When the curtain rises on “Curtains” at Waubonsie Valley High School this week, audiences will be treated to a double dose of entertainment.
“We picked ‘Curtains’ because of the great characters, wonderful music and (a) plot structure that revolves around a murder mystery,” teacher and director Dave Calvert said of the play that runs Thursday through Saturday at the 2590 Ogden Ave. school in Aurora. “The fact that there is a play within a play is also very intriguing for the performers and the audience.”
Based on a book by Peter Stone, which became a Tony award-winning Broadway musical in 2007, “Curtains” starts with the murder of the theater production’s extremely untalented star as she’s taking her curtain call on opening night. Boston police detective Frank Cioffi, played by junior Matt Hix, arrives backstage to help solve the case and perhaps find love at the same time.
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“He is a detective and he is also a hopeless romantic, so there are a lot of ways to play my character,” Hix, 17, said.
More than 100 students make up the cast, crew and orchestra, who have been working since March to bring the show to life.
“There is a lot of coordination from the directors, actors and especially our tech crew,” Hix said. “Everyone is so talented and devoted to their specific part, and it has been cool to see everything come together.”
Calvert shared the sentiment.
“I am most proud of how all of the kids involved have made a commitment to their individual roles,” he said. “The cast has done a wonderful job creating the characters in the show; the pit has developed the beautiful score, which underscores and defines the characters, and the amazing tech kids have created the theatrical world the characters live in.”
Calvert said the three components meld together “to create a magical piece of musical theater which tells a challenging murder mystery.”
“Audience can expect high-energy dancing, amazing choreography, character-filled songs, hysterical characters, impressive technical elements and an amazing orchestra pit that also becomes part of the show,” the director said. “This show includes a murder mystery that the audience will not be able to predict early on. They will be taken on a journey of murder, betrayal and intrigue, all before the Act 1 curtain falls. Sounds fun, huh?”
“Curtains” will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the school auditorium. Tickets are $11 for adults and $8 for students and seniors and can be purchased online at wvhs.ipsd.org or at the box office prior to the show.
Jane Donahue is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.