Overview
Synopsis
Boston, 1959. At the Colonial Theatre, the cast of Robbin’ Hood takes their bows on opening night. Just as the curtain falls, so does Jessica Cranshaw, the profoundly untalented leading lady of the production. Enter Lieutenant Frank Cioffi, a fast-talking cop with a love for musical theatre. He quarantines the cast and crew inside the theatre while he searches for clues. But Cioffi doesn’t just investigate the murder--he also offers advice and insight into improving Robbin’ Hood. The musical will open again in 24 hours with a new leading lady, so the clock is ticking to find the killer and put on a killer show. Who could it be? Carmen Bernstein, the sassy and brassy producer? Christopher Belling, the campy and egotistical director? Georgia Hendricks, the lyricist who replaces Jessica onstage? Niki Harris, the ingenue with a secret? Everyone is a suspect, and only Cioffi can make sense of the evidence. Curtains is a musical-theatre parody of whodunnit classics, with numbers ranging from the classic musical theatre song-and-dance “A Tough Act to Follow” to the heartfelt “I Miss the Music.” A comedic send-up suitable for all ages, Curtains will have the audience laughing until the last curtain falls.
Show Information
- Book
- Rupert Holmes
- Music
- John Kander
- Lyrics
- Fred Ebb
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2006
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- February 1959, Boston, Colonial Theatre
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Theatrical Rights Worldwide
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act I
- Overture - The Orchestra
- Wide Open Spaces - Randy Dexter, Niki Harris, Jessica Cranshaw, Bobby Pepper and Ensemble
- What Kind of Man? - Carmen Bernstein, Oscar Shapiro, Aaron Fox and Georgia Hendricks
- Thinking of Him - Georgia, Aaron and Bobby
- The Woman's Dead - Entire Company
- Show People - Carmen, Lieutenant Frank Cioffi and Company
- Coffee Shop Nights - Cioffi
- In the Same Boat 1 - Georgia, Niki and Bambi Bernét
- I Miss the Music - Aaron
- Thataway! - Georgia and Ensemble
Act II
- The Man is Dead (reprise) - Sasha (the conductor)
- He Did It - Company
- In the Same Boat 2 - Bobby, Randy and Harv Fremont
- It's a Business - Carmen and Stagehands
- Kansasland - Randy, Harv, Bambi and Ensemble
- She Did It (reprise) - Company
- Thinking of Him/I Miss The Music (Reprise) - Aaron and Georgia
- A Tough Act to Follow - Cioffi, Niki and Ensemble
- In the Same Boat 3, 4, and 5 - Company
- In the Same Boat Completed - Cioffi and Ensemble
- Show People (Reprise) - Cioffi and Carmen
- Wide Open Spaces (Finale) - Ensemble
- A Tough Act to Follow (Reprise) - Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
The person who is responsible for all aspects of a production, including the overall concept, coordinating the designers, working with actors, and creating the artistic impact.
The person who writes the words of the songs, sometimes the same person as the composer or librettist.
A type of theatre which draws attention to the nature of theatre and performance, often through a "play within a play"
An artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress