LOVE, LOSS, AND LYRICS

An earnest musical adaptation that leans
into memory, even when it leans too hard

The touring production of The Notebook arrives at the Civic Theatre with a built-in audience and a well-worn story to tell. Based on Nicholas Sparks’ bestselling novel and the beloved 2004 film, the musical adaptation leans into the sweeping romance between Noah and Allie, a love story shaped by class divides, missed connections, and the persistence of memory.

Chloë Cheers (Younger Allie) and Kyle Mangold (Younger Noah)

With a book by Bekah Brunstetter, directed by Michael Greif and Schele Williams, what distinguishes this stage version is its structural choice: three actors each portray Noah and Allie at different points in their lives, weaving past and present together in a fluid, overlapping narrative. The performers are also racially diverse, so audiences are not only tracking shifts in age but in physical identity as well. It can take a moment to adjust to that theatrical language, but once it settles, the approach reinforces the idea that love—and identity—evolves over time rather than remaining fixed in a single form.

Sharon Catherine Brown (Older Allie) and The Notebook Tour Company

The performances are uniformly strong, with Beau Gravitte standing out among the Noahs for his grounded presence and emotional clarity. Among the Allies, Sharon Catherine Brown, Alysha Deslorieux, and Chloe Cheers bring distinct textures to the role, creating a composite portrait that feels layered rather than fragmented.

Ken Wulf Clark (Middle Noah) and Alysha Deslorieux (Middle Allie)

The score, by Ingrid Michaelson, favors introspective ballads over showstopping spectacle. Songs emerge organically from the storytelling, often functioning as emotional extensions of the characters’ inner lives rather than traditional Broadway set pieces. While the music may not leave audiences humming on the way out, it provides a consistent emotional throughline, particularly in quieter moments between the central couple.

Beau Gravitte (Older Noah) and Sharon Catherine Brown (Older Allie)

Visually, the production is handsome and thoughtfully designed. David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis create a flexible, small-town Carolina setting anchored by a looming wooden house that seems to hold the characters’ shared history. Paloma Young’s costumes and Mia Neal’s hair and wig design subtly track the passage of time, while Katie Spelman’s choreography adds light movement without overwhelming the storytelling. Directors Michael Greif and Schele Williams keep the large ensemble moving smoothly across the expansive Civic Theatre stage.

Sharon Catherine Brown (Older Allie) and Beau Gravitte (Older Noah)

At its core, The Notebook remains a story about memory—what we hold onto, what slips away, and what love can recover, even briefly. The framing device of an older Noah reading to an ailing Allie in a care facility gives the narrative its emotional anchor, though some may find the sentimentality heavy-handed.

Still, for audiences willing to surrender to its earnestness, The Notebook delivers a heartfelt, visually polished evening of theater—one that reminds us why this story continues to resonate, even as it tugs insistently at the heartstrings.

Alysha Deslorieux (Middle Allie) and Ken Wulf Clark (Middle Noah)

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photos by Roger Mastroianni

The Notebook
San Diego Civic Theatre
1100 Third Avenue, San Diego
ends in San Diego on April 19, 2026
for tickets, visit broadwaysd
2 hours 20 minutes, including intermission
tour continues; for dates and cities, visit The Notebook

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