Review Roundup: THE NOTEBOOK National Tour is Now Underway

The National Tour of THE NOTEBOOK is now underway! The tour launched on September 6, 2025, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH, and will continue to 30+ cities in its first year, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. Read the reviews below!

Portraying Allie and Noah across their lifetimes are Sharon Catherine Brown as Older Allie and Beau Gravitte as Older Noah, Alysha Deslorieux as Middle Allie and Ken Wulf Clark as Middle Noah, and Chloë Cheers as Younger Allie and Kyle Mangold as Younger Noah. They will be joined by Anne Tolpegin as Mother/Nurse Lori and Connor Richardson as Johnny. Playing various roles are Nick Brogan, Jesse Corbin, Jerome Harmann-Hardeman, Rayna Hickman, Makena Jackson, Caleb Mathura, Aaron Ramey, Shari Washington Rhone, Samantha Rios, Grace Ohwensadeyo Rundberg, Emily Somé, and Joe Verga.

Allie and Noah, two people from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart in a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love. Based on the book that has sold millions of copies worldwide and a film that is one of the highest-grossing romantic dramas of all-time, the musical adaptation of THE NOTEBOOK played Broadway at the Schoenfeld Theatre from March 2024 to December 2024 following a critically acclaimed world premiere engagement at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the fall of 2022.

THE NOTEBOOK features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson and a book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter (writer and producer on NBC's “This Is Us,” The Cake). The production is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (Aida, The Wiz), with choreography by Katie Spelman (Associate Choreographer on Moulin Rouge! The Musical).

Mark Meszoros, The News Herald: That experience is one that fans of Nicholas Sparks’ 1996 debut novel and the beloved 2004 movie version are likely to appreciate, although the creative team — namely book writer Bekah Brunstetter, composer and lyricist Ingrid Michaelson and co-directors Michael Greif and Schele Williams — has made some notable tweaks while following the broad strokes of the familiar narrative.

Joey Morona, Cleveland.com: Bekah Brunstetter’s book, adapted from Sparks’ novel, leans on familiar tropes: soulmates pulled apart by circumstance, disapproving parents and the inevitable reunion. But there’s power in those timeless beats, especially when they’re brought to life by a cast of this caliber. Newcomers Mangold and Cheers capture the wide-eyed innocence of Young Noah and Allie beautifully, their duets lifted by his tender falsetto and her enchanting tone. As Middle Noah and Allie, Clark and Deslorieux turn up the heat, their palpable chemistry matched by the strongest vocals of the night — including her show-stopping rendition of “My Days.” Gravitte provides a steady anchor as Older Noah, while Brown brings quiet grace to the show’s most pivotal role.

Roy Berko, BroadwayWorld.com: Covering over 52 years of the character’s lives, the tale illustrates parental prejudices, classism, and the harsh reality of aging and memory loss. It exposes the raw strain of advancing dementia on both the victim and their caretakers, while centering on the enduring power of love that can transcend time and stresses.

Suzanne Wells, Berkshire on Stage: The true stars of the show are Sharon Catherine Brown and Beau Gravitte. Brown’s performance as a woman grappling with severe dementia is fearless, deeply moving, and utterly convincing. She masterfully conveys disassociation, fear, and fleeting moments of recognition, each emotion pulling at the audience’s heartstrings. Paired with Gravitte’s blend of grumpy old man humor and unwavering hope for one more moment with his beloved, their scenes elicit both tears of joy and sadness.

Nancy Sasso Janis, Patch: The stellar cast display glorious singing voices as they make their way through the score in various permutations. There is a mix of solo performances, duets, trios and quartets in perfect harmony, and a final company number “Coda” at the end.

Michael Rabice, BroadwayWorld: Where THE NOTEBOOK succeeds is in the gritty reality of the disease, and the production directed by Michael Grief and Schele Williams manages to entrance the audience in it's creativity. The score by Ingrid Michaelson, while pleasant and unoffensive, is merely utilitarian.

Buffalo Theatre Guide, Buffalo Theatre Guide: While the performances and production elements were certainly memorable, what struck me most was how the musical managed to capture the raw emotional weight of the story without feeling overly sentimental. The balance between heartbreak and hope was handled delicately, especially in moments when Older Allie’s memory began to falter.

Anthony Higgins, Buffalo Rising: All of it presents a beautiful picture of mortality, but also the universality of love. The six actors playing Noah and Allie range in age and ethnicity. This strikes at the heart of what I suspect undergirds the enduring popularity of The Notebook.

Taylor Clemons, BroadwayWorld: Vocally and dramatically, the cast gave fully committed performances. Gravitte and Brown, portraying older Allie and Noah, delivered the emotional weight of the show. Moments of silence, longing, and restraint often gave depth and pathos to the characters. The younger and middle versions (Kyle Mangold, Ken Wulf Clark, Alysha Deslorieux, and Chloë Cheers) brought energy and emotion to the romance, heartbreak, and everything in between. Particularly during the summer scenes where our lovers first met. The timeline changes were mostly seamless, and the costumes and lighting made the shifts feel smooth and natural. Allie was always costumed in evolutions of blue, while Noah in evolutions of warm burnt oranges.

AniKatrina Fageol, BroadwayWorld: If you are a fan of Nicholas Sparks's novel The Notebook or the 2004 film of the same title (starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, you do not want to miss this production. It is a beautiful love story of endurance and hope even amidst the constant trials. It is one of my favorite films of all time so I tried not to be too critical of the details-- I had heard that the musical is more based on the book than the movie, but particular scenes will have the Notebook movie fans moving with excitement, particularly the iconic rain scene.

Desiré Declyne, Out In STL: If you go expecting a sad romance, you’ll get that and something more. You’ll get a story about memory, forgiveness, and finding your way back. It’s about love that stays, even when everything else fades. Bring tissues, of course. But also bring your whole heart. The Notebook at the Fox isn’t just a show… it’s a quiet, beautiful reminder that love, in all its forms, endures.

Rob Levy, BroadwayWorld: Well-acted and emotionally bumpy, the production can be overly sugary in places and excessively bleak in others. Despite this, it is an immersive theatrical experience where audiences become invested in the love story and profoundly moved by its balance of pathos and optimism.

Jerrod Sumner, Minnesota Monthly: If you seek a show that leaves you feeling merely lighthearted and humming tunes, look elsewhere. If you seek a show that leaves you feeling profoundly blessed to have loved and been loved, you have found your show.

Jacob Aloi, MPR News: Brown’s portrayal is a powerful and respectful take on someone who can’t remember where or who they are. In quiet moments of listening to Noah’s story, Brown’s subtle hand-wringing and smiles clue us into her happiness as she remembers something. They also reveal her frustration when that connection evaporates.

DC Felton, BroadwayWorld: Part of the fun for me going into this show was that I was only familiar with one song. I was blown away by the beautiful songs, with music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson and co-orchestrations by Carmel Dean and John Clancy. There is something familiar in the music I can't place, which is so fitting for this show, as they talk about music being one of the last things forgotten.

Jon Bee, BroadwayWorld: The cast of The Notebook is a collective powerhouse. Beau Gravitte as Older Noah is deeply tenderhearted in this role of storyteller and husband to his beloved wife whom doesn't remember him - or rather, constantly forgets him. Kyle Mangold as Younger Noah does well enough in the role, especially with bringing the same level of tenderheartedness as his eldest counterpart. But, there is a level of gentlemanly swagger that is missing. There were a couple times where Mangold lets Noah become a little too much of a crybaby as it pertains to the approval of Allie's parents. As Middle Noah, Ken Wulf Clark delivers what I call the "Goldielocks" effect - he is just right. Clark gives a well-balanced performance, even with the unexpected encore of his solo "Leave the Light On" due to a technical hold. Clark handled the mishap as all the best in the business do - with class, professionalism, and skill.

Evan Henerson, BroadwayWorld: The national tour of THE NOTEBOOK: THE MUSICAL contains enough of the necessary ingredients, and pushes the appropriate buttons to get the ultra-romantic of us to submit to this story yet again. Between Ingred Michelson’s heart-swelling score, a safe and steady book by Bekah Brunstetter and the co-direction of Michael Greif and Schele Williams, this entertaining but hardly remarkable tale kicks off the 2026 season at the Hollywood Pantages on an appropriately tear-streaked note.

Russell Tom, SoCal Thrills: In the end, the young couple still only knew each other for one summer but strong enough to last for decades. Some may find that unrealistic and impractical. But who really knows everything about love and how it works? Every love is different and not the same like the other. This is not your love story, it’s theirs. Tissue boxes are ready for purchase to take to your seat.

Shaena Engle, WeHo Times: 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.

Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times: I wasn’t expecting the actors cast in these roles at the Pantages, where the musical opened Wednesday, to compare in magnetism or intensity to their movie star predecessors. Fortunately, the way the musical is written by Ingrid Michaelson (music and lyrics) and Bekah Brunstetter (book), they don’t really have to.

Kevin Taft, We Live Entertainment: Ultimately, the musical feels like it needed another round of development to become truly compelling. But when the source material itself is so middle-of-the-road (albeit enormously popular), there’s only so much that can be added. The scenic and lighting design are pleasant, the songs are momentarily catchy, and the show moves at a brisk pace that keeps you modestly engaged.

Average Rating: 77.6%