Chicago Shakespeare Theater's upcoming world premiere of The Notebook, the new musical based on the bestselling novel by Nicholas Sparks that inspired the film of the same name, begins September 6.
The musical, which follows Allie and Noah, who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart, features a score by singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson (The Way I Am, Girls Chase Boys) and a book by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC's This Is Us).
Watch Michaelson perform "If This Is Love," a song from the new musical, in the video above.
Directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Rent) and Schele Williams (Aida, Motown the Musical), the production is currently scheduled through October 16. Katie Spelman will choreograph.
Portraying Allie and Noah across their lifetimes will be Jordan Tyson (The Street of New York) as Young Allie, Joy Woods (SIX the Musical) as Middle Allie, and Tony winner Maryann Plunkett (Me and My Girl) as Older Allie; John Cardoza (Jagged Little Pill) as Young Noah, Ryan Vasquez (Waitress) as Middle Noah, and John Beasley (Kennedy Center’s Fences) as Older Noah.
The company will also include Yassmin Alers (On Your Feet!), Andréa Burns (On Your Feet!), Jonathan Butler-Duplessis (Parade), Dorcas Leung (Miss Saigon), Omar Lopez-Cepero (American Idiot), Sophie Madorsky (Nice Work If You Can Get It), and Liam Oh (Next to Normal at Writers Theatre). Understudies include Alex Benoit, Mary Ernster, Jerica Exum, Jerome Harmann-Hardeman, RhonniRose Mantilla, and Carson Stewart.
The creative team also features music supervisor Carmel Dean, who is collaborating on arrangements with Michaelson and on orchestrations with John Clancy; plus music director Geoffrey Ko, scenic designers David Zinn and Brett Banakis, costume designer Paloma Young, lighting designer Ben Stanton, sound designer Nevin Steinberg, wig and make-up designer Mia Neal, associate director Asmeret Ghebremichael, assistant musical director Anna Ebbeson, assistant choreographer Emily Madigan, intimacy director Sasha Smith, associate costume designer Annie Le, associate lighting designer Wilburn Bonnell, associate sound designer Daniel Lundberg, and assistant lighting designer Erica Maholmes. Victoria Navarro is the production stage manager.
Casting is by Chicago Shakespeare Theater Artistic Associate/Casting Director Bob Mason with New York casting by The Telsey Office's Patrick Goodwin.
