2023 - 2024 Broadway Musical Logos: The Notebook

I think, though I'm not positive, that I read Nicholas Sparks' best-selling novel, The Notebook in the late 90s, not long after it was published. And I just saw the popular film over the weekend, which I enjoyed very much. Seeing it has me very much looking forward to seeing the musical in the coming days, especially to see how this emotional story will translate in completely theatrical terms.

For now, I'll just share my thoughts about the artwork for the show.

What makes this lovely, eye-catching logo work so well is that it is captivating whether you are familiar with the property. It's cloudy/foggy white-gray is immediately a stand-out among the visual cacophony of the Times Square/theater district area, so it's a great choice in terms of visibility. In terms of the story, it suggests the fog of memory, both intentional and mental atrophy. 

Similarly, the bright, varied coloring of the embracing young couple is something that would draw the eye of passersby. The color makes you look, the silhouette draws you in. Even without details, you sense happiness and trust; the pose is intimate and lovely. The way the watercolor-ish way the colors appear (and occasional spatter) suggests wet, dripping rain. Again, in terms of the story, both the rain motif and the exuberant embrace immediately recall a key moment where the young lovers, Noah and Allie hold on to each other, oblivious to the downpour pelting them. Allie's passion for painting is suggested by the way the colors are applied to the key art. It is both art and theme.  

The title and tagline (simply "The Musical") are also striking against the background. Blues and purples are blended together in the same way the white and gray are, and the font is a simple one. Lowering it onto the shape of open pages is a touch of stylized whimsy without interfering with or over taking the logo. Its simplicity adds to rather than detracts from the overall effect.

Of all the musicals from this season, it is one of my three favorites. When I saw it, I knew immediately I needed to have something with its logo on it. Magnet? Window card? Both? Maybe a box of tissues...

Grade: A+