The Notebook - Ordway Center - St. Paul MN - November 18th 2025

The Notebook — Ordway Center, Nov 18, 2025

Emotional Core & Storytelling
The Notebook at the Ordway delivers a deeply emotional experience. The story — spanning young, middle, and older versions of Allie and Noah — is handled with care, and the three timelines feel distinct yet interwoven. This structure gives a real sense of memory, loss, and enduring love.

Performances

Older Allie and Noah: Sharon Catherine Brown and Beau Gravitte, in the roles of the older couple, anchor the show’s emotional weight. Brown’s performance in particular conveys vulnerability, memory loss, and deep longing, while Gravitte brings a steady, devoted presence, making their moments together especially poignant.
Middle Allie and Noah: Alysha Deslorieux and Ken Wulf Clark bring strong chemistry and a grounded realism to their characters. Deslorieux navigates Allie’s internal conflict with sensitivity, and Clark’s Noah is heartfelt, loyal, and quietly passionate.
Young Allie and Noah: The young couple (Chloë Cheers and Kyle Mangold) capture the spark and innocence of first love. Their scenes are fresh and energetic, lending a sweetness that contrasts with the more sober later years.

The ensemble and supporting cast also contribute meaningfully. There’s a smoothness in the transitions between the timelines, thanks in part to well-choreographed movement and thoughtful staging.

Music & Score
Ingrid Michaelson’s score leans into a contemporary folk-pop feel, which works surprisingly well for this story. The music doesn’t feel overly theatrical in the bombastic sense — instead, it swells gently, matching the emotional highs and lows of the narrative. On opening night, the sound felt clear and intimate, aided by the Ordway’s acoustics.

Direction & Design
The direction (by Michael Greif and Schele Williams) favors simplicity over spectacle, which is a strength for this kind of story. The set isn’t overly ornate; lighting and minimalistic staging guide the audience through the shifts in time without disorienting them. This allows the emotional core of the show — the characters and their relationships — to stay front and center.

Audience Reaction & Atmosphere
Opening night carried a feeling of celebration and intimacy. According to early reviews, after the final bow, both Nicholas Sparks (the author) and producer Kevin McCollum came onstage to greet the crowd, which added a warm, communal moment to the evening. The audience seemed deeply moved; there’s a strong sense that this production resonates with people who appreciate heartfelt, character-driven romance.

Pacing & Structure
At about 2 hours and 20 minutes (with a 15-minute intermission) The three-act structure (young, middle, old) might feel familiar, but it’s handled in a way that avoids melodrama — instead, there’s a quiet dignity to the storytelling.

Strengths

Emotionally honest performances (especially by the older couple).
A warm, cohesive score that reinforces the themes of memory and lasting love.
Minimalist staging that supports — rather than distracts from — the narrative.
The three-tier timeline is well balanced and transitions smoothly.

Weaknesses / Challenges

Because the show focuses heavily on emotion and memory, some moments may feel slow or overly reflective for audiences seeking more theatrical spectacle.
The minimal set design, while effective, might leave some audience members wishing for more visual “wow” moments.
For people unfamiliar with the book or movie, the non-linear storytelling might require more emotional patience.

Final Impression

The Ordway production of The Notebook feels like a tender, sincere tribute to the source material. It’s not a flashy blockbuster musical — instead, it’s a heartfelt, introspective piece about love, aging, and memory. If you’re someone who values emotional depth and character-driven storytelling, this is likely a very satisfying evening. On opening night, it landed with warmth, clarity, and a real emotional resonance.

The Notebook directed by Michael Greif music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson book by Bekah Brunstetter choreography by Katie Spelman Photo by Roger Mastroianni