Curtains Revisited At Feinstein’s/ 54 Below

Rupert Homes

Thursday night Feinsteins/54 Below presented 2 sold out shows of Curtains, one of the last scores written by John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret). Curtains a musical mystery comedy with a book by Rupert Holmes, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander, with additional lyrics by Kander and Holmes. Based on the original book and concept by Peter Stone.

Richard Kind, Erin Davie

Step back in time to 1959 when the musical Robbin’ Hood is trying out in Boston. The sets won’t work, the audiences are leaving, and the leading lady has been murdered! Who did it? And why? Boston detective, and amateur actor, Lt. Frank Cioffi sets out to solve the murder of Jessica Cranshaw. Was it the greedy producer? The desperate director? The jealous writers? Will Lt. Cioffi solve the murder before the killer sets his sights on him?

Michael Riedel

This presentation was in good hands with an illustrious Broadway cast featuring: Nili Bassman (Curtains, Chicago, Never Gonna Dance), Jim Brochu (Zero Hour, Character Man), Mary Callanan (Bandstand, The Bridges of Madison County), Nicholas Carroll (1776, Shrek), James Cella (Rock of Ages, Spamalot), Erin Davie (A Little Night Music, Sideshow), Asher Dubin (The Body Politic, The Babies), John Epperson (Once Upon a Mattress, Lypsinka), J. Austin Eyer (The Little Mermaid, Billy Elliot, How to Succeed…, Evita), Will Hutcheson (Next to Normal, The Music Man), Charles Isherwood (Variety, The New York Times), Richard Kind (TV’s Spin City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Producers), Eddie Korbich (The Drowsy Chaperone, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder), Paula Leggett Chase (A Chorus Line, Crazy For You, Damn Yankees), Maggie Malaney (Love in Hate Nation, Woman of the Year), Brittany Marcin (Anything Goes, Follies, Bullets Over Broadway), Noah Racey (Curtains, Follies, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Michael Riedel (Theater Talk, NY Post), Clara Regula (Imbible:Day Drinking, Norwegian Cruise Lines), Libby Rosenfield (Sugar, Woman of the Year), Megan Sikora (Curtains, How to Succeed…, Holiday Inn), Christopher Spaulding (Curtains, Rock of Ages), Jerome Vivona (Curtains, Seusical, Kiss Me Kate, Dream, How to Succeed…., Guys and Dolls), Jim Walton (Merrily We Roll Along, Sunset Boulevard) & Karen Ziemba (Prince of Broadway, Steel Pier, Contact)

Karen Zeimba

This production was directed by Robert W. Scheider with Musical Director Daniel Lincoln on the piano.

Jim Brochu, Mary Callanan

The evening opened with Rupert Homes telling backstage stores of the making of Curtains. With all the ups and downs of putting on Curtains it could make for a wonderful show as Curtains 2.

Jim Walton

Some of the wonderful songs that were featured were “It’s A Business” -Mary Callamam and Boys, “Coffee Shop Nights”-Richard Kind, “Thinking of Him” -Karen Ziemba

Jim Brochu, Michael Riedel, Marilyn Maye

Karen Zeimba, Jim Walton, Eddie Korbich, Mary Callanan

Paula Leggett Chase