The musical theatre adaptation of one of the most memorable love stories of the current era, The Notebook, will celebrate its Costa Mesa premiere at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Jan. 27 and run through Feb. 8.
“THE NOTEBOOK is ultimately a celebration of life, love, and the power of memory,” said producers Kevin McCollum and Kurt Deutsch.
“Audiences first fell in love with this timeless story as a novel, then as an iconic film, and now they can experience it anew as a moving musical event. With multi-platinum artist Ingrid Michaelson’s unforgettable score and Tony Award-nominated Bekah Brunstetter’s beautifully crafted book, THE NOTEBOOK comes to life on stage in a way that will resonate deeply with audiences across North America
Allie and Noah, two people from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. “Full of butterfly-inducing highs and beautiful songs” (Entertainment Weekly), THE NOTEBOOK is a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.
Allie and Noah are each played by three actors- Chloë Cheers as Younger Allie, Alysha Deslorieux as Middle Allie, Sharon Catherine Brown as Older Allie, Kyle Mangold as Younger Noah, Ken Wulf Clark as Middle Noah, and Beau Gravitte as Older Noah.
In an interview this week with ENE, Ken Wulf Clark (middle Noah) said he was “grateful” to learn he landed the role as Noah, though admitting that he purposely had not watched the movie before the audition.
“I’m glad I didn’t watch the movie, because by the time we were done, many people think of the book, but now, to me, “The Notebook” is only our play.”
“I think that this is one of the few remaining unabashedly romantic musicals out there,” said Clark, noting the play is so well written, “I think the true love magic truly happens (on stage as it did in the book and the movie).”
Clark said the message behind the powerful play “is to have faith,” as the musical tells the emotionally charged story of Allie and Noah’s encounters throughout their lives.
“The play is about the power of love” says Clark. “It’s about this man (Noah) who has this woman (Allie) that he’s completely devoted to and for three times throughout his life, he has to make the choice to fight for her.”
“When he’s (Noah) young, his parents take her away. When he is in the middle of life, he finds her again, but now she is engaged to this other man and he has to fight for her again. And then, at the end of his life, his last act of devotion is to fight for her while slowly losing her to dementia,” said Clark.
“I think there is a greater emphasis on that aspect of the story in the play as compared to the movie,” he added. That said, he believes his symbiotic, on stage chemistry with co-star Alysha Deslorieux (middle Allie), brings “makes the power and magic of love come alive on stage.”
“We trust each other and seem to agree on how to tell the story,” he said. “I don’t want to say it is easy, but I’m so grateful for my scene partner,” said Clark.
Musical theatre, says this accomplished acting veteran, is among the biggest challenges in today’s entertainment industry.
“I like it because it is the hardest thing to do as an actor. If you can do this, you can do anything (in the field),” he said.
“It’s eight days a week, it’s on the road, you’re singing so you have to take care of your body, your voice. There’s the stress, physical, vocal, emotional and you know, it’s a lifestyle. It’s hard and you have to adapt to it but I like it and I get to do it with people who are good at it,” said Clark.
“And it’s gratifying every night when the curtain comes down with very little exception. I feel like I’ve accomplished something difficult and that’s why I love this job,” said Clark.
Clark, Deslorieux and company took the stage in “The Notebook” on Tuesday and the play will continue until Feb. 8.
The creative team for the tour includes scenic design by David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis , costume design by Paloma Young , lighting design by Ben Stanton , sound design by Nevin Steinberg , hair and wig design by Mia Neal , and projection design by Lucy Mackinnon . The production’s music supervisor is Carmel Dean , who also collaborated on arrangements with Ingrid Michaelson and on orchestrations with John Clancy , and the music director is Tina Faye . Casting by The Telsey Office , Patrick Goodwin , CSA.
The production was recently recognized with three 2024 Tony Award nominations (Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical), Drama League Award nominations for Outstanding Production of a Musical, two Distinguished Performance Awards and the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing, Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, and an Outer Critics Circle Award.
Atlantic Records officially released the Grammy-nominated THE NOTEBOOK (Original Broadway Cast Recording), featuring a score that Vanity Fair calls “strikingly beautiful” by multiplatinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson.
Following its release, THE NOTEBOOK (Original Broadway Cast Recording) debuted at #1 on the Top Broadway chart in Music Connect, with breakout single “My Days ” now surpassing 9 million streams on Spotify alone.
Tickets for the Notebook start at $39 and are available at the SCFTA box office, 600 Towne Center Drive, Costa Mesa or visit scfta.org.