Dylan musical 'Girl From the North Country' to be a movie with Oscar winner Olivia Colman

The drama is set in a Depression-era Duluth guest house.

February 7, 2023 at 12:00PM
Mare Winningham was a Tony nominee for playing Elizabeth, the role Olivia Colman will tackle in the film of “Girl From the North Country.” (Matthew Murphy/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

"Girl From the North Country," the Broadway musical set in Duluth and driven by the songs of Bob Dylan, will become a movie.

Olivia Colman, who won an Oscar for "The Favourite" will star in "Girl," also set to feature Woody Harrelson (who made "Wilson" in the Twin Cities) and singer Chloe Bailey. The film's writer/director is Irish playwright Conor McPherson, who created the musical that reportedly made Dylan sob. No production start has been announced for the film, but Minnesotans will get to see the stage version first. Its tour kicks off this fall at the Orpheum Theatre.

Set in 1934, "Girl" takes place at a beleaguered guest house operated by Nick (Harrelson, whose role was non-singing on Broadway). His estranged wife Elizabeth, who sings a rueful take on "Like a Rolling Stone," will be played by Colman. Bailey will play their secretive daughter.

McPherson is better known in the world of theater than film; his adaptation of "The Birds" played at the Guthrie Theater in 2012 and the Jungle Theater staged his "The Weir."

about the writer

Chris Hewitt

Critic / Editor

Interim books editor Chris Hewitt previously worked at the Pioneer Press in St. Paul, where he wrote about movies and theater.

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