
This production is recommended for ages 12+.
Performance dates
31 July - 21 September 2025
Run time: 1hr 40mins. Latecomers may not be admitted
No interval
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Good Night, Oscar London tickets
The Tony Award winning production, Good Night, Oscar, transfers to London’s West End for a strictly limited seven week run. Playing at the Barbican this summer, Emmy Award-winner Sean Hayes reprises his ‘virtuosic tour de force’ (Entertainment Weekly) performance as Oscar Levant. Don’t sleep on your chance to see Good Night, Oscar. Book your official tickets today.
About Good Night, Oscar
Set against the high-stakes glamour of late-night television, this critically acclaimed production delves into the whirlwind genius of Oscar Levant—pianist, comedian, and the ultimate talk show wildcard.
It’s 1958, and Jack Paar hosts the hottest late-night talk-show on television. As the cameras roll and the audience waits in eager anticipation, Oscar takes center stage for an unforgettable night of music, wit, and unfiltered truth. But behind the laughter and showmanship lies a deeper, more complex reality. With rapid-fire humour and breathtaking musical moments, Good Night, Oscar explores the price of genius and the fine line between brilliance and turmoil.
Don’t miss this thrilling Barbican production, where one man’s struggle for authenticity collides with the world’s insatiable appetite for entertainment.
Who was Oscar Levant?
“Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m schizophrenic, and so am I” - Oscar Levant
Oscar Levant was a one-of-a-kind blend of musical genius, razor-sharp wit, and neurotic charm. Born in 1906, he was a piano prodigy who quickly made a name for himself as one of the most gifted interpreters of George Gershwin’s music. In fact, he was not only a close friend of Gershwin but also one of the foremost champions of his work, performing Rhapsody in Blue and Concerto in F with an effortless flair that left audiences spellbound. In fact, Rhapsody in Blue remains one of the best-selling albums in Columbia Music’s history!
But Levant was far more than just a brilliant pianist—he was a composer, conductor, and occasional actor, gracing over a dozen Hollywood films like An American in Paris and The Band Wagon. When he wasn’t playing other people, he was very much himself. He was famously public about his battles with mental health, and talked about it with his trademark dry wit - 'I was once thrown out of a mental hospital for depressing the other patients.'
Levant soon became as famous for his quick, self-deprecating wit as he was for his piano playing. He became a mainstay on radio and television, delivering punchlines that were as sharp as his musical phrasing. Whether it was quipping, “There's a fine line between genius and insanity—I have erased this line,” or roasting Hollywood elites with biting one-liners, Levant was a master of comedic timing. He brought a neurotic, intellectual energy to everything he did, making him a beloved—and slightly terrifying—presence in an era when show business was all about polish and perfection. Though he often claimed he was "a self-made man who worships his creator," there was no denying that Levant’s blend of talent, humour, and unfiltered honesty made him a legend in his own right.
Facts and critical acclaim
- Good Night, Oscar was nominated for three Tony Awards, with Sean Hayes picking up the win for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play.
- Sean Hayes is the recipient of a Tony, Emmy, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award - to name just a few!
- “Sean Hayes’ performance demands to be seen” - Variety
- “A revelation” - Chicago Tribune
Good Night, Oscar Cast
- Oscar Levant - Sean Hayes
- Jack Parr - Ben Rappaport
- Alvin Finney - David Adeosun
- George Gershwin - David Burnett
- Bob Sarnoff - Richard Katz
- Max Weinbaum - Eric Sirakian
Good Night, Oscar Creatives
- Playwright - Doug Wright
- Director - Lisa Peterson
Content
This production contains adult topics, including depictions of mental health conditions, prescribed drug abuse, strong language and the use of fake cigarettes.Special notes
Latecomers may not be admitted
Access
BSL Performance: 23 August 2025 at 14:30. Captioned Performance: 27 August 2025 at 19:00. Audio Described: 5 September 2025 at 19:00.Latest Good Night, Oscar News

Celebrities / Casting / New Shows + Transfers
Who will be joining Sean Hayes in Good Night, Oscar?
As previously announced, Sean Hayes will make his West End debut at the Barbican Theatre in Good Night, Oscar, reprising the role of Oscar Levant - a turn that earned him his first Tony Award in 2023.
Written by Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright and directed by Lisa Peterson (F*ck7thGrade), Good Night, Oscar is set in 1958 and explores one unforgettable night on a late-night talk show. At the center of the drama is the brilliant, eccentric, and often volatile Oscar Levant.
It won’t only be Hayes making the leap across the pond. Ben Rappaport, who played the legendary talk show host Jack Paar on Broadway will also be treading the boards at the Barbican. Reflecting on his return to the role, Rappaport said, “Returning to Good Night, Oscar and stepping back into this world alongside Sean is an absolute gift. The chance to share this story with London audiences at the Barbican this summer is going to be very exciting.”
24 Apr, 2025 | By Sian McBride
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