One Love, Three Lifetimes: The Notebook Stuns at Segerstrom
2 February 2026 Featured Music Reviews Performance Review
The Notebook – directed by Michael Greif – music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson – book by Bekah Brunstetter – choreography by Katie Spelman – Photo by Roger Mastroianni
Opening night of The Notebook at Segerstrom Center for the Arts was a powerful reminder of why live theater has the ability to move us in ways nothing else can. While audiences may arrive expecting heartbreak—after all, this is The Notebook—this production delivers far more than tears alone. It finds a delicate, beautiful balance between humor and heartache, allowing the story to breathe and feel deeply human, which is what we truly need right now.
From the earliest moments, the humor lands with surprising ease. It is not forced or overly sentimental but grounded in outstanding performances. The laughter catches us off guard and there is a wonderful harmony between joy, warmth, and emotion driving the story forward. That balance is no small feat, and this captivating production handles it with remarkable confidence.
What truly elevates the show is the extraordinary cast and their ability to portray Allie and Noah across three distinct stages of life. Chloë Cheers, Alysha Deslorieux, and Sharon Catherine Brown bring Allie to life as her younger, middle, and older selves, while Kyle Mangold, Ken Wulf Clark, and Beau Gravitte do the same for Noah. Each actor captures the essence of their character at a specific age, yet they all share a common emotional thread. The transitions never feel like separate performances; instead, they feel like one life unfolding over time. Subtle choices in movement, tone, and emotional response link each generation seamlessly, creating a cohesive and deeply believable journey.
The emotional range of The Notebook is striking—one moment filled with laughter, the next marked by a hush as the audience reaches for tissues. Younger Allie and Noah capture the thrill, impulsiveness, and buoyancy of first love, while the middle years bring complexity, restraint, and the ache of choices made and missed. In the later years, Brown and Gravitte deliver performances of profound tenderness, embodying love shaped by time, memory, and devotion. It is devastating and beautiful in equal measure.
Music plays a crucial role in guiding this emotional arc. One second, we are gently lifted and other times silence and stillness speak volumes. The score becomes an emotional bridge between eras, reinforcing the sense that love evolves but never disappears.
The ensemble as a whole is exceptional, creating a world that feels intimate and lived in. Connor Richardson, who I had the pleasure of interviewing the following day, truly stands out. His performance as Johnny is both charming and emotionally grounded, effortlessly funny, captivating, and deeply sincere. Whether delivering a laugh or a quiet, heartfelt moment, Connor anchors key scenes with honesty and nuance, navigating humor and heartbreak with ease. More than once, I found myself laughing through tears, reminded how closely joy and grief often live beside one another.
Speaking with him the next day on my KUCI 88.9fm show was a fantastic experience: thoughtful, engaging, and full of insight into the care and discipline required to tell this story truthfully. Hearing him reflect on his acting journey and his dedication to landing his role in The Notebook only deepened my appreciation for the magic unfolding onstage.
The Notebook at Segerstrom is a fully realized theatrical experience, brought to life by a stellar creative team: directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (The Wiz, Aida), music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, a book by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s This Is Us), and choreography by Katie Spelman. Together, they have shaped a production that balances humor, heartbreak, and the passage of time with remarkable artistry, leaving audiences moved, inspired, and utterly captivated.
The Notebook does not simply retell a familiar love story, it makes it feel immediate, intimate, and profoundly real. It reminds us that love changes shape, memory fades, and time transforms us, yet the heart of who we are remains.
Bring tissues. Expect laughter. And prepare to leave the theater deeply moved.
The Notebook -directed by Michael Greif – music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson – book by Bekah Brunstetter – choreography by Katie Spelman – Photo by Roger Mastroianni