Theatre News

Kander & Ebb’s Curtains gets European premiere at Landor

Editorial Staff
London's West End Off-West End

Kander and Ebb’s 2007 musical Curtains will receive its European professional premiere at the Landor Theatre this summer.

This whodunit backstage musical comedy tells the story of an opening night performance of the musical, Robbin’ Hood of the Old West. When Jessica Cranshaw, an old film star and the leading lady, mysteriously dies on stage, everyone in the production becomes a suspect. Luckily, Boston Police Department lieutenant, Frank Cioffi, is in attendance and steps in to solve the crime.

Initially based on the book and concept by Peter Stone, the book was rewritten by Rupert Holmes who also contributed additional lyrics to the original songs. The lyrics are by Fred Ebb and music by John Kander, whose other musicals include Cabaret and Chicago.

With Robert McWhir as director, Iain Vince Gatt as musical supervisor and Robbie O’Reilly as choreographer, Curtains reunites the creative team behind I Love You Because, which won the Whatsonstage.com Best Off West-End Production Award. The cast and further creative team have yet to be announced.  

Curtains opened on Broadway in 2006 to great success. The musical was nominated for 8 Tony Awards and 9 Drama Desk Awards, winning Outstanding Book of a Musical.  

The musical will run at the Landor Theatre from 25 July to 1 September, 2012. Casting is still to be announced.

– Julianna Fazio