The Rome Free Academy Musical will present CURTAINS: SCHOOL EDITION on April 11, 12, and 13 at 7:30 pm in the RFA Auditorium, 95 Dart Circle.
Tickets for Curtains are $8.00 through this Thursday and $10.00 at the door. Presale tickets are currently available at Jervis Public Library, where both cash and credit cards are accepted. All tickets for the musical are general admission seating.
Tickets will also be available at the RFA lobby box office each night during the show’s run. The box office accepts cash or checks made out to 'RFA Musical'. The box office will open at 6:30 pm with the doors to the theater opening at 7:00 pm.
Nominated for eight Tony Awards and ten Drama Desk Awards, Curtains is a comedy whodunit set in 1950s Boston. The entire cast and crew of a local production are suspects after their opening night curtain call takes a sinister turn, and detective and avid musical theatre fan Frank Cioffi won’t let anyone leave until the crime is solved. With just 24 hours before the production re-opens, will Cioffi be able to crack the case so the show can go on?
“Curtains is a wonderful show that hasn’t gotten as much love as it deserves,” says Director Jake Meiss. “The action centers around a musical preparing for its Broadway premiere, with bold, brassy, funny characters and a lot of hilarious moments and one-liners. The tone is very similar to the hit Hulu comedy Only Murders in the Building. And while last year we produced our first Sondheim musical, now we’re excited to present our first Kander and Ebb production - the acclaimed songwriting team behind hits like Cabaret and Chicago.
“Curtains keeps a bit of the dark vibe of last year’s Sweeney Todd,” Meiss continues, “but tempers it with a lot more broad comedy. At its heart, it’s both a spoof and a loving homage to musical theatre and its power to impact our lives.”
“Curtains is one of the most entertaining shows I’ve had the chance to be a part of,” adds senior Dakota Morrison. “Filled with a thrilling mystery plot and genuinely funny gags, there’s never a dull moment on the stage.”
Senior Michaelanne Allen agrees. “Curtains is both witty and lighthearted, and the story manages to keep you on your toes the whole time. With a wide variety of characters, this show has a depth like no other.”
“Curtains also has eye-catching and powerful dances performed on absolutely gorgeous sets,” adds senior Alana DeJosie. “I’m honored to be on stage doing these dances. It can be difficult to learn the complex choreography, but in the end, it’s 100% worth it!”
Curtains features Evan Lewthwaite as Lieutenant Frank Cioffi, Janai Haden as Carmen Bernstein, Michaelanne Allen as Niki Harris, Arwen Reddick as Georgia Hendricks, Cameron Merritt as Aaron Fox, Dakota Morrison as Christopher Belling, Aiden Winters as Bobby Pepper, Alana DeJosie as Bambi Bernét, Jonathan Spaeth as Oscar Shapiro, Kayedyn Secor as Jenny Harmon, Karl van Hoesel as Daryl Grady, Alex Swan as Sidney Bernstein, Elijah Pomales as Randy Dexter, Steven Dixon as Harv Fremont, Elliot Trophia as Detective O’Farrell, Jack Conley as Sasha Iljinsky and Kerri Winkler as Jessica Cranshaw.
Rounding out the cast are Ell Abdou, Arianna Baker, Rielyn Baker, Joanna Butler, Lilianna Caro, Rachel Catello, Samantha Conley, Wyatt Conley, Sarah Dailey, Capricia Damiano, J’La Daniels, Arin DiPasqua, Amanda Falvo, Emma Fernandez, Yazmin Figueroa, Kyla Finneman, Jassiha Garner, Georgia Gilboy, Tiana Gonzalez, Yarilis Gonzalez, Joanna Hampe, Rachel Horowitz, Glenn Keller, Danielle Klepadlo, Izabelle Kotary, Abbey Kubinski, Rory LaGrange, Steven Light, Elizabeth McGowan, Isabel Moore, Louisa Morgan, Faithanne Nashton, Jadaleigh Nelson, Jonathan Norris, Alexis Oakes, Mia Panasci, Aryanna Rosario, Alexis Rowe, Alexis Sherman, Lilli Stroich, Amelia Sudol, Brooke Sutton, Sara Swistak, Gabrielle Taylor, Ayla Thaw, Ella Vescio, McKenzie Winkler and Rosina Woodward.
The pit orchestra features Leanna Guerrieri and student members Jack Conley, Rocco Jennings, Brandon Morrison, Brody Smith, and Aubrianna Thomas. They are joined by Stephanie Carbone, Rafael Rivera, Anne Gannon, Evan Griffith, Henryk Lotyczewski, David Hyuck, Mike Fenton, Matt Donaleski, Dana Jerrard, Jason Davis, and Aaron Decker.
Student crew members include Production Manager Joanna Butler and Assistant Stage Manager Ace Sorrell. They are joined by Olivia Burch, Sunny Dye, Jaden Earle, Nolan Moore, Natalie Parker, Kaiden Sedrel, Rachel Shalna, Halley Stagner, Caroline Stoltz, and Mylie Weyant.
Music and lyrics are by John Kander and Fred Ebb, with the book by Rupert Holmes, an original book and concept by Peter Stone, and additional lyrics by Kander and Holmes. Curtains was originally produced on Broadway by Roger Berlind, Roger Horchow, Daryl Roth, Jane Bergère, Ted Hartley, and Center Theatre Group. The American premiere was produced at The Ahmanson Theatre by Center Theatre Group, LA's Theatre Company. Curtains School Edition is presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide.
For more information, visit the RFA Musical on Facebook and Instagram.
