Rachel McAdams’s reported reaction to Broadway’s The Notebook musical was a funny case of mistaken identity—not a review of the show. While McAdams was making her Broadway debut in the play Mary Jane, a friend’s mother thought she would see McAdams singing and dancing in the musical.
What Rachel McAdams said about the musical
In an interview quoted by Marie Claire, McAdams recalled that a friend’s mother said, “We’re going to see Rachel on Broadway! And she’s going to be singing and dancing!” Her friend corrected the assumption: “Um, I don’t know if you are… I don’t think you have the right show.”
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Notebook, The (DVD) (WS) | $4.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Notebook (2004) | $8.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Notebook (2004) | $8.65 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Nicholas Spark 2-Movie Bundle - The Notebook & The Lucky One 2-DVD Set | $16.91 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Notebook, The / Lucky One, The (DBFE) (DVD) | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The joke was about confusing two Broadway productions, not about the musical’s quality. The report does not establish that McAdams attended The Notebook, reviewed it, or endorsed it.
Why the mix-up was easy to make
McAdams and Ryan Gosling starred in the 2004 film The Notebook. In the 2023–24 Broadway season, McAdams made her Broadway debut in Mary Jane as the musical adaptation of the same story arrived on Broadway. The shared title connection and close timing help explain the mistaken expectation, but McAdams was appearing in the play, not the musical.
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McAdams also described her feelings about the stage debut itself, telling Marie Claire, “I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it, to be perfectly honest,” and, “I pinch myself every day, and the little theater nerd in me is freaking out.” Those comments concern Mary Jane and her Broadway debut, not her response to the musical.
What is the Broadway musical?
The Notebook musical adapts Nicholas Sparks’s novel rather than the 2004 film directly. The Shubert Organization’s casting announcement identifies Bekah Brunstetter as the book writer and Ingrid Michaelson as composer and lyricist. The official musical site credits Michael Greif and Schele Williams as directors and Katie Spelman as choreographer.
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The Broadway production opened on March 14, 2024, according to the Shubert Organization. Its engagement ended December 15, 2024, according to Broadway.com’s show FAQ.
Are Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in the Broadway musical?
No. McAdams and Gosling starred in the 2004 movie; they were not part of the Broadway musical’s cast. Broadway.com’s FAQ clarifies that the film stars are not in the stage production. McAdams’s Broadway appearance was in Mary Jane.
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How to find the musical now
The Broadway engagement has closed. The official US tour page lists touring information; check it and the local venue for current dates and availability, which can change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the stage version differs from the film
The musical tells the story through live performance and songs, drawing on Sparks’s novel as its source material. The film and stage adaptation are distinct productions, with separate casts and creative teams. A review is a separate matter from McAdams’s anecdote: the Associated Press’s March 15, 2024 review praised some songs while criticizing the book, representing one critic’s view rather than a consensus.
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