Broadway in Chicago presents THE NOTEBOOK the Musical.
An old woman has Alzheimers. Her husband faithfully reads to her daily from a notebook. It describes the love story of their life. His hope is the words and memories will bring her back to him. Nicholas Sparks wrote the best selling novel in 1996. It became a hit movie in 2004. In 2022, the creative team of Bekah Brunstetter (book) and Ingrid Michaelson (music and lyrics) premiered the enduring romance of Allie and Noah as a staged musical here in Chicago. Now, just in time for some summer lovin’, THE NOTEBOOK is back for a limited engagement.
The beauty of this love story is seeing it at three distinct points in the couple’s life. Six actors play Allie and Noah. Each couple faces obstacles to being together. The younger version, Makena Jackson and Kyle Mangold, contend with Allie’s disapproving parents. The middle pair, Alysha Deslorieux and Ken Wulf Clark, face a decade long separation. And the older spouses, Sharon Catherine Brown and Beau Gravitte, confront a debilitating disease that threatens the memory of their love’s existence.
Under the co-direction of Michael Greif and Schele Williams, THE NOTEBOOK is an intimate, unflinching examination of a relationship. Allie and Noah don’t just fall in love, end of story. They have to continually express, explore and rediscover their love for each other. Despite the looming presence of dementia -played with agonizing fear by Brown and heart wrenching desperation by Gravitte, this love story is uplifting and relatable.
The irresistible duo, Jackson and Mangold, have the innocence of love-at-first-sight. They flirt. They tease. They plan a future… together. Their playful duet in “Carry You Home” is a sweet anthem to young love. Michaelson’s score keeps the focus on this belief of a predestined love. “Kiss Me” starts with Jackson and Mangold and expands into love over time as Deslorieux and Clark join the chorus. The transition from young love to rekindled love has a determined Clark promise to “Leave the Light On” and a wistful Deslorieux muse on “What Happens.” Their ballads describe the reality of expectations and disappointments of choosing to be vulnerable to love.
Michaelson’s score is an in-depth exploration of all the stages and the feels of love, life and memory. “I Know” is a tear-jerker between an awakened Brown and a requited Gravitte. It leads into the finale where the entire terrific company beautifully harmonize “Coda”, a mingling of different song’s lyrics and aspects of this lifelong romance.
THE NOTEBOOK the Musical is the perfect love letter for the hopeful romantic. It showcases the timeless devotion of two people believing love conquers all. Unlike Allie and Noah, this love story will only last a couple weeks. Get your tickets now and be ready to fall in love with THE NOTEBOOK the Musical.
Running Time: Two hours and twenty minutes includes an intermission
James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph
Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks
Book by Beka Brunstetter
Music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson
Directed by Michael Greif and Schele Williams
Choreography by Katie Spelman
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays at 7pm
Wednesdays at 1pm
Saturdays at 2pm and 7:30pm
Sundays at 1pm
Thru August 16
For more information or tickets
Production photos by Roger Mastroianni
For more Chicago theatre information and reviews, please visit Theatre in Chicago
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