Opening Night (2016 film)

The stage manager of the Broadway play 'One Hit Wonderland', Nick, looks at mementos of the playbill 'Brazilia' and photobooth pictures before heading to work. Outside of the theater dancer Malcolm teases chorus girl Chloe, Nick's ex, about her hookup the previous night but she refuses to say anything.

Inside things are chaotic. Nick's assistant Alex gets nervous about a blown bulb, a dancer has a meltdown over a lost pet, a musician seeks a fix, foul-mouthed Brandy and Malcolm bicker over men, just minutes before the opening curtain Mitch has to get the headliner J.C. to focus by ousting chorus girls from his dressing room.

Mitch Goldmeyer, Nick's boss, comes backstage to put the pressure on. Crossing with Brooke, the other headliner, she and everyone else acknowledge her stardom is fading.

Nick is upset to discover Chloe had had sex with J.C., albeit while drunk. Telling Malcolm, he points out that he broke it off a year ago, when she wanted them to move in together after four years. The dancers then all tease Nick to 'Bust a Move'.

Brooke is accidentally knocked out by Ron from props, so Chloe steps in as the understudy. Nick is not very encouraging, but she doesn't realise it's because he fears her further contact with J.C. Although for a moment Chloe seems frozen, she becomes unstuck and nails it. When Nick congratulates her, she snubs him.

Malcolm goes into detail with Nick about his hookup with Brandy's boyfriend. Brandy confronts him, and she proposes they compete to see who's the first to be successful in seducing someone. Malcolm chooses fellow dancer Xavier, who he says is bi.

J.C. asks Nick to send Chloe to his dressing room to 'rehearse' during intermission, making it clear he has other intentions. Meanwhile, checking on Brooke, Nick gives her two pills he thinks are aspirin from Lee the stage medic's jacket, but are actually ecstasy. Unable to get her to vomit them up, he leaves Ron to keep her in the dressing room.

Xavier recognises Nick from 'Brasilia' from years ago, making him uncomfortable. Malcolm approaches the other dancer and, under the guise of giving physio touches his privates while propositioning him. Brandy sees Xavier leaving him, but Malcolm insists he's still in the running. Brooke, as the ecstasy kicks in, escapes Ron. Frantically searching for her, someone sees her on a small stage lift so Nick gets her out, but ends up onstage himself.

Intermission comes and Chloe goes into J.C.'s dressing room. His serenade fails, nor does he impress her, but he opens up so she leaves seeing him more positively. Malcolm and his crew have a face off with Brandy's for Xavier, who chooses him. After her final scene, Chloe sees Brooke, who forewarns her that not only is she her downfall but she's got her first big break.

Mitch confirms the job offer to Chloe, she is initially dazed, but soon is packing up her stuff. Nick sees her, and is dismayed she's going to leave NYC. Chloe confesses she still loves him, but he doesn't meet her halfway. She goes out to say her goodbyes, while Nick complains to Malcolm, who loses his temper. When he tries to blame his life on the one-hit-wonder concept, like Chloe, Malcolm says if he doesn't take chances he'll never move ahead.

Finally inspired, Nick stomps onto the stage and for the first time since Brazilia closed he sings. He serenades Chloe with 'To be with You' and they kiss.

In November 2014, it was revealed that Taye Diggs had joined the cast of One Shot, with shooting set to begin in Mexico City.[2] In 2016, the name of the film was changed to Opening Night, before its premier at Los Angeles Film Festival as part of the Limelight section.[3] On October 26, 2016, the first official red band trailer was released to the internet.[2]

• Opening Night at IMDb
• Opening Night at Rotten Tomatoes