THE NOTEBOOK Musical - News & Discussion Thread

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 1/29/20 at 2:08pm

Chicago Shakespeare will stage the World Premiere musical The Notebook, based on the classic best-selling novel by Nicholas Sparks that inspired the hugely popular film. The powerhouse creative team features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, and book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter, best known as a writer and producer on NBC’s hit series This Is Us. Celebrated Broadway director Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, Grey Gardens, RENT) will stage the production—casting is underway and will be announced at a later date.

Sneak Preview! Listen to Ingrid Michaelson sing a song from The Notebook

Known for her distinctively soulful folk-pop style that explores universal themes like self-doubt, betrayal and love, Ingrid Michaelson is a force in the music industry with four Top 20 albums and two Platinum singles—“The Way I Am” and “Girls Chase Boys.” On The Notebook, she shared, “The concept of unending devotion and love wrapped up in memory and family is something very close to my own personal life. The story sings to me so perfectly.”

WORLD PREMIERE

The Notebook will premiere
September 22–November 8, 2020
in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare.

Follow the production on social media at #TheNotebookChicago
and via @chicagoshakes

Updated On: 6/30/22 at 02:08 PM

[Kitsune]

Posted: 1/29/20 at 2:12pm

Nicholas Sparks makes me roll my eyes. At the same time, I genuinely like Ingrid Michaelson's music, and I thought Bekah Brunstetter's "The Cake" was one of the best things I saw last year. Cautiously hopeful for this one.

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 1/29/20 at 2:24pm

Ew

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 1/29/20 at 2:29pm

I’m intrigued. Will definitely be checking this out at Chicago Shakes. This doesn’t seem like typical Greif fare either, eh? Could be a very moving production.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/29/20 at 2:30pm

Excited to hear casting for this. There’s a couple good roles for “actors of a certain age” here.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 1/29/20 at 2:33pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Excited to hear casting for this. There’s a couple good roles for “actors of a certain age” here. "

For those following this show’s development, ala Fun Home there were three actors playing different ages in Noah and Allie’s lives. 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 1/29/20 at 2:35pm

How are the shows at Chicago Shakes? Should we expect a smaller scale production?

Posted: 1/29/20 at 2:39pm

I believe the two of the three Allies in the workshop were Hailey Kilgore and Vanessa Hudgens. James Naughton played older Noah and Antonio Cipriano played the one paired with Kilgore.

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 1/29/20 at 2:42pm

SouthernCakes, The Yard is their new, very versatile space that can accommodate several different scales of production and seating arrangements. I saw Macbeth there, and it wasn’t Phantom or Wicked scale but certainly could have played a Broadway house. The space has also housed The King’s Speech and the US premiere or SIX, as of late.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/29/20 at 4:38pm

Heard the tripling didn't work very well in the workshop since there isn't a huge age difference between each.

Another show by the modern king of musical theatre, Kevin McCollum.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 1/29/20 at 4:41pm

Sarcasm, Ermengarde? What's wrong with McCollum?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/29/20 at 4:45pm

Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "Sarcasm, Ermengarde? What's wrong with McCollum?"

No sarcasm and nothing wrong with him as far as I know! Just marveling at how prolific he is... Six, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Notebook, Devil Wears Prada, Ever After, and the West Side Story film remake all in the pipeline.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/28/21 at 2:14pm

https://www.theatermania.com/chicago-theater/news/the-notebook-musical-chicago-shakespeare_92551.html

Spring 2022 will bring the highly anticipated world premiere of The Notebook (March 15-April 24, 2022), featuring music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson and a book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter (This Is Us). The new musical is based on Nicholas Sparks' best-selling novel that inspired the hit 2004 film. Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen) and Schele Williams (Aida) team up to direct, with music direction by Carmel Dean and choreography by Katie Spelman.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/28/21 at 3:01pm

This should be interesting. There better be onstage rain.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/28/21 at 3:03pm

Interesting Schele Williams is being added as Michael Greifs co director.

[jlindsey865]

Posted: 7/28/21 at 4:24pm

I love Ingrid Michaelson.  I am not sure I could sit through a stage adaptation of ANY Sparks novel, but if I had to choose, I guess it would be this one.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/30/21 at 10:25am

Updates…

“Words”, which Michaelson wrote for the show and had performed on several occasions, is no longer in the show and has been cut.

https://youtu.be/kDJQsrhxjwM

They’ve taken advantage of the time during lockdown/pandemic to restructure after Vassar. Rehearsals begin in February before they tech in Chicago.

https://youtu.be/HCaVtiLTu-s

Will Chase also gave some updates on Ingrid’s process and preparation over the past four years, how Sondheim’s death affected their outlook on arts and the industry, Vanessa Hudgens’ previous (and potential) involvement, and more the latest episode of the Drama podcast.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drama-with-connor-dylan-macdowell/id1485508517?i=1000546403403

Updated On: 12/30/21 at 10:25 AM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/30/21 at 10:00pm

I love Ingrid but I couldn't even sit through this cheese fest of a film so it's a hard pass from me.

On another note, I was incredibly saddened at the news that Lori Chase (Will Chase's first wife) passed from cancer recently. Debra Messing (Will's former partner) and Ingrid Michaelson (Will's current partner) both said really beautiful things about her on their socials. She leaves behind Gracie and Daisy. Tragic. May she rest. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 1/5/22 at 6:10pm

Previously announced to debut in March 2022, the new musical adaptation based on the best-selling novel will now make its World Premiere September 6–October 16, 2022.

https://www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/notebook

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/5/22 at 6:12pm

Not surprising. That should be enough time for us to get through the ongoing Omicron wave and perhaps (not definitely) the upcoming Pi wave that emerged in Cameroon a while ago. 

Updated On: 1/5/22 at 06:12 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/5/22 at 6:15pm

Is there any rumbling about who is cast? I believe Rachel Zegler did one of the workshops.

And do they still have actors of 3 different ages per character? The initial workshops used actors of various ethnicities per character and apparently it really didn't work.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 1/5/22 at 6:20pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Is there any rumbling about who is cast? I believe Rachel Zegler did one of the workshops.

And do they still have actors of 3 different ages per character? The initial workshops used actors of various ethnicities per character and apparently it really didn't work."

Candy Buckley played older Allie, Vanessa Hudgens played middle-age Allie, and Hailey Kilgore played younger/teenage Allie.

James Naughton played older Noah, Clifton Duncan played middle-age Noah, and Antonio Cipriano played younger/teenage Noah. 

Updated On: 1/5/22 at 06:20 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/5/22 at 10:04pm

I was really looking forward to this, but glad they are keeping everyone’s safety in mind. Curious if there are any other Chicago companies going to do the same thing.

Not to sound selfish, but I hope the moulin rouge tour doesn’t cancel.

Also worth noting Kevin McCollum is the commercial producer behind the show and he just announced he’s shuttering Mrs. Doubtfire for nine weeks.

Updated On: 1/5/22 at 10:04 PM

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 12:04pm

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcssZrlLJvb/?hl=en

[steven22]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 1:38pm

Is anyone else having trouble with the website?