Further casting announced for new West End musical ‘Opening Night’

BAFTA and Olivier Award-winner Sheridan Smith will be joined by Shira Haas, star of Netflix's Unorthodox, and West End regular Hadley Fraser, among others.

New musical Opening Night, starring Sheridan Smith, has revealed further casting ahead of its run at the Gielgud Theatre from 6 March next year.

West End regular Hadley Fraser, who originated the role of Tiernan in The Pirate Queen on Broadway and has starred in The Lehman Trilogy, City of Angels, and Les Misérables, joins the cast, alongside the star of Netflix’s hit series Unorthodox Shira Haas, who makes her West End debut. Olivier Award nominees Nicola Hughes and Amy Lennox, and John Marquez, who recently played Alfred Doolittle in Pygmalion at the Old Vic, complete the casting announcement.

The new musical has a book by Ivo van Hove, director of the recent West End run of Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life, and music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. Van Hove also directs.

“I am truly delighted to be bringing this new musical to the West End and thrilled we’ve assembled such a stellar cast to join Sheridan,” said van Hove in a statement. “It is a real privilege to be collaborating with the wonderful Rufus Wainwright, fulfilling our ambition of bringing this tale of the trials and tribulations behind the scenes of the theatre to the stage.”

Based on John Cassavetes' 1977 film, Opening Night follows a theatre company's preparations to stage a new play on Broadway. But when the leading lady is hit by tragedy, drama ignites behind the scenes and her turmoil forces everyone in the company to deliver the performance of their lives.

Further casting is to be announced.

Book Opening Night tickets on London Theatre.

Photo credit: the cast of Opening Night. (Photo by Justine Matthew)