Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces
SCHEDULE CHANGE
The Notebook
World Premiere New Musical
with music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson
and book by Bekah Brunstetter
Now slated to debut September 6–October 16, 2022
Chicago—January 5, 2022—Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces today that the steep rise in COVID‑19 cases both in Chicago and nationwide as well as multiple related disruptions have necessitated the revision of the production timeline for the world premiere of The Notebook. Previously announced to debut in March, the new musical adaptation based on the best-selling novel is now slated to be presented in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, September 6–October 16, 2022. Seating locations for existing ticketholders are already secured, and patrons are being contacted with options for rescheduling their performance date.
The World Premiere production features music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson with a book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter. Known for her distinctively soulful folk-pop style, Michaelson is a force in the music industry with four Top 20 albums and two Platinum singles: “The Way I Am” and “Girls Chase Boys.” Brunstetter is a supervising producer and writer on NBC’s Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning series This Is Us, as well as an accomplished playwright whose work has played at theaters including Manhattan Theatre Club, South Coast Repertory, Atlantic Theater Company, and The Old Globe. Broadway powerhouses Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, Grey Gardens, RENT) and Schele Williams (Aida, Motown the Musical) team up to direct this deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love. Based on Nicholas Sparks' best-selling novel that inspired the hugely popular film, The Notebook chronicles the decades-long love story between a mill worker named Noah and a privileged debutante named Allie. Beginning with a whirlwind summer romance, their love affair spans an entire lifetime—in spite of the differences that threaten to pull them apart.
Single tickets ($45–$125) for performances beginning September 6 are on sale now, with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more. For more information, visit chicagoshakes.com/notebook.
All’s Well That Ends Well will begin performances as scheduled April 22 and It Came from Outer Space will premiere June 22. Chicago Shakespeare also presents a virtual WorldStage production—Ontroerend Goed’s TM, February 2-13. More information on Chicago Shakespeare’s upcoming productions and programming at chicagoshakes.com.
ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER
A Regional Tony Award recipient, Chicago Shakespeare Theater produces a year-round season—featuring plays, musicals, world premieres, family productions, and theatrical presentations from around the globe—alongside nationally recognized education programming, each year serving tens of thousands of students, teachers, and lifelong learners. Founded in 1986, the Theater’s onstage work has expanded to as many as twenty productions and 650 performances annually. Dedicated to welcoming the next generation of theatergoers, one in four audience members is under the age of eighteen. As a nonprofit organization, Chicago Shakespeare works to embrace diversity, prioritize radical inclusion, provide equitable opportunities, and offer an accessible experience for all. On the Theater’s three stages at its home on Navy Pier, in classrooms and neighborhoods across the city, and in venues around the world, Chicago Shakespeare is a multifaceted cultural hub—inviting audiences, artists, and community members to share powerful stories that connect and inspire us.
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