Broadway's The Notebook has found its new Younger Allie and Younger Noah in Anna Zavelson and Benji Santiago, both of whom will make their Broadway debuts in the production. They are set to join the production at the Schoenfeld Theatre beginning October 8.
The duo will succeed original company members Jordan Tyson and John Cardoza, who are playing their final performances October 6 as previously announced. Cardoza is joining the Broadway cast of Moulin Rouge! as Christian beginning October 15.
The musical adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' novel The Notebook opened March 14 at the Gerald Schoenfeld, after beginning previews February 10. The production announced a December 15 final performance last month.
Zavelson was last seen in NYC as Clara Johnson in the New York City Center Encores! The Light in the Piazza, and has appeared on screen in 13 Reasons Why and Revolution. She was a 2022 Jimmy Awards finalist and a 2024 Clive Barnes Award winner.
Santiago comes to The Notebook after starring as Usnavi in The Muny's recent In the Heights and is a Carnegie Mellon School of Drama alum.
Featuring a book by Bekah Brunstetter and a score by Ingrid Michaelson, The Notebook follows Allie and Noah, who share a lifetime of love despite forces that threaten to pull them apart. The current Broadway cast features Tyson as Younger Allie, Joy Woods as Middle Allie, and Tony winner Maryann Plunkett as Older Allie with Cardoza as Younger Noah, Ryan Vasquez as Middle Noah, and Dorian Harewood as Older Noah.
The cast also includes Andréa Burns as Mother and Nurse Lori, Yassmin Alers as Nurse Joanna, Chase Del Rey as Lon, Hillary Fisher as Sarah, Dorcas Leung as Georgie, Carson Stewart as Johnny and Fin, and Charles E. Wallace as Father and Son. Rounding at the company as swings are Alex Benoit, Jerome Harmann-Hardeman, Happy McPartlin, Juliette Ojeda, Kim Onah, and Charlie Webb.
The core creative team members from the Chicago Shakespeare Theater world premiere returned for the Broadway production—with co-direction by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Rent) and Schele Williams (Aida, Motown the Musical) and choreography by Katie Spelman.
The new musical also has scenic design by David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis, costume design by Paloma Young, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Lucy Mackinnon, and hair and wig design by Mia Neal. The production’s music supervisor is Carmel Dean, who collaborated on arrangements with Michaelson and on orchestrations with John Clancy. Geoffrey Ko is music director. Casting is by The Telsey Office's Patrick Goodwin, with Chicago casting by Bob Mason. Victoria Navarro is production stage manager.
