Sheridan Smith is to star in a musical by Rufus Wainwright based on John Cassavetes’ 1977 film Opening Night, about an actor struggling with her new stage role.
Van Hove staged a play based on Opening Night in 2006 with the company Toneelgroep Amsterdam (now Internationaal Theater Amsterdam), which he led as artistic director.
A scene from Opening Night inspired the 24-hour show The Second Woman, staged in London this year with Ruth Wilson.
Wainwright said the film “has long been a shining beacon representing both excellence in cinema and the might of live theatre.