why THE NOTEBOOK is closing on Broadway | the reasons why the stage musical will end this year
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
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OHMYGOD HEY!
In breaking Broadway news, it was announced earlier today that the stage musical adaptation of THE NOTEBOOK, currently playing at the Schoenfeld Theatre, would close later this year.
The musical, which opened in March, features a score by Ingrid Michaelson and tells the story of Allie and Noah and a love that spanned generations. It received mixed to negative reviews upon opening and its 3 Tony award nominations did not include Best Musical or Best Original Score.
Check out today's new news recap video for my thoughts on this, the reasons behind this show's early closure and where we might expect to see it have a future life...
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ABOUT THE NOTEBOOK
The three-time Tony Award-nominated musical The Notebook, one of the most cherished contemporary love stories, is on Broadway starring 2024 Tony nominees Dorian Harewood and Maryann Plunkett.
The Notebook started as a 1995 bestselling novel by Nicholas Sparks, which was then adapted into a 2004 fan-favorite movie starring Academy Award nominees Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. Now, Ingrid Michaelson sets the timeless story to music: the indie singer-songwriter contributes original music and lyrics that breathe new life into the story of lovers Noah and Allie. A Broadway alum, Michaelson appeared as Sonya in Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812; now she returns as a first-time Broadway creative.
In The Notebook on Broadway, an elderly man reads a romantic story to a female patient in a nursing home. The chapters that follow unlock a breathtaking love story, whisking the patient and the man back to their youth and providing the details that, as they age, will tragically connect them. Decades earlier, Allie and Noah were star-crossed lovers: Military drafts, family ties, and opposing classes all threatened to separate their love, but they have a once-in-a-lifetime relationship that endures for decades.
Two Broadway powerhouses direct this new production, which premiered at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Michael Greif, a four-time Tony Award nominee for electric productions like Rent and Next to Normal, co-directs The Notebook musical alongside Schele Williams, who is directing the 2024 The Wiz revival. Also on the team is librettist Bekah Brunstetter, who earned three Emmy nominations writing for This Is Us.
The cast includes Tony Award-winner Maryann Plunkett as Older Allie, Dorian Harewood as Older Noah, Joy Woods as Middle Allie, Ryan Vasquez as Middle Noah, Jordan Tyson as Younger Allie, John Cardoza as Younger Noah, Andréa Burns as Mother/Nurse Lori, and Carson Stewart as Johnny/Fin. Playing various roles are Yassmin Alers, Alex Benoit, Chase Del Rey, Hillary Fisher, Jerome Harmann-Hardeman, Dorcas Leung, Happy McPartlin, Juliette Ojeda, Kim Onah, Charles E. Wallace, and Charlie Webb.
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This is a case study. The Notebook had so many things going for it -- subject matter that was perfect for a musical, recognizable IP, a knockout cast. Really the only department in which it falls short in is, like you said, the specificity of the lyrics. (And, I think, too many ballads... "My Days" would hit even harder if it wasn't preceded by so many similar songs.)
I hope, in the future, producers are more hesitant to bring on pop songwriters who don't necessarily understand the differences between theatre music and pop music. There are excellent theatre writers out there, and this show would probably have run longer if it had been written by one of them.
(The caveat to this is that I'm obviously very biased in favour of theatre writers, haha.)
Or at least give the songwriter some more feedback and notes? While the melodies are often beautiful and memorable, I really don't understand how many of those lyrics made it to the finished product.
@@MusicTheatreTheory - There are pop songwriters who understand how to compose musicals. Sadly, Ingrid Michaelson is not one of them. Seriously, do not understand why she was even hired.
I actually just saw this Wednesday. Put it off till I got a decent discount…it was the only musical I have not seen this season. (I’m 76, my first Broadway show was She Loves Me in 1963 and my husband Bill Russell wrote the book and lyrics to the musical Side Show, as well as a show better known in the Uk: Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens).
I did enjoy The Notebook much more than I expected. Great acting and singing. It just never caught on… so many musicals this season and we are really still getting audiences back after Covid. Not as bad as it was but still people got out of the habit some of us have!
You will be probably happy to know that I live in New York but I heard the news about the closing from you just an hour ago! So congratulations! You beat many of the theater blogs.
Continued success! ❤
Sideshow is one of my favorites! I was lucky to perform in it at my local theatre once. The most fun I’ve ever had on a show!
my best friend loves this show so much. she saw it on broadway last month and even got to go back to be an assistant stage manager for a performance. this show means to her what the outsiders means to me (which is a lot). i’m saddened to see it go, but i’m excited to see it on tour when it comes to my city, and maybe even on broadway with my best friend.
Shout out to the large headed people!
Hopefully the cast gets new gigs quickly!
I think the Notebook was always going to be easy to criticise: such an iconic movie and it can be seen as quite ‘vanilla’ MT, but I think it’s vanilla MT done brilliantly. I went to the US to see it after falling in love with the score and it was fantastic. Really hope this show has a lot more life
Joy Woods is terrific. I saw her as Cathy Parr in Six a couple years ago.
This is one of those musicals where the generational gap was bridged in the audience. I attended this with my teen as part of a summer workshop group … imagine tweens and teens and parents who also enjoyed a cast talk afterwards. We parents knew the movie and/or 90s novel and my kid at least knew and loved the score. (She didn’t know the story & refused to watch the movie or read the book before watching the musical) Sniffles throughout the musical, both acts. I bought the tissue box since I forgot tissues & the box was shared with the kids to our right and left. We’re sad it’s closing on Broadway - I would have gladly watched it again in Feb when we visit NYC again. Looking forward for the National tour. ❤
I went to see The Notebook reluctantly but I was blown away by it and I've been preaching it ever since. What a fantastic show. I wish it would stay open forever. Great cast and terrific production. I wish it could stay open much, much longer.
To the best of my knowledge, The Phantom of the Opera did not have a stop clause in their theatre license, so the Shuberts could not order them to close in favor of a new show coming in at the Majestic and the only other remaining Broadways how with such an arrangement is Chicago at the Ambassador,
I think this is an indication of the tides shifting on Broadway. Stage adaptations of famous films aren't guaranteed money makers anymore. I think Back to the Future isn't doing great either. The shows that are maknig money are the shows with a big name either with the score (Alicia Keys- Hell's Kitchen, LMM) or in the cast. (prestige peformers, Audra or Eva, Jeremy) or more likely big names outside of the Theatre sphere (Josh Groban- Sweenry Nicole Scherziner sunset, Hugh Jackman- Music Man etc noe Aui’li and Adam in Cabaret). Sometimes well known shows with revivals have a good chance again (Sweeney, Cats:Jellicle Ball etc). The thing is name/brand recoginition is what's selling. Broadway tickets have become so expensve the GA not heavily immersed in the theatre scene, and those coming from internationally to Broadway want something that they feel is going to be worth their investment. It sucks when great work gets underappreciated. But right now Broadway wants names.
The Ousiders is an adaptation with no big names which is doing pretty well.
That they are closing right before instead of right after Christmas is a bit strange. I am surprised that the show lasted this long after it went home empty-handed at the Tony Awards.
Have to say I’m surprised the Notebook lasted as long as it did, ticket sales have been on the decline for a while now, and sadly money speaks volumes on broadway.
Devastated by this news! 💔 I love this show so much 😢
The show was amazing. I cried throughout. How was Joy Woods not nominated for a Tony??!
Saw it in its first week and I’m honestly surprised it’s stayed open for this long
Maybe unpopular opinion: but it was one of my favorite cast recordings recently from Broadway and I have been listening to it on repeat for the last months. I don't think the lyrics are superficial at all, I think they are simplistic in a way Haikus are. The whole point of the show is that love is universal and the lyrics and mirroring that topic to me. Yes it is unual for a stage Musical because most of the time the more specific it is the more life it gets but in this case I feel like the vagueness just works and is part of the style. That being said I didn't have the chance yet to see it live on stage. It is a singer songwriter style but contrary to a lot of other contemporary musicals I listened to lately it didn't sound generic to me. But like I said: that is just my personal opinion. Wishing a bright future to the show and all the creatives involved in it, including the cast!
I'll be in NYC in three weeks. The Notebook just got added to my must see list.
MUST. It was absolutely INCREDIBLE
While it's a bummer this is closing in NYC, I predict this show will do incredible business in regional US theaters - small cast jewel box production with incredible name recognition. Regionals will be fist fighting for the rights to produce this.
I’m seeing it for the third time in October, I’m so sad but knew this was coming. I am a season ticket holder in Cleveland where the first stop is, planning on going the opening night!
I can't wait for the notebook tour to come to San Diego!!!
I saw this in April and enjoyed it but wasn’t blown away. My mum liked it more than me - she didn’t know the story whereas I had seen the film and read the book. Strangely when we saw it, many audience members seemed to be trying to compete as to who could cry the loudest with theatrical wailing followed by laughter. It really detracted from the show.
Why did it close? “Money.”
Insert gif of Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey stage whispering “Money.”
If the Theater is pushing the show out, it may be that they are wanting to bring in a holiday-specific show--although, Dec. 15th is pretty late to bring in a holiday-related show. Perhaps, the next show needs some theater renovation....
See I’m a theatre fan who’s favourite type of shows are the emotional, gut wrenching ones like NTN, DEH and now this. I love that emotional connection I get to a piece. Of course I love the fun stuff too like HK which I really enjoyed but it doesn’t connect to me in the same way emotionally as these other shows do. It’s a shame that post Covid audiences aren’t wanting to go to these shows cause they are so special in the way they make you feel your emotions! 🖤
I really loved this show and did not expect to
I have held off seeing this for the longest time but now I am glad I booked tickets to see it next weekend.
Didn’t read the book, but saw the movie. Was never interested in seeing this musical.
Appreciate you noting the odd closing date. That struck me as well given how many tourists flood NYC in December.
I liken this show to The Time Travellers Wife, maybe because I first saw them within a couple of weeks of each other (The Notebook in Chicago, TTTW in Chester) but also because both based on the book (that had also had a film), first score written by indie pop star etc etc... I loved them both and sorry neither have lasted as long as they should have. But I do worry if The Notebook will find an audience in London, as The Time Travellers Wife didn't.
With this show announcing their closing, I wonder which others will because I keep checking the grosses and it looks like BTTF keeps struggling every week. It makes me sad to see shows struggle but these producers hope people will flock to these shows based on name recognition and that just isn’t happening.
I really like the score to this show even better than most of the scores from this years Tony Awards.
i thought andrew lloyd webber has said that they closed poto because they were losing money (even before covid). it'd be weird that they'd close such a production if favour of a revival that would premiere more than a year and a half later
In this case, I feel the color blind casting actively worked against the storytelling, especially for non regular theatregoers.
I think in this day and age if ur doing a musical based on a already established property you need to have something to justify turning it into a musical, otherwise why would people spend alot of time and money going if they can just watch the film at home for alot cheaper. Seems like the notebook didnt really have that.
Makes sense - England is more nostalgic and sentimental than the US (imho). Doctor who tear jerkers vs Star Trek. So I’d say more likely to see things they feel attachment too. So sad (no pun) Next to normal is closing - that show is a phenom
I hope this comes to Boston on National Tour. This is my favorite Nicholas Sparks book/movie.
I think everyone saw this coming. The weekly grosses have been down for awhile. I saw the show and thought it was dull.
It’s so strange for it not to be open through Christmas. It’s closing in December rather than January for tax reasons (Bryan the Business Analyst on TikTok and Instagram has a video explaining the tax reasons for the closing in December), but it would make more sense to keep it open through December 29th instead of closing it two weeks before. This closing wasn’t surprising by any means, but sad for the cast and crew and yay for national tour. I’ll definitely be catching it on the national tour.
Notebook has never really appeal to me but sad to see it closed, i wondering if water for elephants will survive once Grant leaves 🤔
It will, they're bringing in Kyle Selig who is pretty popular among the theatre community
Saw it in development in Chicago and found it less than mediocre. In particular, the score was astonishingly bad! Musicals based on movies and big IP can be excellent but this is the worst variety which rests on its laurels, assuming a big name is all it needs, never seriously considering how to tell the story through music and hiring great composer + lyricists to accomplish this. Not shocked to hear this.
Legally Blonde closed on Broadway quickly once Laura Bell Bundy left, no one loved her replacement. Everyone fell in love with the ensemble and supportting cast left. the musical went downhill. Mean Girls closed because of covid would have sold well with renee rapp and sabrina carptener.
I just got out of uni class and saw this video… I’m sad now 😢😢
I wouldn't be surprised if the tour adjusts the cast size (well, the leads) by a third …
99% want a happy musical, especially with huge dancing numbers. look at moulin rouge, & juliet. i forget Hamilton is still on Broadway. Wicked still going strong. Hell's Kitchen also collaborate with U.S. Open Alicia Keys close friends with serena, brooklyn nets & ny liberty. Hell's Kitchen cast album has been playing at beach resorts pools/bars.
I saw this when it first opened and was not impressed. It had way too many ballads that took the plot nowhere and the entire show seemed like something cooked up by a corporate board to make money and be marketable. The water made for great posters in Times Square but seemed like a gimmick in the show. The actual presentation was fantastic, great lighting, decent score and really good acting, I just couldn't get over the feeling that it was way too heavy handed, knew it would get tears and rested on that premise which obviously was not enough to keep audiences interested.
The guy building a house for his old girlfriend, then her waffling about whether she still loved him or not was just strange. The whole thing felt forced. The two older actors were just phenomenal but for me, the show just didn't hang together.
I saw The Notebook the week before the Tonys and happened to sit about 6 feet away from Lin Manuel Miranda 😂. I enjoyed the show as a whole a lot more than I thought I would, mainly because the cast is so strong...the songs not so much. I'll have to see it again before it goes!
Hi Mickey, im sad to hear notebook is ending it's run.
I wondered if you have seen Witness For The Prosecution, at the London County Hall?
We loved the immmersive atmosphere and sat in the strip seating next to the witness box. We found small elements of the performance began as we, the audience arrived at the venue .
I realise that as an Agatha Christie the auudence are asked to keep the story line secret. However the setting, the quality of the different actors can be reviewed.
The reason phantom closed was because they brought on bad Cinderella and Mr Webber thought it would be a bigger hit than phantom and he ended its run. Obviously bad Cinderella lasted only a couple months on Broadway. My friend worked for phantom and told me it. majestic then went into renovations and is currently getting ready to host Gypsy!
This is a misconception - there was no reason Phantom had to close for Bad Cinderella to open at a different theatre, with different producing partners. In fact, their runs overlapped!
Just a thought. Do you think it’s closing then so that the theatre can be converted for an immersive production coming in. Like possibly Cats: the Jellicle ball?
I'm just judging by the cast recordings since I haven't seen either show, but I think The Notebook is far superior to The Outsiders.
agreed, listened to both soundtracks and def agreed the notebook sounds better to me
I purchased my ticket for the closing
I didn't love the cast recording when i listened to it so it wasn't on my list. no sexy reviews about the sexual chemistry like ryan and rachel did. plus no cast members dated each other. i feel bad the last musical Andreaa Burns was in was her outstanding and terrific, powerful performance as Daniela In The Heights as her chemistry with Janet Dacal. Andrea will be only reason I would have seen this musical, can't see what she does next. Congrats to John Cordoza to become the next Christian in Moulin Rouge starting October 5th.
I heard some people liked it and some didn’t, but I looked at the grosses a lot and this show was always flip flopping with sales. I enjoyed the show I will go support and see it again
I enjoy a sadder, more serious or darker themed show way more than other genres like comedy or pop music themed shows. But I have a feeling I'm not in the majority there.
It's a musical. I would think a musical needs a score that has melody and songs that sell character and story. Notebook's score is not that (it actually has a strong book, however). But Outsiders' score is also somewhat weak, yet managed to become a massive hit anyway (really, the only good score from the Spring's openings was The Great Gatsby which has some traditionally great theater songs and bangers as evidenced by the viral Tik toks this summer and Gatsby is doing very well). So why does one show do so well and the other flop? The second best score of the season, Suffs, is also struggling. So it can't just be Tony nominations, which Gatsby got basically none... and Water For Elephants, a Times' Critics Pick with all-around very good reviews, much better than Notebook, is also failing. Broadway is mysterious...
This is really disappointing!! However with the price of theatre rentals and whatnot, there are a few shows that I have a feeling might be closing within the next year or two. These include water for elephants (after grant leaves), suffs, Hell’s Kitchen, etc..
Three and a-half months is a pretty long advance closing notice. So at least that's a good thing. Personally, I'm a regular theater-goer & have no interest in seeing The Notebook just cause I've read that it's so sad, which seems a little manipulative. I didn't feel the same way about Dear Evan Hansen cause it had a star-making performance & great songs, which were a big draw.
I knew this one wouldn't last, it was just so bland. Its grosses have been disappointing since a month or so after it opened.
The score is rather uneven. Some of it is cringy, lyrically. Some songs are great as well as the acting. Still glad I saw it.
The biggest sin is The Notebook is closing while crap like Hell's Kitchen continues to run. I hated every minute of HK.
I haven’t seen HK yet, what didn’t you like about it?
Loved HK saw it 3 times
There such different show when you compare them. Dont get me wrong, The Notebook is my favourite show of the season but Hells kitchen's messages and themes are much more important than the notebooks.
HK is not my cup of tea, but it may be somebody else’s. It sucks shows I enjoyed are closing before shows I didn’t, but my cup of tea might not be as popular as I thought (if that were the case Come From Away would still be on Broadway, and Book of Mormon would be a distant memory from the early 2010s).
Good riddance now open a better musical on Broadway.
Theatre renovations sometimes
Very odd closing in mid December.
I finally listened to all of this years Tony nominated scores. My top favorites are Outsiders and Elephants. Suffs score is totally forgettable and no memorable songs except the finale.
Any thoughts on The Notebook?
No way. Suffs is great. Not everything is captured on cast recording. This cast is brilliant.
How do stage crew and performers in the theater find income stability? Anybody with experience chime in?
I don’t have a lot of experience but I think generally they don’t, at least in theatre. Even if you’re successful and regularly have jobs, you don’t have a guarantee of the next one ever
usually stage crew are members of the Union IASTE that has certain clauses against sudden firing without notice or explanation. More so than actors, actually. So the crew probably knew earlier than it was announced
Fun thing: they don't! Experience: Worked backstage before, have friends that work backstage. Actual crew members have it a bit better if they are well established and some people (like wardrobe workers) work more than one show at a time, so if one goes under it might not be their only show.
the sadder, weightier, more poignant the show the more inclined i am to book tickets!!!
Hoprfully it goes on tour!
Poor Broadway. Garbage Garbage Garbage banal rude audiences, miscast Vegas Revues, poor diction fake “music” lazy anymore. Revisals and not revivals. Kiddies have no taste. I have stopped attending or even caring about it all.
You’ve commented a lot of times on this channel for someone who doesn’t care