From Bestselling Novel to Broadway Show: "The Notebook" Comes to Life in Musical Form

Every Broadway show has a souvenir stand for things like T-shirts and mugs. But at a new musical that opened this past week, they're selling boxes of tissues.

"I guess this is one of the hottest little merch on Broadway, according to articles that I've been reading," said writer Nicholas Sparks. "It is a tissue box. It's got the logo of the play!"

Sparks has published 24 romance novels, all bestsellers. They've sold 130 million copies and been made into 11 movies. But the very first one he published is his biggest seller of all: "The Notebook," from 1996. The 2004 movie version put young Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams on the map, and became a romance classic.

And now, it's a Broadway musical.

Sparks was at the theater on opening night. And yes, he did cry. "You get a little weepy," he said.

And he's not alone. One audience member admitted she cried, "from the jump."

Every version of "The Notebook" has employed a framing device: as the end of his life approaches, husband Noah reads from a notebook to his wife, Allie, who has Alzheimer's disease. It's the notebook containing the story of their own decades-long love.

"That was a story inspired by my ex-wife's grandparents," Sparks said. "They met when they were young, they were separated for years, she meets someone else, she comes back, finds her first true love, and they live long and happy. And then, in their final years, age begins to take its toll."

Playwright Bekah Brunstetter wrote the script, and songwriter Ingrid Michaelson wrote the music and lyrics. They didn't mind calling their show a tear-jerker. "If we are the play that makes you feel things-slash-cry, then there are worse boxes to be in," Michaelson said.

It's the first time either of them has worked on a Broadway show.

Michaelson said, "I thought, 'I can do this. I can figure out how to make people who are gonna come with their arms folded, unfold their arms, basically.'

"And then, let's all laugh, you know?" said Brunstetter. "Kind of combining those two things constantly. Because laughter and tears are just so right there next to each other all the time."

In the musical, three pairs of actors play the couple at three different ages. "From the very beginning, we knew we wanted three Allies and three Noahs," Michaelson said. "You can have an older version of a character watching their younger self. Especially since we are dealing with memory so much, and losing memory and fragmented memory, that having these other versions of themselves on stage [was] really helpful."

The Notebook Musical Breaks Boundaries with Race-Blind Casting

In a groundbreaking move, the musical adaptation of "The Notebook" features Noah and Allie changing races fluidly at different ages, a stark contrast to Nicholas Sparks' original novels which never included a Black main character. Co-director Shele Williams emphasized that "race is not the story; you're seeing the spirit of who they are" and the casting allows for a deeper connection to the characters' essence and experiences.

Co-director Michael Greif expressed that the unique casting idea aimed to present the story in the best possible way, offering a fresh perspective on the beloved tale of love and memory.

The creative team behind the musical also has personal connections to the themes of dementia portrayed in the show. Williams, whose mother has Alzheimer's, found the story particularly resonant. Playwright Bekah Brunstetter shared a similar sentiment, drawing from her own experiences with a grandfather who had Alzheimer's.

Despite varying reviews, author Nicholas Sparks believes that the universal themes of love and memory in "The Notebook" will ultimately speak to audiences, transcending any critical opinions. "It is a love story. It is a story of young love. It is a story of reunited love. It's a story of everlasting love. It is also a story of memory," Sparks reflected.

Remember that box of tissues? It seems the producers of the musical weren't the first to capitalize on the marketing potential of Kleenex. Back when "The Notebook" novel was released thirty years ago, handkerchiefs were distributed to critics and bookstore owners. "We gave 'em a hankie for their tears!" chuckled Sparks. "'The Notebook' and genuine emotion have always gone hand-in-hand."

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