Grab your Kleenexs, the most romantic film ever – The Notebook – is being turned into a broadway musical.
The Nicholas Sparks novel already brought us to tears with its 2004 film adaptation, starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdam; and now NBC producer Bekah Brunstetter and singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson will be working their magic on an equally emotive version for theater lovers.
The Notebook was Sparks first novel, published in 1996, and debuted on the New York Times best sellers list in its first week of publication.
Since then, the tale of old-time lovers Allie and Noah have captivated our hearts with their tale of forbidden love, controlling parents and dealing with the sensitive subject of Alzheimers disease.
On hearing of the adaptation for Broadway, Brunstetter expressed that she felt compelled to be apart of the new project, especially with the similarities to her own personal life.
She told Variety magazine: When I first heard about The Notebook potentially being turned into a musical, I was instantly drawn to the idea.
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The story hits home for me in two big ways: it takes place in my home state of North Carolina, and Alzheimers runs deep in my family.
Sparks, 53, made the official announcement on his Twitter page, saying: Excited to share BIG NEWS… #TheNotebook is coming to Broadway! Playwright and #ThisIsUs producer Bekah Brunstetter will be writing the adaptation, w/ artist @Ingridmusic handling music and lyrics. Thrilled to work w/ everyone on bringing this to stage!
Michaelson, who will be working on the broadway plays music, already has a few credits to her name with some of her hit singles including Girls Chase Boys and The Way I Am.
The singer-songwriter confessed that she was brought to tears when first approached about working on The Notebook adaptation.
She said: When I was approached about working on The Notebook, I had to excuse myself and go to the bathroom and cry and come back into the meeting.
I have loved the movie and the story for so many years now that the idea of turning it into a musical overwhelmed me. The concept of unending devotion and love wrapped up in memory and family is something very close to my own personal life.
The story sings to me so perfectly. I actually started writing that very night of the first meeting, before I even had the job! I cannot wait for the world to hear these characters come to life in a musical way.
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The story of The Notebook opens with an old man named Noah reading from his notebook to an elderly woman in a nursing home named Allie, who is suffering from Alzheimers disease.
He tells her the story 1940 romance between a poor quarry worker and a 17-year-old heiress who helplessly fall in love despite their opposing backgrounds and parents disapproval.
But the couples love stands the test of time, even through sickness and even through death.
*sniff sniff* were not crying, you are.
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