Three Oglethorpe University students have been cast in the Actor’s Express production of “Girl from the North Country,” a jukebox musical featuring music from legendary singer and songwriter Bob Dylan. This production marks the Atlanta premiere of the award-winning Broadway musical.
The musical, set to premiere on Jan. 29 on the Atlanta theatre company’s West Midtown stage, is the fifth consecutive co-production between Oglethorpe and Actor’s Express. This unique partnership has allowed OU students of any major to work alongside theatre professionals both on and off the stage, gaining valuable experience for future careers.
The students appearing in “Girl from the North Country” are:
Neveah Riddle ’26 as “Kate”
Justis Searcy ’27 as “Marianne”
Eloa Noir ’27 as “Ensemble”
“The Girl from the North Country,” named after the famous Bob Dylan tune, tells the story of a group of travelers who find respite in a small boarding house during the Great Depression. As they weather a bleak winter, the group keeps hope alive through the connective powers of music, desperate to breathe life in to their weary souls. The musical features 28 songs from Dylan, backed by authentic 1930’s instrumentals.
“When I first saw this on Broadway, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was, so I went back a second time and loved it even more,” says Freddie Ashley, creative director of Actor’s Express. “The Tony-winning orchestrations of Bob Dylan’s songs lift them into a place of transcendent beauty.”
Oglethorpe students have garnered consistent praise for their performances in these highly anticipated productions, and the productions themselves have also received critical acclaim. The 2023 production of “Urinetown” was widely praised; OU students Tatum McBride ’26 and Emma Jean Scott ’25 received nominations for their performances from The Suzi Bass Awards and Broadway World Atlanta, respectively. ArtsATL called the production “Atlanta’s first truly must-see, 10-out-of-10 production” that year.
“The Girl from the North Country” will be on stage Jan. 29 through Mar. 8, 2026. Tickets on sale now at Actor’s Express.
