Theater Review: 'The Notebook The Musical' Tour at the Bushnell

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member and Patch Contributor Nancy Sasso Janis

The tour of “The Notebook The Musical” opened last evening at the Bushnell in Hartford and earned a standing ovation at the end of their heartwarming performance.

The musical version of “The Notebook” is based on the beloved novel by Nicholas Sparks, with a whole lot of beautiful music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson that embosses the book by Bekah Brunstetter. The work is lovingly and beautifully staged by directors Michael Greif (“Dear Evan Hansen”) and Schelle Williams (“The Wiz” Broadway revival and tour,) making the story a joy to watch.

The story of a young couple who falls in love has been moved to the sixties. Now their life story is read aloud from a notebook in the present day by an elderly man to a female resident in a memory care home. The touching tale is set in a coastal town in the Mid-Atlantic, sweeping through the late 60s, the late 70s, and thudding into the present time. We appreciate that plenty of funny lines and lyrics have been added to lift the mood.

There is some subtle choreography by Katie Spelman. The music direction by Tina Faye makes the tuneful melodies arranged by Carmel Dean sound beautiful. She conducts the six-member orchestra on keyboard; there is some electronic music mixed in. I loved the opening song “Time” and “Forever.”

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.

Three performers of color play the Allies, the female protagonist, and three men portray the man that she loves, Noah, in different stages of his life.

Chloë Cheers, who played Amanda in “Because of Winn Dixie” at Goodspeed, glows in the role of Younger Allie, a teen in love. Cheers is a LaGuardia Performing Arts Drama grad. Alysha Deslorieux, who was part of the original Broadway cast (and the first national tour) of a little show “Hamilton,” makes the most of every note and move in the role of the Middle Allie. Sharon Catherine Brown, who made her Broadway debut at the age of five, tackles the role of the fading Older Allie, battling the decline of her memory. It is almost hard to watch her performance before she “comes back,” as we feel for her character and the people who love her.

Tenor Kyle Mangold makes his national tour debut as the Younger Noah and is so believable as the teen. Ken Wulf Clark (“The Great Comet…” and “Shucked” on Broadway) takes on the role of Middle Noah, who reunites with Allie after a long time apart. Beau Gravitte, who was the artistic director of the Actors Studio in New York until 2023, gives a touching performance as the eldest version of the character, Older Noah.

Anne Tolpegin (“Les Miserables” on Broadway) portrays the mother of Allie as well as Nurse Lori and Jerome Harmann-Hardeman plays her father, as well as her son and others. Rayna Hickman appears as Nurse Johanna and others, and Connor Richardson plays Johnny in his national tour debut.

Jesse Cordin, originally from Pittsburgh, plays Lon and others, and also understudies Middle Noah. Grace Ohwensadey Rundberg, a recent Pace grad, plays Georgie, a concierge and other in her tour debut.

Makena Jackson (“Dear Evan Hansen” national tour) plays Allie’s devoted granddaughter and Sarah, and Caleb Mathura (“Mean Girls” first national tour) plays Finn and the couple’s grandson.

The scenic design by David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis rearranges to suit the various locations with a good mix of techniques. The stunning lighting design by Ben Stanton (“Maybe Happy Ending” on Broadway) employs sticks of light as well as more traditional lighting. The costumes designed by Paloma Young (Tony nominated for “Natasha, Pierre…”) fit the three eras, with plenty of blue for the Allies, and wig and hair design by Mia Neal.

“The Notebook” marked Michaelson’s Broadway debut as composer and lyricist and was Grammy nominated, and Brunstetter is the author of “Be a Good Little Widow,” which was recently produced at Phoenix Stage Company in Oakville. Sparks wrote the novel over a period of six months at the age of 28; he has gone on to write 24 additional novels.

This national tour of “The Notebook” began on Sept. at the Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio, with Hartford its second stop. It will definitely appeal to fans of the source material as well as the 2004 film version. Even those unfamiliar with the story will fall in love with this love story. Don’t miss this moving story through Sunday only. Join them Friday for a free post-show talkback with the @alzassociation. Get tickets now at bushnell.org.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She was a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.