Get ready to be captivated as The Notebook prepares for its Broadway premiere. Previews for the new musical begin February 10, with its opening slated for March 14. Before the production hits the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, the cast and crew chatted with Playbill about how this adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' iconic love story brings a fresh experience to longtime fans and newcomers. See the cast and crew share their passion about the creative process in the video above.
With the backdrop of a nursing home, the musical follows Allie and Noah's love story as Noah reads to Allie, an Alzheimer's patient, from a notebook each day hoping to spark memories of their time together.
With this production being an adaptation of the best-selling novel and film, it calls to question whether this musical will be like its predecessors. Co-director Schele Williams shares, "This Notebook is its own experience unto itself." Michael Greif co-directs with Williams.
Three sets of actors play Noah and Allie in the different periods of their lives. Ryan Vasquez, who plays Middle Noah, feels a sense of pride to be creativing a shared vision of Noah's character alongside John Cardoza, who plays Younger Noah, and Dorian Harewood, who plays Older Noah.
"It's great to really collaborate and create a person as a group and I'm thankful for John and for Dorian for having strong takes on this person. As do I," says Vasquez. "And especially grateful also for this sort of fourth Noah, John Basie, who played the role in Chicago and passed away over the summer. He's with us as well and it's a nice sort of melting pot of all those folks."
Jordan Tyson plays Younger Allie, Joy Woods is Middle Allie, and Tony Award-winner Maryann Plunkett completes the trio as Older Allie.
The Notebook features a book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter and a score by singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson. Co-lead Producer Kurt Deutsch reminices about what he felt after first hearing some of Michaelson's first audition compositions.
"I remember walking down 9th Avenue and I had my earbuds in. It's a song call "I Know." I heard it and I was sobbing," says Deutsch.
READ: Ingrid Michaelson and Bekah Brunstetter Dig a Little Deeper Into The Notebook
See new portraits of the cast in the gallery below.
Jordan Tyson
John Cardoza
Joy Woods
Ryan Vasquez
Dorian Harewood and Maryann Plunkett
Schele Williams
Michael Greif
John Cardoza, Jordan Tyson, Dorian Harewood, Maryann Plunkett, Joy Woods, Ryan Vasquez, Bekah Brunstetter, and Ingrid Michaelson
Michael Greif, Schele Williams, John Cardoza, Jordan Tyson, Dorian Harewood, Maryann Plunkett, Joy Woods, Ryan Vasquez, Bekah Brunstetter, and Ingrid Michaelson
Cast and creative team of The Notebook
The cast also includes 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 orchestrations with John Clancy. Geoffrey Ko will serve as music director. Casting is by The Telsey Office's Patrick Goodwin.
The Notebook was previously adapted into a hit film in 2004, and it made stars of its leads Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.
For tickets and more information, visit NotebookMusical.com.
