Opening Night - West End Tickets, News, Info & More
The incomparable Sheridan Smith returns to musical theatre in the world premiere of Opening Night from the creative minds of Rufus Wainwright, one of the most acclaimed songwriters of his generation, and celebrated director Ivo van Hove.
Based on John Cassavetes' legendary film, Opening Night follows a theatre company's preparations to stage a major new play on Broadway. But drama ignites behind the scenes when their leading lady is rocked by tragedy, and her personal turmoil forces everybody to deliver the performance of their lives.
This beautifully rich new musical premieres at London's Gielgud Theatre for a strictly limited run from 6 March 2024.
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Signed: Saturday 20 April 2024 2.30pm
Opening Night - West End Cast
FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Opening Night
Opening Night review: Sheridan Smith exquisitely self-destructs in weird meta-West End musical
6 / 10
Anyone who bought tickets to Opening Night in the hope of seeing its star Sheridan Smith treating us to a bit of thespy, Funny Girl-style razzle dazzle is in for a serious shock. Belgian avant-garde theatre director Ivo Van Hove’s musical, set backstage during a show, is determinedly unflashy and oblique, dimly illuminated by singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright’s operatic torch songs. In fact, it feels a bit like the whole cast is trolling musical theatre fans: they linger like bedraggled pigeons in the corners of a vast unornamented stage, capturing the inertia, rather than the glamour, of backstage life. It’s flawed, but intermittently haunting.
Opening Night review
3 / 10
A strange adaptation of a strange film, for a show with so many cameras onstage, this new musical displays a maddening lack of focus. Directed and written by Ivo van Hove, with songs by singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, it’s based on John Cassavetes’ avant-garde 1977 movie, in which a famous actor preparing for the opening of a new Broadway-bound play loses her grip on reality and runs amok. The wayward plot involves a ghostly girl, the spectre of old age, hunger for love, and copious amounts of booze – all laced with lashings of meta-drama. But if Cassavetes’ original succeeds in compelling, thanks largely to striking cinematography and a raw performance from Gena Rowlands, this version, which features live video footage, is so aimless and tonally muddled that it feels downright weird. Which might be less of a problem if it were not ultimately a bit boring.
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OPENING NIGHT Starring Sheridan Smith Will End its West End Run Early
by Stephi Wild - April 11, 2024
by Stephi Wild - April 11, 2024
The new musical John Cassavetes’ OPENING NIGHT will now end its run at the Gielgud Theatre on Saturday 18 May 2024.
Review Roundup: Ivo Van Hove, Rufus Wainwright Musical OPENING NIGHT Opens In London
by A.A. Cristi - March 26, 2024
by A.A. Cristi - March 26, 2024
Read reviews for the World Premiere of John Cassavetes’ OPENING NIGHT a new musical with book by Ivo Van Hove and music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright, starring Sheridan Smith.
Review: OPENING NIGHT, Gielgud Theatre
by Aliya Al-Hassan - March 26, 2024
by Aliya Al-Hassan - March 26, 2024
Now a stage musical, John Cassavetes’ 1977 film Opening Night was a commercial flop when it was released, later becoming something of a cult classic of American independent cinema. Director Ivo Van Hove specialises in bringing work to the stage that may be called “challenging”. Challenging can be hugely successful, but I’ve rarely seen a production more determined to confuse and frustrate an audience.
Photos: First Look At Sheridan Smith And More In John Cassavetes' OPENING NIGHT
by A.A. Cristi - March 22, 2024
by A.A. Cristi - March 22, 2024
See photos of the World Premiere of John Cassavetes’ OPENING NIGHT a new musical with book by Ivo Van Hove and music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright, starring Sheridan Smith.
Photos: First Look at OPENING NIGHT Starring Sheridan Smith
by Stephi Wild - March 12, 2024
by Stephi Wild - March 12, 2024
All new photos have been released from the World Premiere of John Cassavetes’ OPENING NIGHT, a new musical with book by Ivo Van Hove and music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright, starring Sheridan Smith. Check out the photos here!
Listen: Sheridan Smith Performs 'Magic' From New Musical OPENING NIGHT
by Stephi Wild - February 29, 2024
by Stephi Wild - February 29, 2024
Performances begin next week for the World Premiere of John Cassavetes’ Opening Night, a new musical with book by Ivo van Hove and music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright, starring Sheridan Smith. Smith recently appeared on the Front Row podcast from BBC, where she performed the song 'Magic' from the musical. Listen here!
No Booking Fee: OPENING NIGHT, Starring Sheridan Smith
by Aliya Al-Hassan - January 25, 2024
by Aliya Al-Hassan - January 25, 2024
No fees to pay for Opening Night tickets.
Benjamin Walker, Rebecca Thornhill, and More Join the Cast of the World Premiere of OPENING NIGHT
by Stephi Wild - January 18, 2024
by Stephi Wild - January 18, 2024
Full casting has been announced for the World Premiere of John Cassavetes' OPENING NIGHT, a new musical with book by Ivo van Hove and music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright.
Shira Haas, Hadley Fraser, Amy Lennox and More Join OPENING NIGHT at the Gielgud Theatre
by Stephi Wild - December 14, 2023
by Stephi Wild - December 14, 2023
Further casting has been announced for the World Premiere of John Cassavetes' OPENING NIGHT, a new musical with book by Ivo van Hove and music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright. Find out who is starring in the show here!
Tickets From £24 for OPENING NIGHT, Starring Sheridan Smith
by Aliya Al-Hassan - November 14, 2023
by Aliya Al-Hassan - November 14, 2023
The incomparable Sheridan Smith returns to musical theatre in the world premiere of Opening Night from the creative minds of Rufus Wainwright, one of the most acclaimed songwriters of his generation, and celebrated director Ivo van Hove.
Opening Night FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long has Opening Night been running on the West End?
Opening Night opened at the Gielgud Theatre on Wednesday Mar 06, 2024 and has now been running for 1 month.
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