Follow a family’s journey through the Underground Railroad
The Lied Center is thrilled to present and serve as the lead commissioner of an exciting new musical, for young audiences and adults alike, with an important story to tell. A story of relationships, grit, betrayal, ingenuity, joy and, above all, humanity—NORTH The Musical will make its world premiere on the Lied Center stage.
Created by musician, writer and arts educator Ashli St. Armant, NORTH follows the journey of a precocious teenage boy and his young mother as they escape the Deep South and travel North through the Underground Railroad seeking freedom.
Their route through the Louisiana bayous, the bustling city of New Orleans, and the young town of Lawrence, Kansas introduces the characters and the audience to the diverse, multifaceted lives of Black Americans during this time period. Set in the 1850s, NORTH is based on actual accounts of slave escapes through the Underground Railroad network as well as Ms. St. Armant’s personal family history of overcoming slavery in Louisiana.
While acknowledging the realities of slavery, the book and original musical compositions bring out the full experience of freedom-seekers: optimism, bravery, playfulness, wonder, suspense and mystery.
Join us for the world premiere!
