The Notebook at the Keller Auditorium

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Some stories are so iconic that the moment you hear the title, you already know what emotional rollercoaster you’re about to voluntarily climb onto. The Notebook is absolutely one of those stories.

The 2004 movie adaptation has lived rent-free in our collective hearts for two decades. So bringing this sweeping, ugly-cry love story to the stage? That’s bold.

Thankfully, The Notebook: The Musical does something really special — it honors the heart of the original while giving us a version that feels beautifully made for live theater.

Based on the best-selling novel by Nicholas Sparks, the story follows Allie and Noah — two young people from very different worlds who fall in love during one unforgettable summer. Life, pride, timing, and family expectations pull them apart… but their connection refuses to disappear. The story unfolds across decades, ultimately showing the enduring power of love — even in the face of aging and memory loss.

And yes. It still hurts in all the right ways.

I went into this with one very firm thought: nothing will ever beat the original movie.

And honestly? That still stands. The film is iconic for a reason.

But here’s the thing — the musical isn’t trying to replace it. It’s telling the story in a way that leans into what theater does best: intimacy, vulnerability, and emotion that you can feel in the room.

The show moves between different stages of Noah and Allie’s lives, allowing us to see their love evolve over time while an older Noah reads their story from the notebook itself. Watching the younger and older versions of their relationship unfold side by side adds a layer of depth that feels especially powerful on stage.

It’s nostalgic, but it doesn’t feel recycled.

With music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson, the score fits this story like it was always meant to exist. Instead of big, flashy Broadway belting moments, the songs feel tender and personal — almost like private confessions set to music.

The score quietly builds the emotional weight of the story, which makes certain moments land even harder. The kind of harder where you suddenly realize your throat is tight and you’re blinking a little more than usual.

If you’ve ever cried watching The Notebook movie… consider this your friendly warning to bring tissues. This is not a “keep it together effortlessly” kind of show.

There’s something about watching this story unfold in real time that hits differently than watching it on a screen. The quieter scenes feel more intimate. The emotional shifts feel more immediate. You can actually feel the audience holding their breath in certain moments.

And by the end? Let’s just say there were definitely some sniffles echoing around the theater.

It’s one thing to watch this love story. It’s another thing to experience it live.

Adapting a beloved movie into a stage musical is always risky. Expectations are high. Nostalgia is strong. Comparisons are inevitable.

But The Notebook manages to strike a beautiful balance between honoring what we already love and offering something new.

Nothing will ever replace the original film — and it doesn’t need to. This musical stands on its own as a heartfelt, emotional, and thoughtfully crafted retelling of a story that clearly still resonates.

If you already love The Notebook, you’ll appreciate seeing it reimagined in a way that feels intimate and sincere. And if you somehow missed the cultural phenomenon the first time around, this stage version absolutely delivers a powerful introduction.

Just don’t say I didn’t warn you about the tears.

Ticket & Show Info:

Tickets can be purchased HERE

Tuesday, March 10 – 7:30 PM

Wednesday, March 11 – 7:30 PM

Thursday, March 12 – 7:30 PM (American Sign Language Interpreted)

Friday, March 13 – 7:30 PM (Audio Description)

Saturday, March 14 – 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM

Sunday, March 15 – 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM (Open Caption)

———————————————————————

ACCLAIMED BROADWAY MUSICAL

BASED ON THE BESTSELLING NOVEL THAT INSPIRED THE ICONIC FILM

THE NOTEBOOK

COMING TO PORTLAND FROM MARCH 10 – 15, 2026

FEATURING AN AWARD-WINNING CREATIVE TEAM

Music & Lyrics by INGRID MICHAELSON

Book by BEKAH BRUNSTETTER

Choreography by KATIE SPELMAN

Directed by MICHAEL GREIF and SCHELE WILLIAMS

“A romantic musical for the ages.” – Chicago Sun-Times

Producers Kevin McCollum and Kurt Deutsch, along with Broadway in Portland are thrilled to announce that THE NOTEBOOK, a new musical based on the best-selling novel that inspired the iconic film, will play Portland’s Keller Auditorium from March 10 – 15. As part of the 2025-26 Broadway Season, audiences in Portland are about to fall in love all over again with this beloved story.

Tickets are available online at www.BroadwayinPortland.com

“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 a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.

Based on the book that has sold millions of copies worldwide and a film that is one of the highest-grossing romantic dramas of all-time, the musical adaptation of THE NOTEBOOK played Broadway at the Schoenfeld Theatre from March 2024 to December 2024 following a critically acclaimed world premiere engagement at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the fall of 2022.

“Absolutely gorgeous. Not to be missed.” – Chicago Tribune

THE NOTEBOOK features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter IngridMichaelson and a book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter (writer and producer on NBC’s “This Is Us,” The Cake). The production is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (Aida, The Wiz), with choreography by Katie Spelman (Associate Choreographer on Moulin Rouge! The Musical).

“Romantic, life-affirming and ingeniously adapted.” – USA Today

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 TheTelsey 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 nomination for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical.

“A love story for the ages.” – The New York Daily News

Atlantic Records officially released the Grammy-nominated THE NOTEBOOK(Original Broadway Cast Recording), with a score that Vanity Fair calls “strikingly beautiful” by multiplatinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, available HERE.

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.