‘The Notebook’ actor with Coastal Carolina ties brings love story to Peace Center

When Connor Richardson graduated from Coastal Carolina University in 2024, he hoped to land a role in a major musical.

He did — faster than many young actors could reasonably expect. Less than a year later, Richardson was on the road with the first national tour of “The Notebook,” performing a role he had quietly hoped might one day be his.

“I remember thinking, ‘Gosh, I would love to do that show someday,’” Richardson said, speaking by phone from a tour stop in West Palm Beach, Florida. “I definitely thank my lucky stars every single day.”

“The Notebook,” based on Nicholas Sparks’ bestselling novel and the popular 2004 film, comes to the Peace Concert Hall in Greenville June 9-14. The production marks the first national tour of the musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2024.

The music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson lean toward a folk-and-country music vibe rather than a traditional Broadway soundscape.

Richardson, 24, plays Johnny, a character created specifically for the musical and absent from the original novel. In a show known for emotional heft — Alzheimer’s disease sits at the center of the story — Johnny offers comic relief while also developing a meaningful relationship with older Noah.

“There’s a lot of comedy in this role,” Richardson said. “Johnny is there to help you turn on a dime when you’re wiping your tears away.”

For Richardson, the production carries personal resonance. His grandmother died from Alzheimer’s disease, making the story especially moving when he first saw the Broadway production shortly after moving to New York.

“It hit home in a lot of ways for me,” he said.

Becoming an actor

Unlike the film, which follows one pair of actors through much of the romance, the stage adaptation uses three actors each to portray Allie and Noah at different ages. Richardson said that approach deepens the show’s emotional impact.

“You see them choose each other at every single point in their life,” he said.

Richardson, originally from Nashville, found his way to Coastal Carolina through recommendations from others he knew. Once he met the faculty, he said, the decision became easy.

“I truly feel like I became an actor at Coastal,” he said. “When I was growing up, music was leading my love for theater. But when I got to Coastal, I really developed this love for acting.”

Now based in New York, Richardson has spent the past nine months traveling the country with the show, which recently celebrated its 250th performance.

Between eight shows a week, he still finds time to explore cities, often through golf or rock climbing.

He already knows Greenville, having visited while attending Coastal and stopping through on drives home.

“I love Greenville,” he said. “I’m so excited to return.”