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#18 - The Notebook Opening Night: ft. Nicholas Sparks, John Cardoza, Jordan Tyson, Dorian Harewood, Michael Greif, Schele Williams, Eva Noblezada, Courtney Reed, Wesley Taylor, Okieriete Onaodowan
26 mins
3/15/24

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In this week's episode, Joel Crump is at the OPENING NIGHT of The Notebook! He shares Broadway buzz, Broadway history, and Box Office Beat! He interviews author Nicholas Sparks, cast members John Cardoza, Jordan Tyson, and Dorian Harewood, directors Michael Greif and Schele Williams, and VIP guests Eva Noblezada, Courtney Reed, Wesley Taylor, Okieriete Onaodowan! Joel also discusses what's happening this week on Broadway (Mar. 12-16)!

Indulge in Broadway buzz like never before with "The Weekly Dose of Joel: Everything Broadway and More." This podcast, brought to you by the Broadway Podcast Network and Broadway Time, delivers the latest news, theater history, and exclusive interviews with Broadway stars, all in one podcast! Don't miss out on your front-row seat to the magic of Broadway!

Transcript

This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Joel Crump: What's up everybody and welcome back to another episode of The Weekly Dose of Joel. Today I am bringing you guys onto the red carpet premiere of The Notebook. Get ready for exciting interviews with the brilliant cast, creative, and VIP special guests from the carpet. I'll also be sharing this week's Broadway buzz, some Broadway history, and an edition of Box Office Beat. So without further ado, let's get on to this week's episode.

[0:27] Joel Crump: Let's dig right into this week's Broadway buzz. Starting off with some news about my queen, Miss Kristen Chenoweth. Kristen will be headlining a one-night-only benefit concert called "Kristen, An Evening with Friends for Todd," which will celebrate late Roundabout Artistic Director Todd Haymes at the Stephen Sondheim Theater on April 15th. Warren Carlyle is the director and choreographer for this one-night-only concert, and she is bringing some of her friends to the concert. Her guests include Laura Benanti, Victoria Clark, Peter Gallagher, Jane Krakowski, Deborah Monk, Kelly O'Hara, Vanessa Williams, and her previous On the 20th co-stars, Philip Atmore, Rick Fungo, Drew King, and Richard Ria's Yoder. So I'm very excited for this concert. Obviously, you guys know that Kristen is my mentor and she's just done so much for me.

[1:17] Joel Crump: And I mean, there's been a lot of pop-up concerts this season on Broadway. We had the Maria Friedman concert, which I had the pleasure of attending. Oh, what a night. Alan Cumming having his concert at Studio 54, and now Miss Kristen Chenoweth having her one-night-only concert at the Roundabout Theater Company, which she'll obviously be celebrating and dedicated to Todd Haymes, who was the artistic director for Roundabout Theatre Company for many, many years. And what's really cool about the entire thing is that Kristen has had a long association with Roundabout, having appeared in the company's 1997 off-Broadway production of "Scapin," along with "The Apple Tree" and "On the 20th Century" on Broadway.

Of course, we all know she's a Tony Award winner for her performance in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," and iconically created the role of Glinda in "Wicked." So you guys need to get your tickets for this concert. It's one night only, and they are selling out if they're not already sold out by the time this podcast goes out. So you guys need to go to roundabouttheater.org to get your tickets to not only see Kristen in this concert, but to see all the special friends she's bringing along with her.

[2:24] Joel Crump: What's your rush? What you hurry? The hurry is to go see "Sweeney Todd" on Broadway before it closes on May 5th. If you know me, you know I love all Sondheim shows, and unfortunately, "Sweeney Todd" will be closing on Broadway. I had the honor of seeing it with Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford, and right now it's starring Sutton Foster and Aaron Tveit. But this show has been on Broadway for the past year, killing it in the box office, killing it on Broadway in general. As of the final showing, the revival will have played 27 previews and 399 regular performances. And I mean, every week, this Broadway show was at the top of the grosses, beating out other shows, doing best on Broadway, which is so cool because it's a Sondheim musical, and I mean, for all of Sondheim's works, they never really succeeded on Broadway.

They never really succeeded box office-wise. Of course, they all succeeded because we love Sondheim music, but they were never great in the box office. So it's so, so, so cool that we have shows like "Sweeney Todd" and "Merrily We Roll Along," which kill it in the box office. It just shows how fantastic Sondheim's work is. But you only have a couple more months to go see "Sweeney Todd" on Broadway. So you guys need to run. You guys need to run to the Lunt-Fontanne Theater to go see Sutton Foster and Aaron Tveit in "Sweeney Todd."

[3:41] Joel Crump: Like I mentioned earlier, today's episode is all about The Notebook's opening night red carpet. And The Notebook opened yesterday, March 14th. I mean, the red carpet was so magical. I'm gonna get more into that later. But it was announced that The Notebook's original Broadway cast recording will release its album next month. So obviously, The Notebook is, you know, an iconic film and an iconic novel, but now it is a Broadway musical, and it is fantastic, you guys. Okay, it really is just the best. So The Notebook Broadway cast recording will be released on April 19th, and I've already released a track, "Leave the Light On," performed by Ryan Vasquez, who plays Middle Noah, and you can already listen to that track right now. So, I mean, this is just great news. We love Broadway cast recordings. It preserves the fantastic work that goes into all these shows, and I think it's cool that we're gonna get so many this season because we have so many shows opening up.

[4:37] Joel Crump: That's all the buzz for this week. Now it's time for some Broadway history. This week's Broadway history, I'm bringing us back to 2020, the dreadful year 2020, when Broadway shut down. So Broadway shut down on March 12th in 2020, and oh my god, this was just unbelievable to so many people. I remember going to school that day, and I think that day was my last day of school too before the shutdown, and I was thinking, what is going on in the world? How is it so bad that Broadway is shutting down? But Broadway was closed for a year and a half. But the positives to this, and what I think is exciting, is that now Broadway is back and better than ever. Look at this season alone. There are so many new shows opening, and there's so much new work and beautiful revivals.

It is almost like, you know, all these works probably would have opened in the past couple of years and in that 2020 year. But we were held off on it, and now we have this wonderful season of so many impeccable shows. I mean, the list just goes on and on and on. We're so busy, but we have to support theater right now more than ever. With so many new shows opening, theater needs our support for these shows to succeed, and all of them need to succeed because they're so well done. So I urge you all to get tickets to go see a new show on Broadway. We love the classics, we love the shows that have been there for a while, but they're gonna have their attraction, you know. Every the tourists are gonna go see them. But the new shows are the shows that need our help right now. So get your tickets to go see a new Broadway show.

[6:11] Joel Crump: Box Office Beat this week in the box office was very exciting. I saw so many shows doing so well, which is so important in Broadway right now. You know, we need these shows to survive, especially as we get into this busy season. There's gonna be so many shows, and we don't want any of these shows to get lost in the sauce. But this week's Broadway grosses blew my mind, honestly. So leading off the pack was "Wicked." "Wicked" earned the most amount of money this week. And what's interesting is that there was a cast change this week. So we had some new stars going into "Wicked." So I'm assuming that's what boosted it up this week. But they took the top of the list this week for grosses, followed by "Hamilton," "The Lion King," "Merrily We Roll Along," and "Sweeney Todd," our usual suspects.

These are all shows that always do well on Broadway. I mean "Hamilton," of course, "The Lion King," of course, and then we have two Sondheim shows, which I love, "Merrily We Roll Along," and then "Sweeney Todd," followed by "Moulin Rouge," then "MJ the Musical," then "Aladdin," "Harry Potter," "An Enemy of the People," "Hadestown," and "Angelina." So those were the A Million Dollar Club shows, those are all the shows that made a million dollars or more, like "Wicked." And then we have other shows that, you know, played to the highest capacity. So what's really interesting is that "An Enemy of the People," a show that's opening next Monday, it grossed. It percentages grossed 102% capacity. So that means they were sold out to the max.

They had their standing room filled, they had everything filled. And I love that for a new show, especially a special show like "An Enemy of the People." If you haven't seen it yet, you need to go see it. Followed by "Hadestown" with 101%. Makes sense. Of course, we have Lorna Courtney and Jordan Fisher in the cast right now. "The Notebook" at 100%. People are buzzing about this show, you guys. "The Notebook" is a really special show, and I think it's gonna be the "Kimberly Akimbo" of our season. Followed by "Hamilton," of course, 100% for "Hamilton," "Merrily We Roll Along," "Six the Musical," "Moulin Rouge the Musical," all these shows doing great. But one that surprised me, well, it didn't surprise me, but one that excites me is that when "The Who's Tommy" was at 100% for its first couple of previews, it sold out for its first couple of previews, and that is so exciting for this revival.

I am thrilled for the show to come to Broadway. I had the pleasure of interviewing the cast at the press day, and they're so excited. And this show, it's back after 30 years. I'm ready for it to be super successful on Broadway. But this is your Box Office Beat. Box office is looking great right now. The gross is, I mean, Chef's Kiss, huh? But we'll see how it goes for the next couple of weeks, and it always gets interesting after we're done with the buzz, after the shows open, after we're done with Tony season, how they do that. That's when it really gets interesting.

[8:54] Joel Crump: But we're not there yet. We're still in the fun, and I'm so excited for all these new Broadway openings. It's time for some interviews. Let's get it started. Ah, let's get it started in here. So I'm very excited to be sharing some of my interviews from The Notebook. So before each interview, I'm just gonna share a ton of the fun ones from the carpet last night. But before each interview, I'll be letting you know who I'm speaking to and what they do in the show or who they are, or you know, whatever, whatever they were doing last night at the carpet. So I'm gonna start off with Jordan Tyson, who's playing Younger Ally in The Notebook. This is her Broadway debut, and she is killing it. Blew my mind. So here's my interview with Jordan Tyson.

[9:35] Jordan Tyson: Hey you guys, I'm Jordan Tyson, and you're playing Younger Ally in The Notebook on Broadway. It's opening night. Tell me how you're feeling tonight.

[9:40] Jordan Tyson: I'm feeling like amazing. I'm feeling so excited.

[9:47] Joel Crump: Yeah. I mean, you are singing your butt off in this show. You are so fantastic. Tell me, what has it been like making your Broadway debut in this show?

[9:54] Jordan Tyson: Oh my gosh. Honestly, every day has been something new and something exciting. I'm getting to see people who I haven't seen in years sometimes come to the show and say, wow, hi, Jordan. I'm like, wow. So it's sort of like reunion making. It's wonderful.

[10:13] Joel Crump: I love it. You're from the DMV area. Fun fact about me, I'm also from the DMV. Where are you from?

[10:19] Jordan Tyson: I'm from, well, I'm from Virginia, but now I live in Maryland.

[10:22] Joel Crump: Okay. Yes, and you're from Baltimore.

[10:24] Jordan Tyson: Well, I'm from Long Island.

[10:26] Joel Crump: Long Island.

[10:27] Jordan Tyson: But a lot of my childhood was also spent in Baltimore.

[10:29] Joel Crump: DMV, DMV family. Come on, DMV. Tell me what would you say to those who raised you up to become the Broadway actress that you are now?

[10:37] Jordan Tyson: I would just say thank you. And every moment of generosity was not missed on me. I'm so grateful.

[10:47] Joel Crump: Yes. How do you feel that you relate to Ally?

[10:49] Jordan Tyson: Oh, I mean, she's so spunky, she's very spunky, and she knows what she wants. I also have always had something, even if I've tried to deny it in some way, I've always known I had a vision for my life, and I think Ally has that.

[11:05] Joel Crump: I love that. Like I said, you guys don't want to miss Jordan Tyson in her Broadway debut in The Notebook. Killing it. Next up, I'm here with Dorian Harewood, who's playing Older Noah in The Notebook. He's back on Broadway after so many years, and I chatted with him about why this show in particular. Why come back to Broadway in this show?

[11:24] Dorian Harewood: Hey you guys, I'm here with Dorian Harewood. You are playing Older Noah in The Notebook on Broadway. It's opening night. Tell me how are you feeling tonight?

[11:30] Dorian Harewood: I'm sorry. How are you feeling tonight?

[11:34] Dorian Harewood: Very excited. Very excited. I'm glad that we're finally here and we'll get it done, we'll get it over.

[11:41] Joel Crump: Yeah, right?

[11:43] Dorian Harewood: Yes, you're back on Broadway after so many years. What about The Notebook told you this is the show I need to be back on Broadway in?

[11:49] Dorian Harewood: Well, for me, it's just when I auditioned for the role, or when I saw what the role was, I knew it was something I wanted to do.

[11:59] Joel Crump: Yeah.

[12:00] Dorian Harewood: And then having gotten it, I started working on it, and I felt, yes, this is the right time. For me, a lot of things happen for reasons, you know. So for me, it was just time to do this.

[12:14] Joel Crump: Yes.

[12:15] Dorian Harewood: Yes. You play with Marianne in the show. She's your counterpart. Tell me, what is it like being with her on stage, and how have you guys built that chemistry for the stage?

[12:24] Dorian Harewood: Well, first of all, she's the main reason for whatever success that I have with this project because she's just an unbelievable actor. And the chemistry that we have is terrific. And it's due mainly, or not mainly, but in a large part to the script that was written by Becca Bernstein and the music and all that.

[12:47] Dorian Harewood: But mainly Mary Ann is just such a special, special actor. That it's fun, it's exciting every night to go in knowing that I can just look at her, listen to her, and she will dictate to me what I need to do. Lastly, you inspire me as a black artist to continue my craft and continue what I do. Tell me what advice would you give to other black artists and artists in general hoping to have a career like yours.

[13:15] Dorian Harewood: Well, for other black artists and other artists in general, I would just say pursue your passion, but most importantly, figure out a way to feed yourself and your family while you're doing that. Because none of this stuff is fair. It's not, it's not because it's not like maybe in athletics when someone is faster. If you're faster than me, you'll beat me in a race. Right. Okay, that just happens. Right. But this isn't like that. This business isn't like that. So just know that if it's something you're passionate about, just continue to develop and to try to get better and hope that you get the opportunity. And when the opportunity happens, you will be ready, and then you can step in and make it last.

[13:58] Dorian Harewood: Thank you so much. Next up, my interview with John Cardoza, who's playing younger Noah in The Notebook. This is his second Broadway show, and you might have also seen him in the Moulin Rouge Tour as Christian.

[14:09] John Cardoza: Hey you guys, I'm here John Cardoza, and you play Younger Noah in The Notebook on Broadway. It's opening night. Tell me how are you feeling tonight?

[14:16] John Cardoza: Oh my gosh, I'm just feeling so grateful and excited and ready to share this with the world. Oh my gosh. Yes. Playing Noah, what has that been like? And how do you connect with Noah personally?

[14:24] John Cardoza: Oh my gosh, in so many ways. You know, not to get too heavy, but you know, we have a mother-son partnership here. I actually lost my mother a few years ago, and yeah, I did, and Noah has also lost his mother in the show, and one of the most beautiful gifts of working on this piece has been exploring the way that grief shapes the way that he moves through the world, and I've learned a lot about the way that I'm moving through the world, you know, in a world post-that relationship, and so that has been extremely cathartic, and on top of that, I think he just has this hard-won peace in experiencing that kind of tragedy that I really aspire to accept and just move through with a little more kindness towards myself, the world, and everybody who's trying to make their way to the end.

[15:15] Dorian Harewood: Yeah, well, first off, thank you for being so vulnerable. I really appreciate that. And it shows how much you need to appreciate the people around you. And this is what this show is all about, you know?

[15:23] John Cardoza: Yep. Tell me, what has it been like digging into that Ingrid Michaelson score?

[15:27] John Cardoza: Oh my gosh, it's so beautiful. Ingrid is an artist who has such a specific syntax and such a beautiful way of words. She's a real poet. And so I feel like with every song and every line, there is always something more, something new, something deeper to find in it. And it keeps the show alive. So it's been amazing to be trusted with that kind of material.

[15:46] John Cardoza: Yes. That's such a special moment, especially being there on the carpet with my mom, who's also my camerawoman manager, everything. She does it all for me. From being so vulnerable. It was just such a special moment on the carpet last night. Now you're gonna hear from co-directors, Schele Williams and Michael Greif. In total, this Broadway duo is directing five shows on Broadway this season. Schele Williams directing The Whiz and The Notebook, and Michael Greif directing The Notebook, Days of Wine and Roses, and Hell's Kitchen.

[16:16] John Cardoza: So you guys, they are, I mean, just the best of the best right now, and you won't want to miss this interview. Here we go.

[16:22] Schele Williams: Hey you guys, I'm Schele Williams and Michael Greif. You guys are the co-directors of The Notebook on Broadway. It's opening night. Tell me how are you both feeling tonight?

[16:30] Michael Greif: Incredible.

[16:31] Schele Williams: Overjoyed.

[16:34] John Cardoza: Yes. I mean, you guys, I feel like so far are the best directors on Broadway this season. You both have multiple shows. Tell me, what has it been like working on The Notebook specifically?

[16:44] Schele Williams: It's been wonderful to have a partner, and it's been really wonderful to have someone to talk through every moment with. And it's also been unbelievable to recognize when you're feeling a little overwhelmed that your co-director is gonna be able to pick up the mantle.

[17:00] Michael Greif: Yeah, and we've been trading back and forth a lot in wonderful ways. Yeah, I mean the show is about partnership and love. And it's been great to be able to really live that partnership and love throughout this process. You know, it has been a give and take, it has been a growing experience, but there has been just love at the heart of every bit of it.

[17:23] Schele Williams: Yes, yes, yes. I mean, this show, what has it been like adapting it from the novel and the film and turning it into a Broadway musical?

[17:31] Michael Greif: Well, we have the terrific advantage of having Ingrid and Becca do that for us. And once they've done that extraordinary, specific and very personal work, we get to share it, we get to interpret it well with the cast and then with an audience. But it's really Ingrid and Becca who've had the wonderful, wonderful individual take on this material.

[17:54] Schele Williams: Yeah. The show was great from the page. It really was. And then it was just a matter of how do we weave all these lives together in a coherent and beautiful way that allows the audience to fall in love with Al and Noah and root for them at every iteration of their journey. And also how to create space for the audience members to have their own memories as they experience this place.

[18:17] Michael Greif: Yes. The last thing I want to know is you both have such lengthy, incredible Broadway careers. But what about The Notebook has been special for you?

[18:24] Schele Williams: Oh, it's a deeply personal journey. You know, it's a show that means so much to me because it speaks about real life and what so many people are going through, and it gives dignity and voice to something that has been rather unspoken.

[18:38] Michael Greif: Yes. I feel like there's almost I think everyone who comes to see it, I know this is true of me and Shelly. We identify with different characters at different moments in our lives. We look back at the young people, we look ahead to what the older couple are going through. We recognize our family members in the show. I really think it's because Becca and Ingrid have written such a really specific, beautiful, a series of beautiful, specific characters.

[19:08] Schele Williams: Yes. Thank you both so much. It's such a pleasure to see you both. Now let's transition over to some of the VIP guests on the carpet last night. There were so many exciting guests. And I asked them: if you were to be in a Broadway love story, who would your dream co-star be? So let's get on to these VIP guests.

[19:24] John Cardoza: Let's start off with Wesley Taylor. Hey you guys, I'm Red Wesley Taylor. We're here at the opening night of The Notebook on Broadway. How excited are you to see this show tonight?

[19:30] Wesley Taylor: Oh, I'm so pumped. I've heard nothing but amazing things. Yes, of course this is a love story. I want to know who would your dream co-star be in your Broadway love story?

[19:40] Wesley Taylor: Oh my god, what a question. My Broadway love story. Who would it be? Who would I choose? You know. Maybe um, you know, like a Jake Gyllenhaal or hey, yeah. Yeah. Rami Yusuf, uh whoever you want. You know, uh uh uh uh uh uh yeah, I'm drawing a blank. Uh uh uh I'm working with Ben Allers right now from The Gilded Age. Come on, Ben. Come on, Ben, get to Broadway.

[20:07] John Cardoza: Now let's hear from Courtney Reed, who's currently in Moulin Rouge the Musical.

[20:11] Courtney Reed: Hey you guys, I'm here with Courtney Reed. We're here at the opening night of The Notebook on Broadway. How excited are you to see this show tonight?

[20:16] Courtney Reed: Oh my gosh, the most excited ever. Yeah. The most excited. Tell me, what was your introduction to The Notebook?

[20:24] Courtney Reed: The movie, of course. And that was like, I don't know, it was I mean, I watched it and I for weeks I would be weeping. I like couldn't recover. It was one of those films. You're like, no, The Notebook, right?

[20:37] John Cardoza: Yeah. Yeah. Of course, this is a Broadway love story. I don't know. Who would your dream co-star be in your Broadway love story?

[20:44] Courtney Reed: John Cardoza.

[20:45] John Cardoza: Ooh! Hey, let's get them back in Moulin Rouge. Please, please, Johnny, come back. Come back, Johnny.

[20:52] Courtney Reed: Yeah. Yes, thank you so much, Courtney. Now let's hear from Oak, who just finished Deli's Last Jam at New York City Center.

[20:59] John Cardoza: Hey you guys, I'm here with Oak. We're here at the opening night of The Notebook on Broadway. How excited are you to see this show tonight?

[21:05] Oak: Uh I'm very excited to see it. I haven't seen the movie in forever, and I love Ingrid very much so, so I'm here to cheer on and support a new show on Broadway. If it's awesome.

[21:12] John Cardoza: Yeah, you were just in Deli's Last Jam at New York City Center. What was it like doing that electric show?

[21:18] Oak: Uh it was amazing. The cast was really remarkable and phenomenal. And to do what we did in the short time that we had, it just took a certain kind of crazy person, and I think they gathered all the right crazy people to do it.

[21:29] John Cardoza: Yeah, totally. What was your first introduction to The Notebook?

[21:32] Oak: Uh I don't know, like years ago watching it, someone said you have to watch it because you'll cry all the time. I watched it and I kind of cried. I got demons. I'm not a crier either. I mean, it just doesn't happen to me. But yeah, but it was a beautiful story and it was acted really well, and I enjoyed the film, and like I love every iteration into our musical. It brings different elements of the story, and excited to see it. Of course, this is a Broadway love story. So I want to know who would be your dream co-star in your Broadway love story?

[21:57] Oak: Nobody. I like to do a solo show, just me, eyes right here. Oak on Broadway.

[22:04] John Cardoza: I love it. Now for the Queen herself, Eva Noblezada, who's about to be playing Daisy in The Great Gatsby on Broadway.

[22:12] John Cardoza: Hey you guys, I'm here with Eva Noblezada, my queen. You're about to be Daisy in The Great Gatsby on Broadway. Tell me how excited are you to bring this show to Broadway?

[22:21] Eva Noblezada: I'm excited, I'm exhausted, I'm excited. Yes, I mean, I was able to see the Favorable Playhouse, and it blew my mind. How have you been developing Daisy for the Broadway stage?

[22:30] Eva Noblezada: Man, this has been such an amazing collaborative experience. The show has changed in so many ways that I couldn't have even like comprehended, so I'm excited to see how it translates to our audiences.

[22:40] John Cardoza: Yeah. What was your introduction to The Notebook?

[22:42] Eva Noblezada: Oh my god, I watched the movie maybe more than 50 times. It's one of my favorite movies. Rachel McAdams is one of my favorite actresses. Did you know? She filmed Mean Girls and The Notebook in the same year.

[22:50] John Cardoza: That's great.

[22:51] Eva Noblezada: Yeah, that's great.

[22:52] John Cardoza: Oh my god.

[22:53] Eva Noblezada: That's wild.

[22:54] John Cardoza: And then, of course, this is a Broadway love story. I don't know who would your dream co-star be in your Broadway love story?

[22:59] Eva Noblezada: Reef Carney, Reef Carney!

[23:01] John Cardoza: Riva!

[23:02] Eva Noblezada: Riva!

[23:03] John Cardoza: Yes, yes. So good to see you.

[23:05] John Cardoza: And for my final guest, I'm speaking to author Nicholas Sparks, who is the author of The Notebook novel. It was so cool to interview him and meet him on this Broadway red carpet.

[23:16] John Cardoza: Hey you guys, I'm here with Mr. Nicholas Sparks, and we are here at the opening night of The Notebook on Broadway. You are the author of The Notebook. When you wrote this book, did you ever imagine it would become this huge?

[23:26] Nicholas Sparks: No. No, no, you're writing it. I'm unknown, I have no agent, I got no editor, I don't know anything about publishing. You hope, you dream like, wow, what if your book did good or something or make get a movie made? But this did more than good. It's uh you can kind of hope and dream when you push those aside because you just know they'll never happen. Right. And it did. And here we are, here we are. I mean surreal. It's all surreal to me.

[23:52] John Cardoza: Yes, when the creative team was adapting this for Broadway. What advice and what did you tell them should definitely be in this Broadway adaptation of The Notebook?

[24:01] Nicholas Sparks: Uh it's funny, humor. I said, you want to watch this show because a lot of people are familiar with the overall story, and it can get a little heavy. I said, but you want it to feel like the full experience of life. And there is joy and laughter in life as well. And both Ingrid and Becca hopped on that train, they did amazing, the producers did, of course, the cast did, they added their own elements. It was amazing.

[24:24] John Cardoza: Yes. When you saw this in Chicago, when you see it on Broadway, what were your first reactions? What were you feeling when seeing your work on stage?

[24:31] Nicholas Sparks: I just felt a sense of amazement that it wasn't the novel. And it wasn't the film. But it was The Notebook in a new way. And I'm like, how on earth was this team able to thread that needle? It's really quite amazing. It is always so cool to interview the original creators of work. So it was such a pleasure to interview Mr. Nicholas Sparks. That's it for this week's episode of The Weekly Dose of Joel. If you cannot tell, I'm very excited for The Notebook to be here on Broadway. It is such an impeccable show, and you won't want to miss it at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater. Before I go, I want to announce the winner of the Casey Likes Back to the Future ticket giveaway. The winner is AVC Cakery. Congratulations, you will receive a message from us on how to get your tickets. I will see you guys next week for another exciting episode of The Weekly Dose of Joel. See you later.

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