Stagescreen has partnered with Runway Entertainment to bring a filmed version of Conor McPherson and Bob Dylan's Girl From the North Country to cinemas worldwide this fall. U.K. and Ireland screenings are planned for November 21 and 24, with further worldwide dates to be announced. Watch a trailer for the release above.
The Tony-nominated musical was captured live in April 2022, just prior to its April 29 reopening on Broadway following the pandemic. The musical played its final performance at Broadway's Belasco June 19, 2022.
The film is produced by Totally Theatre Productions, led by Gavin Kalin, with Tim van Someren serving as director of the film.
The live capture features Todd Almond, Colin Bates, Jeannette Bayardelle, Craig Bierko, Jennifer Blood, Matthew Frederick Harris, Caitlin Houlahan, Robert Joy, Luba Mason, Ben Mayne, Matt McGrath, Tom Nelis, Jay O. Sanders, John Schiappa, Austin Scott, Housso Semon, Kimber Elayne Sprawl, Rachel Stern, Chiara Trentalange, Bob Walton, Aidan Wharton, Chelsea Lee Williams, and Emmy winner Mare Winningham.
“We feel that now was the right time to capture this incredible production,” said producers Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons in a 2022 statement. “This was the right time with the right cast, and everything fell into place perfectly. This story is beautiful and deserves to be seen by audiences all over, even if they can’t make it to the theatre. We are starting discussions with distributors to find this film a home.”
The original creative team, including Rae Smith, Lucy Hind, Mark Henderson, McPherson, Simon Hale, and Simon Baker, reassembled in New York to work alongside Totally Theatre throughout the process.
Girl From the North Country received seven 2022 Tony nominations, including Best New Musical, Best Book of a Musical (McPherson), Best Orchestrations (Simon Hale), Best Sound Design of a Musical (Simon Baker), Best Direction of a Musical (McPherson), Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Mare Winningham), and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Jeannette Bayardelle). Hale won the Tony for his orchestrations.
Girl From the North Country originally opened March 5, 2020, but closed just a week later due to New York’s COVID restrictions. The production reopened October 13, 2021, subsequently temporarily closing January 23, 2022.
Featuring a book by director McPherson and music from Dylan's
catalog, the musical offers a slice-of-life look at a small community in
Duluth, Minnesota, where the Laine family operates a rundown
guesthouse.
READ: Do You Need to Know Bob Dylan Music to Love Girl From the North Country?
Girl From the North Country features scenic and costume design by Rae Smith; orchestrations, arrangements, and music supervision by Simon Hale, with additional arrangements by Hale and McPherson; lighting design by Mark Henderson; sound design by Simon Baker; movement direction by Lucy Hind; and music direction by Marco Paguia.
The musical originated at The Old Vic in London.
The Broadway production of Girl From The North Country was produced by Tristan Baker & Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Steven Lappin, Sony Music Entertainment/Sony ATV, David Mirvish, Len Blavatnik, The Dodgers, Eric & Marsi Gardiner, Dianne Roberts, John Gore Organization, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Tommy Mottola, Independent Presenters Network, Rod Kaats, Diana DiMenna, Mary Beth O’Connor, Barbara H. Freitag, Patrick Catullo, The Old Vic, and The Public Theater with Aaron Lustbader serving as executive producer.
In February 2023 it was announced that a motion picture version of Girl From the North Country would feature Olivia Colman, Chlöe Bailey, Tosin Cole, and Woody Harrelson. No release date has been announced.
