The love story that drew millions to Nicholas Sparks’ celebrated novel “The Notebook” and the 2004 film that followed, is returning in a form that lets Noah and Allie’s memories unfold through live voices, movement and Ingrid Michaelson’ incredible score.
The first North American tour of the musical will play The National Theatre from Aug. 18-30, bringing audiences a musical built around the persistence of love even as time, class and illness test it.
Bekah Brunstetter, a writer and producer for NBC’s “This Is Us,” adapted the novel for the stage, while Michaelson wrote the music and lyrics. Michael Greif and Schele Williams direct, with choreography by Katie Spelman.
The production presents the central couple at three stages of life. Sharon Catherine Brown, Alysha Deslorieux and Chloë Cheers portray Older, Middle and Younger Allie, respectively; Beau Gravitte, Ken Wulf Clark and Kyle Mangold play the three versions of Noah. The cast blends Broadway veterans with newcomers.
One of those newbies is Grace Ohwensadeyo Rundberg, who plays Georgie, the Concierge and other ensemble roles while understudying Middle Allie. A recent graduate of Pace University’s musical theater program, she is making her national tour debut only months after finishing school.
“It was just so unexpected,” Rundberg said. After signing with Nicolosi & Co., an agency she had long hoped to join, she received a request to submit a self-tape for the production. A callback followed a few weeks later, although she accidentally arrived a week early.
“Luckily, I didn’t come a week late,” she said, adding that the mistake left her exceptionally prepared when the correct date arrived.
The decision came quickly because Rundberg had booked another theater job at nearly the same time. The day after her callback, she learned she had landed the tour.
“I didn’t know that I would be on tour a couple months after graduating,” she said. “It was like my wildest dreams.”
Her Georgie appears at more than one point in Noah’s life and is one of his closest friends, giving Rundberg opportunities to find humor inside the sweeping romance. Covering Middle Allie has demanded another set of skills. Rundberg had never served as an understudy before and has had to learn how to master an additional track and remain ready to step into it. She called the assignment “a way for me to really grow as an actor.”
Rundberg already counted the film among her favorites and describes herself as a hopeless romantic, but she knew little about the stage version beyond the song “My Days” before auditioning. She has since come to admire Michaelson’s score as “so beautiful and intimate” but also “soaring at times.” The story’s endurance resonates just as deeply.
“They go through so many difficult things, but they persevere,” she said. “I love that message.”
The material is personal for Rundberg, whose grandfather had Alzheimer’s disease. She hopes the musical offers comfort to audience members with similar experiences and helps them see part of their own lives in Noah and Allie’s story.
The musical received its world premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2022 and opened on Broadway in 2024. Its tour began in Cleveland in September 2025 and set out to visit more than 30 cities during its first year. The company will continue to Detroit, Dayton and other cities after its National Theatre engagement.
Touring has taken Rundberg to the West Coast for the first time, given her and fellow cast members new places to hike and taught her how to balance travel with eight performances a week.
“It makes me feel now like I’m prepared for anything,” she said.
While in D.C., the self-described foodie is eager to explore local restaurants, coffee shops and museums before the company moves on again. It’s a journey she is loving.
“It was always on my bucket list to do a national tour,” she said. “I think it’s so cool to travel, be in a different theater every week and meet all kinds of different people while still doing eight shows a week. It makes me feel like I am prepared for anything.”
For tickets, visit www.broadwayatthenational.com.
