Opening Night
Adapted from John Cassavetes
Directed by Cyril Teste
Starring Isabelle Adjani, Morgan Lloyd Sicard, Frédéric Pierrot
THEATER
US Premiere
Thu, Sep 12 at 7:30pm
Fri, Sep 13* at 7:30pm
Sat, Sep 14 at 7:30pm
*Post-performance
conversation on Sep 13
FIAF Florence Gould Hall
55 East 59th Street, NYC
SOLD OUT
Stand-by tickets will be released on a first-come first-served basis.
View Ticket Details
Individual Tickets
FIAF Members: $55
Non Members: $65
Students / Under 30: $45
CTL 2-Pack
FIAF Members: $65
Non Members: $80
Students / Under 30: $50
Discounted package includes a ticket to Opening Night plus a ticket to your choice of one of these shows: Isadora Duncan on Wed, Sep 25, Radio Live on Wed, Oct 2, or When Birds Refused to Fly on Thu, Oct 10. All shows are at 7:30pm.
“A striking theatrical UFO — successful, but still rich in all possibilities.”
Les Echos
Iconic French actress Isabelle Adjani makes her long-awaited New York theatrical debut with Morgan Lloyd Sicard and Frédéric Pierrot in a riveting cross-media adaption of John Cassavetes’ Opening Night.
The not-to-be-missed launch of Crossing the Line Festival 2019 is directed by Cyril Teste, recognized as one of France’s most exciting new voices for his signature performance-filmique technique.
In her first major return to the stage, Adjani portrays a famous actress confronting age in a brave performance that mirrors her own life. Teste creates a powerful experiment where he changes stage directions every night to dig deeper into Cassavetes’ brilliant screenplay, and the actors are challenged with each performance.
85 min
In French with English supertitles
Meet Isabelle Adjani on Thu, Sep 12
FIAF Premier Members are invited to meet the cast and director following the performance on Thursday.
Post-Show Conversation on Fri, Sep 13
Featuring director Cyril Teste and Al Ruban, producer and cinematographer of Cassavetes’ Opening Night film.
Pre-Show Party & Backstage Tour on Sat, Sep 14
Enjoy a wine reception from 5:30–7pm and a backstage tour at 6pm as part of FIAF's Open House. Tour on first-come first-served basis, open to Saturday ticket holders only. Members get priority.
View Production Credits
Adaptation: John Cassavetes’ screenplay
Stage director: Cyril Teste
Cast: Isabelle Adjani, Morgan Lloyd Sicard, Frédéric Pierrot
with the participation of Zoé Adjani
Translation: Daniel Loayza, Nicholas Elliott
Artistic collaborator: Valérie Six
Dramaturgical advisor: Daniel Loayza, Marion Pellissier
Scenography: Ramy Fischler
Light designer and general stage management: Julien Boizard
Original soundtrack: Nihil Bordures
Video: Nicolas Doremus, Mehdi Toutain-Lopez
Real time video: Nicolas Doremus
Sound engineer: Thibault Lamy
Costumes: Agnès b.
Collaboration costumes: Katia Ferreira
Hair and make-up [Kelly]: Laurence Azouvy
Olfactory illustrator: Francis Kurkdjian
Floral creation: Sébastien Barrancos and Jerome Briday, Flowers and Creations
Stage director assistant: Céline Gaudier
Scenography assistant: Nina Chalot
Stage manager [Leo]: Guillaume Allory
Sound manager: Thibault Lamy
Light and olfactive manager: Laurent Bénard
Video manager: Claire Roygnan
Executive producer: Nicolas Roux
Production manager: Julie Salles
International distributor: Julie Le Gall - Bureau Cokot
National press office: Rémi Fort / Myra
Press relation Collectif MxM: Olivier Saksik
Production Le Quai Centre Dramatique National Angers Pays de la Loire
Co-production with Collectif MxM / Les Célestins - Théâtre de Lyon / Bonlieu Scène nationale Annecy / Théâtre du Gymnase - Bernardines, Marseille / Théâtre de St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Scène nationale / Théâtre-Sénart, Scène nationale / Festival Romaeuropa / Théâtre de Namur, La Coop et Shelter Prod with the support of Taxshelter.be, ING and tax-shelter from the Belgian federal government
Co-operation with C.I.C.T. - Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, Paris
With the support of Agnès b., Maison Francis Kurkdjian and salon Messieurs-Dames
Special thanks to Al Ruban, who was Director of Photography of John Cassavetes (including on Opening Night). The piece is based on the original script before shooting, which remained unpublished until now.
Special thanks to Anaïs Cartier, Coline Dervieux, Francine Jacob, Joël Jouanneau, Chloé Regenwetter
The first readings took place in the Villa Cavrois, as part of Monuments en movement, in partnership with Théâtre du Nord. Set building by L’Entrepool, direction Vincent.
Premiered at the Théâtre de Namur, Belgium on February 22, 2019. French premiere at CDN Le Quai, Angers on March 7, 2019. The show then went on tour.

Opening Night’s presentation is supported by the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès within the framework of the New Settings program. Launched in 2011, New Settings supports new performing arts productions that shift borders between disciplines to create innovative art forms.
All photos © Simon Gosselin
