s parents have called the cops on Noah for kidnapping. Before fleeing, Noah memorizes Allie’s home address, promising to write her a letter every day. In the nursing home, Allie begins to remember Noah before suffering from an episode, the stress of which causes Noah to have a stroke. In the post-Vietnam timeframe, Allie leaves for a vacation shortly before her wedding and arrives at Noah’s doorstep ("Home").

Act 2

Noah lays in his hospital bed as his and Allie’s younger selves sing of the things he didn't appreciate when he was young ("We Have to Try"). Allie's condition at the nursing home worsens without him, and she stops eating and speaking. In the middle timeframe, Noah welcomes Allie into the house. She admits she has a fiancé, but their feelings for each other resurface. They go to the docks where they spent time as teenagers, and it begins to pour down rain. Before they kiss, Allie confronts Noah on why he never wrote her. He swears he wrote to her every day, and they spend the night together ("Forever").

In the hospital, Noah reflects on his life with Allie and the beginning of her disease ("Iron in The Fridge"). The morning after their rekindled romance, Noah and Allie argue over their loss of contact over the years and Allie’s engagement to Lon. Allie runs into her mother outside of the house, who reveals that she intercepted Noah’s letters, but will now let Allie decide who to be with ("Don't You Worry"). Allie decides to stay with Lon, breaking Noah’s heart ("It's Not Easy"). Regretful, Allie realizes that she has to make a decision on how to spend her life that she can be proud of ("My Days").

Noah sneaks out of the stroke ward to see his wife again. Visions of all the people he's known in his life appear to him as he makes his way to her room ("I Love You More"). He finds Allie reading the notebook, finally able to remember that this story is of her and Noah ("I Know"). Noah and Allie lay down in bed together, and are found holding each other, both having died peacefully. Everyone in the story appears and sings of the couple's deep love for each other ("Coda").

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 Younger Noah, Clifton Duncan as Middle Noah, and James Naughton, as Older Noah. ^[2]

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 Younger 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.^[3]

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 Younger Noah, Ryan Vasquez as Middle Noah, and Dorian Harewood as Older Noah. The musical opened to mixed reviews.^[4][5][6] The show played its final performance on December 15, 2024.^[7]

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 is still to be announced.^[8] The tour dates are below. ^[9]

• Middle Allison "Allie" Nelson: Aisha Jackson^[13]

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