Curtains by Woodinville High School Theatre premieres Feb. 2

This February, the Woodinville High School Theatre Company will bring the lighthearted murder mystery musical comedy “Curtains” to the WHS Theater stage.

Curtains is the last complete musical by preeminent 20th-century composing duo John Kander and Fred Ebb, the musical minds behind mega-hits “Cabaret” and “Chicago”. It blends Agatha Christie-like mystery with the spectacular song and dance of Golden Age musicals, all while poking a bit of fun at the bells and whistles of musical theater.

The show will run Feb. 2-4 and Feb. 9-11 at 7:00 pm at the Woodinville High School Theater.

Set in 1959 Boston, this twisty whodunit tracks the behind-the-scenes misadventures of police detective Lt. Frank Cioffi investigating the death of a new musical’s talentless star. But the stage-struck detective soon finds himself entangled in a romance–and somehow starring in the show itself as it heads for New York and Broadway.

The thoroughly entertaining “Curtains” scored eight Tony Award nominations in 2007, including Best Musical, Book and Original Score.

“Curtains” will entertain audiences of all ages, although there is some coarse language and, of course, murder, so parental discretion is advised.

The cast of this production is comprised of 60 Woodinville High School Theatre Company students, including seniors Alexander Schlegel, Amy Pender, Anthony Byers, Ava Nicholas, Emilie Bierlink, Isaac Mitchell, Jackson Kelly, Lois Johnson, Lucca Gleason-Geise, Lucy Webb, Mario D’Ambrosio, Max Goddard, Megan Barker, Mya Hariri and Samantha Bachler.

The Pit for this production is made up of 15 Woodinville High School Band students, including seniors Allyssa Johnston, Benjamin Teel, Isaiah Toth, Kiet Bui, Luca Buccilli, Simon Goss-Grubbs, Stephen Denver, Taylor Smith and Wesley Gerrish.

Many of the technical aspects of the show, everything from set building and sound to publicity, are handled by crews of students from the WHS Technical Theatre program. Lead Technical Theatre students include Simon Smith (Stage Manager), Maggie Mayer (Assistant Stage Manager and Technical Director), Brielle Harrison (Deck Manager), Jude Phillips, Max Vandall and Liz Armour (Sound Directors), Grace Long (Lighting Director), Luke Dunbar (Lighting Specialist) Jessica Karczeski and Brielle Harrison (Paint Heads), Fell Gutierrez and Mateo Cabral (Costumers), Caoimhe Dobey and Anden Walker (Master Carpenters), Lois Johnson and Janae Arnold (Props Head), Amalie Landry and Lucca Gleason-Geise (Hair and Makeup), Max Goddard (House Manager), and Mya Hariri, Ava Nicholas, and Dani Petersen (Publicity).

The show is directed and designed by Josh Butchart. The Music Director is by Joe Mikkelson; Pit Director is Loren Tanksley; Choreographer is Eva Stone, with Assistant Choreography by Marina Clever. All productions of the Woodinville High School Theater Company are designed, developed and produced by Katharina Bomers-Muller (Producer), Marsha Stueckle & Karen Severson (Costumes), Stephanie Penoyer (Production Coordinator), Steve Cooper (Lights), Nathaniel Gibbs (Sound), and the Woodinville Drama Boosters, led by Jenny Webb. Additional support is provided by the Northshore Performing Arts Center staff, led by Marc King.

“Curtains” will be performed Feb. 2-4 and Feb. 9-11 at 7 p.m. at the Woodinville High School Theater at 19819 136th Ave NE, Woodinville.

General admission tickets are $15, student tickets with ASB are $12 and VIP tickets are $25.

Tickets are available at gofan.co/app/school/WA23370. See whstc.org or the WHS website for ticketing options and more information.