Opening Night - A New Musical Tickets

British actress Sheridan Smith, of Shirley Valentine, Legally Blonde and Mrs Biggs fame, is back in town with a fresh new musical theatre treat. This is the world premiere of Opening Night by the songwriter and performer Rufus Wainwright and the multi-award winning director Ivo van Hove, based on the 1977 movie of the same name. The show’s on at the Gielgud Theatre for a strictly limited run, from 6th March to 27th July 2024.

Opening Night tickets – Based on the movie

Opening Night is a 1977 US psychological drama movie written and directed by John Cassavetes, who also played a role in the film. It follows an actress who’s working on the Broadway premiere of a major new show, who witnesses the death of one of her fans and then becomes haunted by the dead woman, drinking even more than usual and sliding towards a breakdown. It’s taut, dramatic and tense, and this updated version of the story is designed to thrill.

See Sheridan Smith in Opening Night

Sheridan Smith first appeared on TV in 1999 as Matilda in ITV's Dark Ages, and she has seldom been off the screen and stage since. Heartbeat, Where the Heart Is, Holby City, The Bill, and The Royle Family made her famous, and Gavin & Stacey set the scene for an even more glittering career.

She’s no stranger to the stage, with West End roles in 2007’s Little Shop of Horrors, 2010’s Legally Blonde, 2016’s Funny Girl, and a 2019 stint in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Also a singer, her debut album came out in 2017 and the second album the year after.

Two Olivier Awards, a British Academy Television Award, a National Television Award, BPG Award, and two International Emmy Award nominations set her reputation in stone, and in 2015 she was awarded an OBE.

All about Opening Night – taut and tense

What's the story of Opening Night: A New Musical? You’ll follow a theatre company’s preparations for the premiere of a new Broadway show, The Second Woman. Household name actor Myrtle Gordon is well known and wealthy, but troubled. After leaving the theatre one day, the middle-aged actress is signing autographs for her fans. One of them, an obsessive teen, runs into the street after Myrtle and gets knocked down by a car.

Later Myrtle starts seeing the girl’s ghost, and the more often she sees the spectre the more her performance and mental health decline. Faced with potential disaster, everyone is forced to give the performance of their lives. 

The full Opening Night cast and creative team

The remainder of the cast will be announced nearer the time.

The Music and Lyrics are by Rufus Wainwright. The Book is by Ivo van Hove, who also conceived the idea and directs the production. The Associate Director is Daniel Raggett.

Set, Lighting and Video Design are by Jan Versweyveld, and the Costume Design by An D’Huys. Sound Design comes from Tom Gibbons and Alex Twiselton. The Orchestrations are by Rufus Wainwright, with Musical Supervision and Musical Direction by Nigel Lilley. The Movement and Choreography comes from Polly Bennett. The Casting by Julia Horan CDG.

Tickets for Opening Night available now

It’s easy to buy tickets for Opening Night on our site, where everything is simple, fast and secure. You’ll show your etickets at the venue on the day, and we’re here to help if you have any problems.