PERRY THEATER FIELD GUIDE
Curtains: A Golden‑Age Whodunit That Turns Opening Night Into a Killer Evening
A three‑hour production staged by Heritage Theatre in Perry that blends Kander & Ebb’s brassy score with Rupert Holmes’ clever mystery—this guide orients you to the tone, pacing, and what to expect from the show.
Curtains: A Golden‑Age Whodunit That Turns Opening Night Into a Killer Evening.
Curtains is a suspenseful musical comedy set in 1959 Boston’s Colonial Theatre: an opening‑night leading‑lady death turns the production into a live whodunit, pitting an ensemble cast and crew of suspects against a detective who just happens to adore musicals.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Kander & Ebb’s Golden‑Age Sound
The show features a brassy, Golden Age–style score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, the songwriting duo behind Cabaret and Chicago, pairing witty pastiche songs with a theatrical mystery.
A Murder on Opening Night
On the night the new musical opens, the leading lady dies on stage and the production becomes a puzzle of suspects, motives, and backstage rivalries that drives both laughs and suspense.
A Sleuth Who Loves Musicals
The central investigator is as much a musical‑theatre fan as a detective, a device that blurs the line between performance and probing and keeps the audience guessing until the final curtain.
What the day feels like
What the Evening Feels Like
Curtains unfolds like a classic Broadway evening: a brassy, theatrical world is established, the opening‑night crisis propels an investigation through song and dialogue, and a clever reveal ties together the comic and suspenseful strands across a full‑length, three‑hour performance.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who should see Curtains—and who might skip it.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The performance runs approximately 3 hours.
This staging is presented by Heritage Theatre in Perry, Utah.
No special gear is specified in the briefing; typical theatre etiquette—arrive early, bring tickets or booking confirmation, and plan for a seated evening—applies.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
What is Curtains about?
Curtains is a musical comedy set on opening night at a 1959 Broadway‑style theatre where the leading lady dies on stage; the ensuing investigation—led by a detective who loves musicals—drives a witty whodunit filled with songs and jokes.
Who wrote the music for Curtains?
The score is by John Kander and Fred Ebb, the songwriting team best known for Cabaret and Chicago.
How long is the performance?
The production runs approximately 3 hours.
Where is this production staged?
This staging is presented by Heritage Theatre in Perry, Utah.
What tone should I expect from the show?
Expect a blend of brassy Golden Age musical pastiche and tongue‑in‑cheek suspense—a comic whodunit that keeps the audience laughing while unraveling the mystery.