Curtains

Based on the original book and concept of the same name by Peter Stone, the musical is a send-up of backstage murder mystery plots. Set in 1959 Boston, Curtains follows the fallout when Jessica Cranshaw, the supremely untalented star of Robbin’ Hood of the Old West is murdered during her opening night curtain call. It is up to Lt. Frank Cioffi– a police detective who moonlights as a musical theatre fan– to save the show, solve the case, and maybe even find love before the show reopens, without getting killed himself.

Rehearsals will begin on January 13, 2025. The rehearsal schedule will be provided in advance of the first rehearsal based on performer availability.

The production runs March 7-30, 2025, with performances Thursday – Saturday at 8pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. No conflicts with performance dates will be permitted.

All performers are guaranteed a $100 honorarium to cover the costs of transportation for rehearsals plus a $15 honorarium per performance. Note that this is strictly a non-union production.

Auditions will happen Mon, Dec 16th and Wed, Dec 18th from 6-10pm at the Coronado Community Center. Please prepare a vocal cut in the style of Kander and Ebb or any golden age musical, not to exceed one minute. Also, please prepare a comedic monologue, not to exceed one minute.

To be considered, please submit this form:

The audition form collects your personal information — including any known conflicts with the rehearsal dates. Only the director and members of the creative team will have access to your submission materials. WHILE AUDITIONING IN PERSON IS PREFERRED, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT AN AUDITION VIDEO IF YOU ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO ATTEND AUDITIONS.

Callbacks will be held on Monday, January 6, 2025 from 6-10pm. Callbacks will be held at the Coronado Playhouse 1835 Strand Way, Coronado, CA 92118

If you have any questions not answered in this announcement please email audition@coronadoplayhouse.com

Coronado Playhouse is committed to inclusivity, and encourages ALL members of our community to submit, particularly members of communities who have historically been excluded or underrepresented — including but not limited to artists of color, Native American and Indigenous artists, women, non-binary and gender non-conforming artists, LGBTQ+ artists, and artists with disabilities.

Only adults over the age of 18 will be considered.

Lieutenant Frank Cioffi: (Tenor, Baritone) The central character, a local Boston detective who is also very interested in musical theatre. Aside from being exceptionally good at his job, he has also aspired to be a musical theatre performer. He falls in love with Niki and they get engaged.

Niki Harris: (Soprano) Pretty, naïve ingénue. Niki is playing a supporting role and is Jessica Cranshaw’s understudy in the show-within-the-show during its Boston tryout. She is eager to make her Broadway debut. She meets and falls in love with Detective Frank Cioffi, who is investigating Jessica’s murder at the theatre.

Georgia Hendricks: (Mezzo-Soprano) Female half of songwriting team. Ends up taking on the leading lady role of the show-within-the-show.

Carmen Bernstein: (Mezzo-Soprano, Alto) The show’s brassy producer, unhappily married to Sidney Bernstein, and Bambi’s estranged mother. Highly comical role with a belt voice. Carmen had always belittled Bambi in public, but for a nice reason.

Aaron Fox: (Tenor, Baritone) The composer of the show-within-the-show. His songwriting partner, Georgia, is also his ex-wife from whom he’s separated, but still loves

Bobby Pepper: (Tenor, Baritone) The choreographer and male star of the show within the show. A handsome Gene Kelly type who is the one shining star in an otherwise dire show. He is Aaron’s charming rival and the current boyfriend of Georgia. A strong singer and even stronger dancer.

Christopher Belling: (Baritone) Director of the show-within-the-show. Camp and funny.

Bambi Bernét: (Soprano) Performer in the chorus and daughter of Carmen, the lead producer. Hungry to work her way up to leading performer; she has a contentious relationship with her mother, who insists on calling her by her real name, Elaine. She changed her name to Bambi because in the Disney movie, hunters kill Bambi’s mother.

Daryl Grady: (Non-singing) A theatre critic for the local Boston newspaper, the Boston Globe. He enjoys using the power he has to make or break shows during their out-of-town tryouts.

Johnny Harmon: (Non-singer) The Stage Manager of the show-within-the-show. Johnny is gruff but lovable. He keeps the company in line and on their toes throughout the rehearsal process.

Oscar Shapiro: (Baritone) The general manager and sole investor. An agreeable if slightly gruff man. He is always looking for any angle to find money.

Sidney Bernstein: (Non-singer) The co-producer of an out of town flop. Sidney is tough and self-serving.

Jessica Cranshaw: (Soprano) Fading Hollywood star. A diva, who has no right to be one; she is a terrible singer, dancer and actress who stars in the show within a show and is murdered on its opening night.

Sasha Iljinsky: (Baritone) The European conductor of the show within the show; played by the orchestra’s actual conductor.

Randy Dexter: (Tenor, Baritone) One of the male ensemble actors of the show within the show.

Harv Fremont: (Tenor, Baritone) One of the male ensemble actors of the show within the show, Randy’s sidekick.

Detective O’Farrell: (Non-singer) Cioffi’s associate from the Boston Police Department, assists in the investigation.