The Notebook, A Musical Tale of Memory and Love
The Notebook the Musical is now playing at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre through January 25. Based on the Nicholas Sparks novel and 2004 movie, the musical reimagines the iconic love story of Allie and Noah. The story follows the lovers from different worlds as they end up together despite forces that threaten to pull them apart.
The sets are minimal with water and subtle visual motifs appearing as metaphors for memory and time, complementing the narrative as older Noah (Beau Gravitte) reads the story of their love to older Allie (Sharon Catherine Brown). Lighting and spatial transitions mirror the story’s frequent time shifts, from a present-day nursing home to flashbacks of youthful summer romance.
This touring company of The Notebook brings a fresh ensemble to Southern California, anchored by three pairs of actors portraying Allie and Noah at different life stages. Kyle Mangold (Younger Noah) and Chloë Cheers (Younger Allie) establish immediate chemistry, grounding the narrative’s early moments with youthful love and infatuation.
Jessie Corbin (understudy for Ken Wulf Clark) played Middle Noah at our performance and Alysha Deslorieux (Middle Allie) display emotional depth as the couple navigates the different milestones of their lives together, with the duet “Leave the Light On” a standout performance, underscoring both vulnerability and devotion.
Gravitte and Brown are the story’s emotional core and do the best at representing the characters from both the novel and the film. Their portrayal of enduring love in the face of memory loss is tender and understated with hints of humor throughout the performances.
Pantages
Ingrid Michaelson’s score is central to the show’s identity and mirrors the story’s themes of memory, loss, and longing. Standout songs include “Time,” an ensemble piece about memory and relationship across decades; “Carry You Home,” from the younger cast, capturing the promise of first love; “Leave the Light On,” a ballad about longing and resilience and “Sadness and Joy,” throughout the musical with bittersweet notes.
The music’s strength is not in big memorable show tunes but rather in its ability to register feelings of love and loss. The Notebook is directed by Michael Greif and Schele Williams; book by Bekah Brunstetter and choreography by Katie Spelman.
The Notebook is an immersive emotional journey rather than a spectacle and fans of the movie and book will be able to relate to the slow pace and sentimentality, while others might find the production a bit long and may not be able to last through the 2 hour and 20 minute run time. Playing at the Pantages in Los Angeles on Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm and Sunday at 1pm and 6:30pm, tickets at https://www.braodwayinhollywood.com. After Los Angeles, the tour will go to Costa Mesa, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Reno, Las Vegas, Tempe, San Diego, West Palm Beach, Miami, Orlando, Charlotte, Tampa, Greensboro, Greenville, Tulsa, Fort Worth, Durham, Philadelphia, Chicago and Washington DC.
