The love story ‘The Notebook’ comes to life as a musical
When it comes to romance, there’s a little bit of a dreamer in all of us, which helps explain why “The Notebook” has struck such a chord with audiences, both young and old.
The story, which evokes all the feels, began as a best-selling novel, later inspired a hit film and now springs to life as a musical that had a nine-month run on Broadway.
The timeless love story in which the characters defy all odds is now a touring production and will be at the Benedum Center from Tuesday to Nov, 15 as part of the 2026-2027 PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series.
A serendipitous meeting
Asmeret Ghebremichael, the production’s associate director, grew up in Churchill near Swissvale and studied media, culture and communications at New York University. Her performance credits include “The Book of Mormon,” “Legally Blonde,” “Elf: The Musical,” “Wicked” and more.
During the development of “The Notebook,” Ghebremichael met stage and theater director Michael Greif, who directed the Broadway production of “The Notebook,” and whose approach to the creative process created quite an impression.
“He is a legend,” Ghebremichael said. “I fell in love with his process and wanted to do the same thing he was doing, so it opened a door for me.”
Her experience across Broadway, off-Broadway and television has helped her in her career.
“I feel as if it makes me accessible and I can translate what the directors are doing into a language the actors can all understand,” she said.
Ghebremichael developed a love for musicals early on. She took trips to New York with her dance studio, performed in school musicals and plays and delved deep into the creative processes behind the performances.
“I studied choreographers and watched ‘A Chorus Line’ about a million times,” she said with a chuckle.
For those considering careers in directing or acting, Ghebremichael offers a simple piece of advice: follow your curiosity.
“It will lead you to your perfect profession,” she said.
The Benedum was his Broadway
Jesse Corbin, another Pittsburgh-area native, is looking forward to returning to a venue he fell in love with years ago.
“The Benedum was my Broadway.,” he said. “I was mesmerized by the shows and would visit the library and borrow original Broadway cast recordings, imagining that I would grow up to be in them.”
In “The Notebook,” Corbin plays Lon, Allie’s wealthy fiancé. Lon can be viewed as an obstacle to Noah and Allie’s romance, but Corbin views him as a man with his own feelings, motivations and merits.
“He’s a great guy and checks off all the boxes, which is what makes this story special–a choice that makes sense isn’t always the most fulfilling,” Corbin said.
The emotional weight of the story can sometimes carry over to the cast offstage, according to Corbin.
“We try to cheer one another up and find moments of joy backstage and at intermission to maintain our sanity,” he said.
Ultimately, the musical explores love, connection and the choices we make during the course of our lives.
“Life is made up of the bitter and the sweet and I have to admit that I was in one of the rehearsals bawling like a baby,” Corbin said. “I was so moved by the beauty of the love and commitment of the two characters.”
The final song, “Coda”, reflects on the lovers’ journey and its lasting impact.
“You can see couples in the audience inching a little closer, dabbing a tear and reaching for their partner’s arm,” said Corbin.
For Corbin, the musical is ultimately about community, connection and reflection. Experiencing the story alongside other audience members in a beautiful environment creates something that a film can’t capture.
“The show wraps you up in a warm, romantic hug,” he said. “Getting to watch a story told in real time by live actors adds an element to any story and is something a movie can’t replicate,” Corbin said.
For information and showtimes, go online to trustarts.org.