Rufus Wainwright Shares New Song From Cassavetes Musical

Last year, Tony Award-winning director Ivo van Hove’s John Cassavetes’ Opening Night, scored by Rufus Wainwright, premiered at the Gielgud Theater last year. According to a press release, the Opening Night musical adapts Cassavetes’ “story of an actress who risks madness for her truth.” Now, the original cast album, taped across four performances in London, is set to release next month and will be celebrated with a one-night-only concert at New York’s Town Hall on September 15. Darren Criss, Patti LuPone, and Sara Bareilles are set to star. New single “Married,” which releases onto streaming tomorrow (the date of Wainwright’s wedding anniversary, is performed by Olivier Award-nominated actress Amy Lennox.

Listen to “Married” and check out our Q&A with Wainwright below.

Paste Magazine: Tell us a little bit about the show Opening Night and the cast album coming out in September.

Rufus Wainwright: Opening Night by Cassavetes is one of my all time favorite movies. Gena Rowlands’ performance is seared into my mind. Ivo van Hove had the idea of doing a musical of the piece, we did it, it premiered in London, it was a bit of a struggle, but like all interesting art, it desires to live, so I’m bringing it to New York.

Tell us about the moment the show when the song “Married” happens a bit about the character.

Her name is Dorothy and she is the wife of the director, and he’s not a very good husband, but still she loves him, and struggles with that conundrum.

What does it mean to you to have this cast album come out with a New York concert in September?

It means the world to me. Opening Night is such a New York story, and with the fact that it will be just a stone’s throw away from Broadway, I think it will be a very spiritual experience. I put so much energy and time and blood into these songs. I’m excited for them to come here.

How does it feel to have the single “Married” come out the same day as your anniversary with your husband?

My husband and I have been married for many years now and have gone through all the ups and downs. The song reflects some of the valleys of what that experience can be like, but thankfully, my peaks are tremendous.

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