Sheridan Smith is set to star in Opening Night at the Gielgud Theatre, a West End musical based on John Cassavetes’ 1977 film with songs from Rufus Wainwright.
Ivo van Hove will direct the psychological drama which will see Smith star as Myrtle Gordon (a role originally taken by Gena Rowlands), an alcoholic actress who is haunted by a fan who has died.
Van Hove directed a version without songs in 2006 for a theatre in the Netherlands but Wainwright’s compositions will see it become a musical when it opens next year.
Smith said: “The chance to work with the musical genius that is Rufus Wainwright and one of the world’s greatest stage directors Ivo van Hove was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and quite frankly if they’d asked me to read out the back of a cereal packet I’d have been there!
“But, I couldn’t be more thrilled to be cast in this fantastic original musical and to play the complex and challenging character of Myrtle.”
👀 March 6th, tickets on sale now pic.twitter.com/8scnMDYqm4
— Sheridan Smith (@Sheridansmith1) November 10, 2023
The 42-year-old actress was last on stage earlier this year in Shirley Valentine at the Duke of York’s Theatre. Previously, she was the narrator in Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat at London Palladium in a 2019 stint.
Tickets are on sale now for the play which will be held at Gielgud Theatre from March 6 until July 27.
Belgian director Van Hove returns to London for the first time since putting on Électre/Oreste at the Noel Coward Theatre in 2019.
He added: “It is a dream come true to collaborate with the wonderful Rufus Wainwright, whose work I have been a fan of for so many years.
“We connected over our shared love of the incredible John Cassavetes film Opening Night and it has long been an ambition of ours to bring a musical version to the stage.
“Opening Night not only gives us an insight into the trials and tribulations behind the scenes of the theatre, but it is also the heartbreaking story of a woman fighting for hope and self-determination in a world that doesn’t want to listen.”
