The NSW Government has locked in another huge win for Sydney by securing the Australian premiere of the critically acclaimed musical Girl from the North Country, starring celebrated television and theatre actor Lisa McCune.
Girl from the North Country, by playwright Conor McPherson, boldly reimagines 25 legendary Bob Dylan songs including Hurricane, Lay Lady Lay and Like a Rolling Stone, in the modern masterpiece.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said securing the Australian premiere of the Broadway and West End prodigy was a major coup for Sydney and would drive economic benefit for NSW through job creation and visitor expenditure.
“Securing innovative, world-class productions for Sydney adds exclusivity and variety to our events calendar while supporting key priorities of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030,” Mr Ayres said.
“Musicals are a major contributor to the NSW visitor economy, and we look forward to welcoming tens of thousands of visitors to see this musical come to life on the stage and enjoy all that Sydney has to offer.
“Staging the Australian premiere of Girl from the North Country in Sydney’s newly refurbished Theatre Royal is fitting as Australia’s creative industries epicentre, and we look forward to welcoming guests to this unique, critically lauded production.”
Australian theatre icon Lisa McCune (Cabaret, The Sound of Music), will be joined by stage and screen star Zahra Newman and Helpmann Award winner Peter Carroll.
McCune, who plays Elizabeth, said she was excited to be part of the premier Australian cast for the production.
“Every now and then a show or character has a profound effect on you…Girl from the North Country and Elizabeth Laine were that for me, and I am thrilled to be to be part of an incredible ensemble cast for the Australian Premiere at the newly renovated Theatre Royal in Sydney.
“With Music and Lyrics by the legendary Bob Dylan set to a beautiful book written by Conor McPherson, I know audiences will share in a memorable theatrical experience,” Ms McCune said.
Based on a book by Conor McPherson, Girl from the North Country is an uplifting and joyful story of American life in 1930s Minnesota and fuses multiple storylines with Bob Dylan’s music and has received two Olivier Awards.
Girl from the North Country has been secured by Destination NSW in partnership with GWB Entertainment, Damien Hewitt and Sydney Festival by arrangement with Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment.
The production will play at the Theatre Royal Sydney as part of Sydney Festival for a 10-week season from 6 January to 20 March 2022. For information and tickets go to northcountry.com.au
