Chiara Trentalange and Ben Biggers / photo by Evan Zimmerman of MurphyMade
Later this month, the Philadelphia premiere of the Tony-winning musical Girl From the North Country, comes to the Forrest Theatre. The musical reimagines some of Bob Dylan’s legendary songs in a story set in 1934 about a group of travelers who meet one another in a boarding house.
Cast member Chiara Trentalange (who plays Kate Draper on tour) was born and raised in the Philadelphia area, she was also a part of the Broadway run of Girl From the North Country. We talked to Chiara about her early theatre experiences in Philadelphia, what it’s like to be a Broadway swing, and her plans while she’s back home.
Girl From the North Country is in Philadelphia from February 27th to March 10th. Tickets can be purchased by calling 212-239-6200, visiting www.telecharge.com or at the Forrest Theatre box office (1114 Walnut Street).
Q: What part of Philadelphia are you from? Do you currently live here?
A: I’m from The Bucks County area, Lower Southampton Township to be precise. I no longer live in the area, but some of my closest family are still there or in neighboring counties so I’m home to visit a lot.
Q: What was your first Philly-area theatre experience?
A: My first Philly-area theatre experience was probably when I auditioned for a production of Annie at The Bucks County Playhouse. I had done a few theatre camps/dance classes in the area. When my mom and I saw that they were holding auditions at BCP, I knew I had to go. After that production, I was definitely bit by the bug, as they say, and I continued performing there my young adult life.
Q: You were a swing and dance captain in the Broadway cast of Girl From the North Country. What would a typical day look like for you at the theatre?
A: Being a swing and dance captain on Broadway is a very unpredictable life, especially during the height of Covid. A typical day could range from staying backstage and brushing up on the material for the three tracks that I covered, and/or holding a rehearsal before the show to go over new traffic patterns if people were swinging on, and/or swinging on myself and preparing to perform in the show! So much work is put into “the show going on” no matter who may be sick or who has to call out that day for other personal reasons. It’s all extremely rewarding at the end of the day.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your role on tour as Kate Draper? As a swing on Broadway, how often did you end up playing Kate during the NYC run?
A: Kate Draper is a character that makes a brief appearance in the show. Her interaction with the character of Gene Laine says so much about their relationship and the depth of emotion they are both experiencing at that specific time in American history. It depicts the complications of being two young people navigating life and love in the midst of the depression. I was able to perform in the role a good amount of times on Broadway. My family came up from Philly to see it. It was a dream come true.
Q: Do you have a favorite Bob Dylan song? Does it appear in the show?
A: My favorite Bob Dylan song is “Simple Twist of Fate”. It always has been since I was a teenager and started listening to his music. And it’s not in the show! But GFTNC has such amazing songs…a lot of them I knew going into it, and some I had never heard of at all. I love how being a part of this show has expanded my knowledge of Dylan’s catalogue.
Q: Why do you think Dylan’s songs work so well on the Broadway stage?
A: The songs in GFTNC work incredibly well and in a way I have never seen songs work on stage. Instead of being taken literally, like in most musical theatre pieces, the songs work as another abstract artistic element. They come alive and provide a window into the emotional world of the characters. The lyrics and melodies create an environment and set a tone, sweeping the audience into the realm of the play.
Q: Are there any Philly spots you’re looking forward to visiting or telling your castmates about?
A: My brother and his family live in South Philly, so I’m excited to visit and walk along Passyunk Ave. They belong to The Palizzi, an Italian social club in South Philly with the most excellent food and vibe… so I’ll be tagging along for a night out there. And will definitely be hitting up Steve’s Prince of Steaks while in the area!
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