Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) has announced the acquisition of the licensing rights to “Girl From the North Country.” In Conor McPherson’s Tony Award-nominated book, the lives of a group of wayward travelers intersect at a guesthouse in 1934 Duluth, all to the soundscape of reimagined Bob Dylan songs.
Licensing availability for “Girl From the North Country” will be announced.
“I’m delighted that MTI will be licensing ‘Girl From the North Country,’ making it available for a wider audience and shepherding its future life,’ McPherson said in a statement. “Creating this show has been a very special journey full of surprises. From the moment Bob Dylan’s 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’s 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.”
“This musical is a magnificent blending of Conor McPherson’s moving and darkly humorous boarding house drama with Bob Dylan’s incredible songs,” added 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.”
Featuring direction by McPherson, “Girl From the North Country” opened on March 5, 2020 at the Belasco Theatre, the last show to open prior to the pandemic-induced Broadway shutdown. The musical resumed performances on Oct. 13, 2021, and closed on Jan. 23, 2022. The musical subsequently played a return engagement from April 20 through June 19, 2022 at the Belasco. The production received seven 2022 Tony nominations, winning one for Simon Hale’s orchestrations. “Girl From the North Country” played a national tour from October 2023 to October 2024.
“Girl From the North Country”’s Broadway bow was captured on film during its run, and recently premiered on PBS’ “Great Performances” series.
