THE NOTEBOOK Broadway Previews

The Notebook is a new musical based on the best selling novel that inspired the iconic film. Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart, in a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.

Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune says The Notebook is “absolutely gorgeous – not to be missed!” and The Chicago Sun-Times calls it “superb! A stage musical for the ages!”

Directors Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (Aida, The Wiz) team up with multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson on music and lyrics, with book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s This Is Us) and choreography by Katie Spelman.

The show will be led by Jordan Tyson as Younger Allie, Joy Woods as Middle Allie, and Tony Award-winner Maryann Plunkett as Older Allie, John Cardoza as Younger Noah, Ryan Vasquez as Middle Noah, and Dorian Harewood as Older Noah.

They will be joined by Andréa Burns, Yassmin Alers, Alex Benoit, Chase Del Rey, Hillary Fisher, Jerome Harmann-Hardeman, Dorcas Leung, Happy McPartlin, Juliette Ojeda, Kim Onah, Carson Stewart, Charles E. Wallace, and Charlie Webb.

The production will feature scenic design by David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis, costume design by Paloma Young, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, and hair and wig design by Mia Neal. The production’s music supervisor will be Carmel Dean, who also collaborated on arrangements with Ingrid Michaelson and on the orchestrations with John Clancy. Geoffrey Ko will serve as music director. Casting is by The Telsey Office's Patrick Goodwin.

Broadway previews begin February 10 at the Schoenfeld Theatre.

Based on everything I've read, this is probably our front-runner for Best Musical, no?

RippedMan said: "I'm kind of back and forth on this. It was just very heavy and the set is very dark/black so it just all felt heavy. I'm curious to see what changes have been made. Especially to the score. Hope they worked on the opening. But the show is solid."

There was definitely some room for improvement for how they used the space. I loved the rain effects, and the brighter moments of the lighting design, but some of the more literal set pieces (like that piano on the edge of the stage) were almost never used. I disagree on the heaviness of the material though. I think this show would be miserable to get through if the book didn't have as much humor as it does. Bekah Brunstetter did a really great job on the adaptation.

Going next week and very much looking forward to it. Michael Greif's work is hit or miss for me (loved Wine and Roses and some of his older shows, but HATED Hell's Kitchen immensely).

Has there been any word about lottery or rush for this? I haven't been able to find anything but wasn't sure if I'd missed it.

In-person rush and digital lottery tickets for #NotebookMusical begins this week for the first performance!

In Person Rush: Begins at 11 AM the day of the performance. Rush ends 30 minutes before curtain. One person may buy up to 2 tickets at $49.00 each.

Lottery: Entries for The Notebook digital lottery start at 12 AM, the day prior to the performance. Winners are drawn at 10 AM and 3 PM. Winners will be notified by email shortly after each drawing and have five hours to claim and purchase tickets online. Winners may buy up to 2 tickets at $44.00 each. Visit https://rush.telecharge.com/ to enter.

I’ll leave the light on and turn down the bed…

It still isn’t over: following an acclaimed Chicago premiere in mid-2022, The Notebook begins Broadway previews tomorrow (February 10) at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, before a March 14 opening night. Based on the Nicholas Sparks novel and the 2004 tearjerker of a film, the new musical is led by three pairs playing the romantic leads Noah and Allie Calhoun at different stages in their lives.

Who else is ready?

Maryann Plunkett hive rise up. Seriously she must be one of the best/most underrated actors in the theatre. Constantly giving amazing performances yet not a household name. She's a Tony winner for pete's sake.

Jarethan said: "ANewBrainn said: "MaryannPlunkett hive rise up. Seriously she must be one of the best/most underrated actors in the theatre. Constantly giving amazing performances yet not a household name. She's a Tony winner for pete's sake."

I don't disagree with you re her talent, but she won the Tony in a year that had very few female leads. I would argue that her performance should have been in the featured category, but they had to come up with some lead nominees; she won because, even in a supporting role, she had no competition.

I suspect that she will have an excellent shot at a second Tony, given the number of performances Lindsay Mendez has missed. (I had assumed that LMwould be a shoo-in, no matter what came along for the rest of the seaso...no longer think that),"

I mean I'm sure they'll make sure the tony voters see Mendez so not sure that will be an impediment. But I mainly just hope Plunkett can get more larger roles where she can show everyone what she has to offer and get the recognition she deserves.

Jarethan said: "I have really liked her on everything I have seen her in since she replaced Amanda Plummer in Agnes of God. She was excellent in Me and My Girl —she brought heart to the show and held her own against Robert Lindsey’s great performance which IMO was deserved, despite competing against Cole Wilkinson—but she did not deserve to win a Tony for lead actress in a musical. Ironically, she probably would not have won in featured because she would have been competing against Frances Ruffle’s heartbreaking performance in Les MIs.


think we agree re her talent…I was just quibbling with your ‘she’s won a Tony’ argument. I am expecting her to be spectacular, since the role itself should provide the opportunity for her to show her stuff in spades."

I mean I see what you're saying but it's hard to argue she didn't win a tony when she literally won a tony.

A friend of mine went to invited dress and said it was phenomenal. He was not expecting to like it. Hoping to see this soon!

ANewBrainn said: "Jarethan said: "I have really liked her on everything I have seen her in since she replaced Amanda Plummer in Agnes of God. She was excellent in Me and My Girl —she brought heart to the show and held her own against Robert Lindsey’s great performance which IMO was deserved, despite competing against Cole Wilkinson—but she did not deserve to win a Tony for lead actress in a musical. Ironically, she probably would not have won in featured because she would have been competing against Frances Ruffle’s heartbreaking performance in Les MIs.


think we agree re her talent…I was just quibbling with your ‘she’s won a Tony’ argument. I am expecting her to be spectacular, since the role itself should provide the opportunity for her to show her stuff in spades."

I mean I see what you're saying but it's hard to argue she didn't win a tony when she literally won a tony."

My point was simply that, as great as she has been in a lot of things, that Tony was not deserved, so I wouldn't use that fact to strengthen your argument. Other than that, we are totally in agreement.

EDSOSLO858 said: "I’d love to hear if they kept theonstage rain too!"

They definitely did. There's a warning that flashes on the website if you select a front row seat that you'll get wet.

Updated On: 2/10/24 at 08:08 PM