Broadway Grand Rapids has another winner on its hands.
The Notebook opened Tuesday night, Oct. 13, at DeVos Performance Hall to a full house, and based on the attendance alone, it’s easy to see why this story continues to resonate.
If you know Nicholas Sparks’ bestselling novel or more likely the movie it inspired starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, you know the emotional territory it covers: young forbidden love, a near-miss opportunity to rekindle it, and late-stage dementia.
Seeing the story unfold onstage, however, gives it a different kind of intimacy. The musical follows Noah and Allie through three stages of their lives, while six actors take on their roles, portraying the couple as teenagers, middle-aged adults and older adults.
The story unfolds outside chronological order, its timeline ebbing and flowing, at times bringing all six actors portraying Noah and Allie together onstage. It’s an unconventional approach that emphasizes the themes and emotional threads connecting the characters’ lives over a linear progression of events.
The set design is imaginative, too. While minimal, it allows the audience to fill in the blanks, so to speak, while still delivering a few standout moments. One particularly dazzling scene features rain pouring down on the two actors, creating a memorable visual that leaves the audience wondering how they pulled it off.
The performances are solid overall, but Makena Jackson (Young Allie) and Alysha Deslorieux (Middle Allie) stand out for their beautiful voices. Both deliver vocals that deserve a special bravo. I also appreciated that the show leaves room for actual acting, allowing the story to unfold through dialogue and performance rather than relying on song after song, like many modern musicals, to move the plot forward.
The musical premiered at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2022 before opening on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in March 2024. Its Broadway run continued through December of that year. The production received three Tony Award nominations in 2024, including nominations for Best Book of a Musical and the leading performances of its actors.
The production is directed by Michael Greif, whose Broadway credits include Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal and RENT, and Schele Williams, whose credits include Aida and The Wiz. Choreography is by Katie Spelman. The musical’s “book” was written by Bekah Brunstetter, known for her work as a writer and producer on NBC’s This Is Us, and music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson.
The original Broadway cast recording was released by Atlantic Records, and the song “My Days” has surpassed nine million streams on Spotify, according to the production’s press release.
Romantic and moving, The Notebook is especially poignant for anyone who has watched a loved one age or struggle with memory loss. The story offers more than a familiar romance; it also explores the challenges of growing older and the heartbreak of seeing someone you love slip away.
The Notebook is onstage at DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids through October 18. Tickets and information are available at grandrapids.broadway.com.
