The sweeping romance of The Notebook, The Musical has found its Older Noah.
Theatre Group Asia (TGA) has announced acclaimed playwright, actor, and cultural icon Rody Vera as the latest addition to the cast of its highly anticipated international premiere of The Notebook, The Musical. He joins the previously announced Celeste Legaspi, who will portray Older Allie, completing one of the most distinguished pairings in contemporary Philippine theater.
With the addition of Vera, TGA brings together two artists whose contributions have helped shape generations of Filipino audiences across theater, music, film, and literature.
A towering figure in Philippine theater, Vera has spent more than four decades building an extraordinary body of work as a playwright, actor, screenwriter, singer, and cultural advocate. His stage credits span landmark productions including 1896, Noli Me Tangere, The Musical, Rak of Aegis, The Band's Visit, and most recently, TGA's acclaimed production of Into the Woods, where he served as the Narrator alongside Lea Salonga, Eugene Domingo, and Arielle Jacobs.
TGA Creative and Overall Artistic Director Clint Ramos described the newest cast member as “one of the most important theater artists of our time.”
“Rody Vera is a master storyteller whose artistry is rooted in compassion, intelligence, and an extraordinary understanding of the human experience,” Ramos said. “As Older Noah, he brings a lifetime of wisdom, emotional truth, and theatrical excellence to a role that demands all three.”
For Vera, the themes explored in The Notebook resonate deeply.
"The Notebook reminds us that love is not only found in grand gestures but in the choices we make every day to remember, to stay, and to care with patience and loyalty," he shared. "What moves me most is how the story finds beauty even in fragility."
His casting unites him with another living legend of Philippine performing arts.
Previously announced as Older Allie, Celeste Legaspi brings her own unparalleled legacy to the production. A pioneer of Original Pilipino Music and one of the country's most beloved performers, Legaspi has enjoyed a career spanning decades, with iconic songs such as “Saranggola ni Pepe,” “Tuliro,” and “Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal?” becoming part of the Filipino musical canon.
Beyond music, Legaspi has long been a champion of Philippine theater. Through her work on productions including Katy!, Jesus Christ Superstar, Ang Larawan, and her co-founding of Musical Theater Philippines, she has helped cultivate and preserve a uniquely Filipino theatrical tradition.
Together, Vera and Legaspi will anchor the emotional heart of The Notebook, The Musical, portraying Noah and Allie in their later years as they navigate memory, devotion, and the enduring power of love.
Their performances complete a multi-generational cast that also includes Morissette as Middle Allie, Laurence Mossman as Middle Noah, Sheena Belarmino as Young Allie, and Benedix Ramos as Young Noah.
Based on Nicholas Sparks’ bestselling novel and the beloved film adaptation, The Notebook, The Musical features music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson and a Tony Award-nominated book by Bekah Brunstetter. The production traces Noah and Allie’s love story across decades, revealing how love evolves through youth, adulthood, and old age.
The Notebook, The Musical will run this September at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati. Tickets are now available via TicketWorld at https://www.ticketworld.com.ph
Photos courtesy of TGA.