Arden Theatre Company’s kick-off to its 2026/27 season is almost here—and it’s full of classics.

‘Girl from the North Country’ starts performances at the Old City locale on Sept. 24, with opening night on Sept. 30, and performances running through Oct. 25. The musical, written by Conor McPherson, uses reimagined songs by Bob Dylan, so audiences will hear popular tunes like ‘Forever Young,’ ‘Hurricane,’ and ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ woven throughout the plot.

“What draws me to this musical is that it is so unique. Conor McPherson has written this extraordinary play, inspired by the work of Eugene O’Neill. And he has woven into this story the songs of Bob Dylan. Two brilliant artists whose work comes together to create an incredibly original and moving piece of theatre,” says Producing Artistic Director Terrence J. Nolen, who is also directing the production.

The plot of the show takes place in a run-down boarding house in Duluth, Minnesota. There, strangers cross paths “experiencing love, loss, and everything in between.” As the Arden notes, amongst the dust and deep in the throes of the Great Depression, these wayward travelers fill the guesthouse with music, hope, and soul. The show pairs Dylan’s  music with Tony Award-winning orchestrations by Simon Hale to tell “a moving American story of resilience in uncertain times.”

The actor-musician format will see creatives on stage playing piano, guitar, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica on top of singing. It’s not the first time the Arden has delved into this style of production either—the venue similarly put on a 2018 production of ‘Once’, where the music was created in real-time on stage for the performances.

The company notes that ‘Girl from the North Country’ uses its songs differently, however: Rather than driving the plot forward, Dylan’s music opens a window into the characters’ inner lives, giving voice to the longing and resilience beneath the story’s surface.

“What will make this production so special is its ensemble,” continues Nolen. “Thirteen actor-musicians, long-time collaborators and voices new to the Arden, coming together to bring McPherson’s story and Dylan’s songs to radiant life. This is such an audacious musical, and I am inspired by its ambition and beauty.”

Tickets and special shows

Ticket prices for ‘Girl from the North Country’ vary by performance, with single tickets starting at $32, but the Arden is also offering several special events throughout the run. A Pay-What-You-Choose performance is scheduled for Sept. 23  at 7 p.m., and the final dress rehearsal will benefit the Philadelphia Folk Song Society, with in-person donations accepted.

Several performances will also include opportunities for audiences to engage with the production after the curtain falls. Post-show talkbacks are scheduled for  Oct. 11, at 2 p.m., and Oct. 22, at 7 p.m., featuring a member of Arden’s artist team.

There’s also a Young Friends Night set for Oct. 15, at 7 p.m., combining networking with a pre-show talkback for professionals ages 40 and under (attendees can use the code YFARDEN when booking). Teen Night will follow on Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. with $15 tickets and a post-show talkback for teens ages 13–18. Schools interested in attending can also inquire about the Student Matinee on Oct. 20, at 10:30 a.m.

The theater also offers a range of accessibility resources with every show, including assistive listening devices, sensory-processing tools, caption glasses and large-print programs. Beginning Oct. 6, audiences can reserve wearable, customizable caption glasses for select performances; plus, open-captioned performances, featuring live on-stage text displaying all spoken words and sounds, are scheduled for Oct. 16, at 7 p.m., and Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. Those performances also offer audio description, with live verbal descriptions of actions and visual elements for patrons who are blind or have low vision.

Tickets are available at ardentheatre.org, by phone at 215-922-1122, or at the box office at Arden Theatre Company (40 N. 2nd Street). 

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