The Notebook’s Joy Woods Stars in ‘My Days’ Video (Exclusive)

Ingrid Michaelson is providing a taste of her Broadway musical The Notebook.

Star Joy Woods appears in a new video, shared exclusively with PEOPLE, showcasing one of the most emotional of Michaelson’s songs from the show, “My Days.”

Woods, 24, is one of the actresses playing Allie (“Middle Allie”) in the production currently playing at New York’s Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.

Based on Nicholas Sparks’ 1996 novel The Notebook — which also inspired Nick Cassavetes’ 2004 film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams — the new musical features a book by Bekah Brunstetter and music and lyrics by Michaelson, 44.

The official performance video for “My Days” was directed by Michaelson herself. Middle Allie’s heartfelt number is “about choice,” the singer-songwriter tells PEOPLE.

“I wanted to write a song about looking back on your life and knowing you did all you could to be brave and bold and live this one life as beautifully and truthfully as you could.”

Woods tells PEOPLE making the new video “was quite swift.”

“The whole song is done in two takes and a straight walking path,” she says. “Since I do the song every night, it was fun to navigate playing it like I normally do but add all of the new elements like the dress — that cape! — a camera crew and the great, gorgeous outdoors.”

“My Days” is one of the tracks on The Notebook’s official cast recording from Atlantic Records, released April 19. On Thursday, April 25, Michaelson and Woods will bring the number to live TV on The Kelly Clarkson Show. 

Also featured in the Broadway production are John Cardoza, Dorian Harewood and Ryan Vasquez, who all play Noah, love interest to Allie, also played by Maryann Plunkett and Jordan Tyson.

Sparks’ saga charts the ups and downs of their 1940s-set love story, told by an elderly man to a fellow nursing home resident. The show, which first premiered in Chicago, is helmed by directors Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen) and Schele Williams (The Wiz).

“I am beyond proud of myself for daring to dream that I could even attempt to write a Broadway musical,” says Michaelson, who first announced in 2019 that she would adapt the beloved novel for the stage.

“And I am proud to be a part of the most wonderful group of humans who helped shape our musical into what it is: a meditation on loss, love and life.”

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Woods adds that she is “proudest of the people that built this show.”

“Everyone onstage, offstage, behind the table, every believer and investor made this piece into what it is,” says the actress. “That relentless pursuit of truth within the story, constant evolution and collaboration has been a privilege to be a part of. I’m very happy it’s being received the way we hoped, and I’m excited the music can now reach people beyond the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.”

Tickets for The Notebook, currently playing at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, are available at notebookmusical.com. The official Broadway cast recording is available now.