Ashli St. Armant is known for her award-winning work in children's education and entertainment, including her band Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards. NORTH: The Musical is St. Armant's debut theatrical production and was co-commissioned by four performing arts centers: Chandler Center for the Arts, Lied Center of Kansas (Lawrence, Kansas), Segerstrom Center for the Arts (Orange County, California) and Playhouse Square (Cleveland, Ohio). This was the first time that Chandler Center for the Arts invested in an artist's work in this way.

“It is exciting to be a part of this project,” says Michelle Mac Lennan, General Manager at Chandler Center for the Arts. “What Ashli has created is stunning. This is a story with incredible heart.”

After four years of writing and composing, St. Armant emerged with an original piece of work that follows the journey of a teenage boy named Lawrence and his mother Minnie as they flee the South along the complex network of the Underground Railroad to get to the North.

NORTH follows Lawrence and his mother, Minnie, as they escape the Deep South and travel North through the Underground Railroad to find freedom. With a route that takes them through Louisiana’s bayous, the bustling city of New Orleans, and the young town of Lawrence, Kansas, St. Armant’s fresh and original music reflects the optimism, bravery, wonder, and suspense of freedom seekers.

To complement the story, the musical genres in NORTH are equal parts jazz, musical theatre, and St. Armant’s own signature style. For inspiration, she drew from an array of musical heroes, including Nat King Cole, Mahalia Jackson, Fela Kuti, and Stephen Sondheim. Songs include “Never,” “Git On Board,”“Oh What These Trees Have Seen,” “On The Run,” “Head Straight, Shoulders Back,” and more.

Backstage at the Center host Cynde Cerf, interviewed Ashli St. Armant, the creator, composer and director of North: The Musical. This is Armant's theatrical debut, tackling slavery and the underground railroad, relationships, grit, joy and being human. With a score inspired by jazz, New Orleans and Black roots music.

"I think this work is really about conversation" says Ashli. "Because it's sparked so many for me and people keep telling me it's sparking conversations for them too."

North: The Musical premiered in Arizona for the first time ever on Friday, November 4, 2022. Listen to hear the full the interview, where the inspiration for this beautiful piece of art came from, St. Armant's hopes for what this musical will bring to others and all the people, ideas, and research that it took to bring this piece together.