Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International has added the Bob Dylan musical Girl From the North Country to its catalogue of musicals. The title is not yet available for licensing.
The work, which came to Broadway in 2020 after earlier London runs, features a book by Conor McPherson and a score of songs by Dylan, orchestrated by Tony winner Simon Hale. The song list includes "Forever Young," "All Along the Watchtower," "Hurricane," "Slow Train Coming," and "Like a Rolling Stone."
McPherson's plot centers on a group of wayward travelers who find themselves in a guesthouse in 1934 Minnesota, setting their individual woes against the backdrop of the Great Depression. A filmed performance of the musical's Broadway run recently premiered on PBS' Great Performances, and is currently available to stream on demand at .
The Off-Broadway bow at the Public, which preceded the Broadway engagement, won the 2019 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical; and the Broadway transfer earned seven 2022 Tony Award nominations, winning for Hale's orchestrations.
"I鈥檓 delighted that MTI will be licensing Girl From the North Country, making it available for a wider audience and shepherding its future life," says McPherson in a statement. "Creating this show has been a very special journey full of surprises. From the moment Bob Dylan鈥檚 management approached me, entrusting me with his magical songs, though to our world premiere at the Old Vic and our Broadway opening, Girl From the North Country has constantly surpassed our wildest expectations. It鈥檚 been a privilege to work with so many great artists along the way and to make so many wonderful friends. I look forward now to seeing artists around the world get the opportunity to work with MTI and make this show their own."
鈥淭his musical is a magnificent blending of Conor McPherson鈥檚 moving and darkly humorous boarding house drama with Bob Dylan鈥檚 incredible songs," adds MTI President and CEO Drew Cohen. "Far from a stereotypical jukebox musical, Girl From the North Country is a work of art that demands to be seen and heard. Thankfully, so many audiences have already seen the show on Broadway and on tour and now many more will have the chance to do so on stages around the world."
Those interested in producing the musical can sign up for licensing updates at .
