The book version of The Notebook was released in 1996 by Nicholas Sparks. The film version starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams was released in 2004. The world premiere of the musical was at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on September 28, 2022. The Broadway debut was on December 15, 2024. And now, in August 2026, it returns to Chicago at the Nederlander Theatre. 

The Notebook tells the love story between Noah and Allie. Three periods in their story are told simultaneously. The earliest in the timeline is when they meet one summer before Noah goes off to war. The second takes place when he fixes up the house that they had hoped would be theirs someday as kids. The last timeline finds Allie without any memory of her family and Noah reading her the story of their life together. 

This production does a fantastic job of capturing the story. It’s full of joy and sadness, laughs and tears. The cast is absolutely superb. It’s definitely Broadway quality.  

Spoiler Alert! Don’t read this next paragraph if you don’t want to know the ending!

This production of the musical ends with Allie remembering her life with Noah. Netflix and HBO ended the movie this way as well, which matches the ending in the novel. But in the original cut of the film, there is one final scene where a nurse enters the room and finds they have both passed away. This makes for quite a different ending.  

Cost of a ticket: $98 (Orchestra)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value

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Get tickets now for The Notebook through August 16th!

Quinn Delaney

When Cambridge-based indietronica act Passion Pit first started getting Top 40 radio play back in 2008 with their hit single “Sleepyhead,” the mainstream pop scene was being flooded by indie music. Apparently, the public was starting to become sick of the ringtone rap spearheaded by Soulja Boy and Flo Rida, as the “indie sound” quickly became the newest trend in music. Quirky vocals and crystalline synths soon became the norm. Many of these bands produced only one hit wonders, fading quickly into obscurity.

However, Passion Pit’s nostalgic, uplifting sound and respectable work ethic made them stand out amongst their peers. The band is revered within the scene for combining sparkling, upbeat electronic melodies with intimate songwriting and booming kick drums. If you listen closely, the lyrics are often not as uplifting as the instrumentation suggests, the soulful and vulnerable falsetto of frontman Michael Angelakos nonetheless serves to lift up and inspire.

Their set at the Riviera Theatre was incredible. Angelakos brought humble charm and striking stage presence. I was surprised that he was actually able to hit all of the band’s famous falsettos live. They performed all of their hit singles with extended intros, ending off their set with “Sleepyhead.” The crowd was electrified, and I’m happy to say that Passion Pit’s performance exceeded my expectations.

See the full setlist here. 

Cost of a ticket: $56 (GA)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value +

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Justin Cabrera

This revue was originally titled Improv Supernova. When they renamed it Reality Detox, I suspect they replaced some of the improv with more prepared sketches. 

The improv tonight was very strong. In a quick scene, Anna Bortnick says “Let’s do a group sketch about narcissistic personality”. Riley Woollen goes up to the front of the stage and confidently says, “ok, I’ve got this one guys!” A crowd favorite was a sketch about a dog swimming instructor (Kennedy Baldwin). The dog (Annie Sullivan) is quiet and nervous until it gets into the water, and then she starts paddling furiously while yelling “Oh fuck, oh fuck!”

Another great one featured a small man (Chas Lilly) who reaching up can only touch the knee of the woman. It’s so funny, especially when he says that he knows this relationship will work, because he feels it in his heart, as he points to his head (which was a hilarious callback to a previous moment). In another scene, Max Thomas (The Chaos Theory of Everything) says “I love it in the back” as the last one in a line of people all on one luge! 

Overall, it has a bit more improv than past shows, but it’s still so funny and the Second City style of a mix of both.  

Cost of a ticket: $56 (GA)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value +

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now to Reality Detox! 

Quinn Delaney

Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, first appeared on Broadway in 1968. In 1979, the film version was released. In 2009, a Broadway revival opened and won the Tony Award for best revival. And now, in 2017, the production is being staged at the Mercury Theatre.

In the musical, Claude is drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. His friends all tell him to burn his draft card and resist. The threat of jail time for failing to serve weighs on him.

The highlights of the show are the opening number, “Aquarius”, and the closing song, “Let The Sun Shine In”. The cast’s vocal talent is fantastic.

Unlike many productions of Hair, this one doesn’t have any nudity. Also, they have created bleachers out of plywood for the audience to sit behind the stage. These are not comfortable and I wouldn’t recommend sitting there. 

Cost of a ticket: $55

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Discounted

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Get tickets now for Hair through September 13th!

Quinn Delaney

Eight people meet on the north side of Chicago to discuss their addictions with modern technology. One by one, they share their story via song. Their addictions include playing candy games, dating apps, commenting on discussion boards, and more. 

Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) has written an outstanding musical full of humor and drama. This production is absolutely fantastic. The acapella singing is world class. The stories are so intriguing, fresh, and modern. It’s no surprise that this show earned an encore production downtown. 

One the best shares is called “Little God”. You can listen to the original cast recording here:   

At 95 minutes, it would be nice to have an intermission. There are plenty of scene changes where it can be easily added.  Join the Pro-Intermission movement here. 

The superb cast includes Joryhebel Ginorio, Neala Barron, Grace Steckler, Teressa LaGamba, Elliot Esquivel, Jordan Golding, Sam Shankman and Ryder Dean McDaniel.

Fun Fact: Filming completed in June for a film adaptation that is directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and stars Amanda Seyfriend, Rachel Zegler, and Jonathan Groff. 

Cost of a ticket: $84

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value 

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for Octet through August 2nd!  

Quinn Delaney

Carrie Chapman Catt is the leader of the NASWA (National American Woman Suffrage Association). She’s been patiently working for women’s right to vote for 60 years. Alice Paul asks her for funds to do a march in Washington, DC. Catt declines so Paul starts her own organization to proceed with her more aggressive tactics. They both want the same goal, but they use very different strategies. 

This musical is very informative and enjoyable. It’s inspiring and will hopefully help to get the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) passed. The cast is full of excellent actors and singers who are Broadway worthy.

Cost of a ticket: $98 (Orchestra)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value –

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for Suffs through July 19th! 

Quinn Delaney

Vera Vimm buys a frozen caveman for unknown reasons. People suspect that it is to gain publicity for her new Broadway show. Through many twists and turns, it leads to inspiring Eugene O’Neill to write “The Iceman Cometh”. 

The book was written by Erin Quinn Purcell and Jay Reiss. The lyrics were written by Mark Hollmann and Jay Reiss. Together they add up to very funny musical that has the audience laughing uncontrollably. 

Nick Offerman (Parks and Rec, Margo’s Got Money Troubles) is outstanding as O’Neill, especially when he is berating the audience for not know more about him. Megan Mullally (Will & Grace, Party Down) is solid as Vera Vimm, who craves the spotlight at all times. Cedric Yarbrough (Reno 911!) is hilarious as Vimm’s boyfriend who can’t get her to marry him. Alex Goodrich is so funny as Frankenstein’s monster, even though he just grunts! Sarah Stiles is excellent as Lambert, who suffers from forever menopause. The rest of the supporting cast is great as well.

Overall, it’s a very original musical that makes for a very enjoyable evening of theatre. 

Cost of a ticket: $109 (Main Floor)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value –

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for Iceboy! through August 16th!

See our review of Nancy and Beth featuring Nick here.  

Quinn Delaney

Pablo and his pregnant wife Tania have just moved into a fixer upper. They plan on upgrading the ugly chain link fence in their front yard, and their neighbors, Virginia and Frank, couldn’t be happier. Before installing the fence, Pablo goes to measure their yard. He extends the measuring the tape past the fence and across their neighbor’s flower bed! Will they insist the new fence goes where is it meant to be? Will Virginia and Frank invoke adverse possession, aka, squatter’s rights? The drama rises and the laughs just keep coming!

The set is very well done. On the right is the fixer upper with a large tree. On the left is another house with a pristine green lawn filled with flowers. Frank says there used to be a large tree in their backyard, but they had it removed because it was ugly and posed a risk to their house.

The acting in this production is very good. Rio Soliz Ragazzone and Emely Cuestas are great as the owners of the fixer upper. Chuck Munro and Suzy Krueckeberg are solid as their neighbors. 

See the program here. 

Cost of a ticket: $12 and up

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value +

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for Native Gardens through July 18th for Native Gardens!

Quinn Delaney

For Guster, who have been a band since 1991, their tour schedule is all about quality of life. They haven’t played a full band show in 274 days (Since September 25th). Also, if they are going to travel to Chicago, they want to play a few other nearby shows as a warmup. Their management adds on Sheboygan, Wisconsin and Paw Paw, Michigan, after their Chicago show! It’s this type of banterand charm on stage that makes a Guster live show so great. It’s a celebration of music with the audience, not at the audience.

Gallagher Way is packed tonight. Guster immediately gets everyone dancing around early with “Satellite” from their 2006 album, Ganging up on the Sun. It’s their most popular track on Spotify with over 50 million streams.  “You’re my satellite / You’re riding with me tonight / Passenger side, lighting the sky / Always the first star that I find”. 

On “Barrel Of A Gun”, Brian Rosenworcel (Thunderhands) is a frenzy of fingers, sweat, and bongos. He’s the strong beating heart of the band and it’s an absolute joy to watch him perform.

The whole band is smiling as they play “Come Downstairs and Say Hello.” The whole crowd dances and sings along, “tomorrow I start in a new direction!”

For the encore, they return in Cubs jerseys with their last names and 26 (for the year) on the back. They close with “Happier” from their 1999 album, Lost and Gone Forever. Ryan Miller sings “So go on / If this will make you happier /It got you this far / Do what you have to”. 

Guster isn’t coasting on their laurels. They continue to evolve and play fantastic live shows. Catch them on tour now and check out their new album, Ooh La La!

See the full setlist here.

Cost of a ticket: $64

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value +

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Quinn Delaney

Catch as Catch Can is a play about the relationships between parents who are friends and their adult children and how mental illness of one of the children affects them all. Three actors play six characters. Each one plays a parent and a child of that parent. 

The effect of this casting is very disorientating in this play. At times, they are switching between the characters instantly. There is even a scene where the two characters talking to each other are talking to the actor’s other character. To the audience, it feels like having a mental breakdown, just like one of the characters. Everyone working on this play says it’s the hardest one they’ve ever done. It’s also the hardest to watch and figure out what is happening. 

Gary Cole (Office Space, The Good Fight) is great as one of the mother / son combinations. Tim Hopper (The Thanksgiving Play, Mr. Wolf) is exceptional as the other mother / son combination. In one scene he is flipping instantly from one character in tears to another with extreme anger. Audrey Francis (Noises Off, Dance Nation) is superb as the father / daughter combination. Her performance describing a truly traumatic experience is outstanding. 

Get tickets now for Catch as Catch Can through July 12th. 

Cost of a ticket: $67

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value –

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Quinn Delaney