What does Press Opening mean?
Press Opening is the theatrical performance designated as the official opening night for critical review purposes — the performance to which press critics are invited and from which published reviews will be written. Press openings follow a preview period during which the production is performed before paying audiences but not formally open for review. The distinction reflects the theatrical tradition of using previews for final refinements before committing to the critical record that opening night creates.
Example:The cast had been performing in previews for three weeks, making adjustments based on audience response, before the press opening night — the performance that would determine the critical reception shaping the production’s commercial prospects.
Example: The child actor’s parents attended the press opening with a mix of excitement and anxiety — understanding that the reviews published in the following days would significantly affect how long the production ran and whether their daughter’s performance received recognition.
Did you know?
The preview period preceding a Broadway press opening has grown significantly longer over recent decades as the financial stakes of negative critical reception have increased. Major Broadway musicals now commonly run four to eight weeks of previews, using the extended period to make substantial changes before facing the critics — a practice that has fundamentally changed the economics and creative process of Broadway production.
You can also find “Press Opening” and related terms in this category: Theater Acting.
