Get a 1st Look at London's Rufus Wainwright Musical, Opening Night | Playbill

Production Photos Get a 1st Look at London's Rufus Wainwright Musical, Opening Night

The singer-songwriter has teamed with director and book writer Ivo van Hove to bring the 1977 John Cassavetes film to the stage.

Sheridan Smith Jan Versweyveld

London's new stage musical Opening Night is currently making its world premiere at the Gielgud Theatre, where it will celebrate its opening March 26. Get a first look at the new production above and below.

Directed and conceived by Ivo van Hove, the work features a score by Rufus Wainwright and a book by van Hove. Performances are set to continue through July 27.

Based on John Cassavetes' 1977 film of the same name, the musical follows Myrtle, a famous actor sent into turmoil after witnessing the sudden death of one of her fans while starring in a new Broadway play. The project is at least the second time van Hove has brought the movie to the stage, following an earlier non-musical iteration that played Toneelgroep Amsterdam, where van Hove is artistic director, in 2006; and NYC's Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2008.

Sheridan Smith leads the cast as Myrtle, opposite Nicola Hughes as Sarah, Benjamin Walker as Maurice, Amy Lennox as Dorothee, Shira Haas as Nancy, Hadley Fraser as Manny, John Marquez as David, Rebecca Thornhill as Kelly, Cilla Silvia as Carla, Ian McLarnon as Leo, and Jos Slovick as Gus. The ensemble includes Robert Finlayson, Daniel Forrester, Jennifer Hepburn, Chrissie Perkins, and Issy Khogali.

Sheridan Smith Jan Versweyveld

Like van Hove's earlier adaptation of the film, the musical production features set and lighting design by Jan Versweyveld and costume design by An D'Huys. The production also includes video design by Versweyveld and sound design by Tom Gibbons and Alex Twiselton. Wainwright has penned his own orchestrations, with Nigel Lilley handling music supervision and music direction. Movement and choreography are by Polly Bennett. Casting is by Julia Horan.

Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions, and Playful Productions produce.

Visit OpeningNightMusical.com.

Sheridan Smith Jan Versweyveld
 
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