Curtains - 2007 Original Broadway Cast

This show earned large expectations while it opened on Broadway. Concerning the talents involved in this show - Rob Asford (Choreography), John Kander (Composer/Lyrics), Rupert Holmes (Book/Lyrics), Peter Stone (Book/Concept), Fred Ebb (Lyrics), Anna Louizos (Sets), Scott Ellis (Direction), William Ivey Long (Costumes), Peter Kaczorowski (Lighting) and William David Brohn (Orcestrations). The story of making the show itself is an interesting story though. Dated back in the 70s, which John Kander and Fred Ebb tried to collaborate with the late Abe Burrows for a musical set in France. The project is called to a halt due to the death of Abe Burrows and then Peter Stone stepped in. Scott Ellis then joined the trio and Peter Stone then also passed away after the 2nd reading. Rupert Holmes, who is famous of creating the whodunit musical "Mystery of Edwin Drood" was then invited to the crew. The story is then moved back to America, with a backstage mystery as the central plot. Fred Ebb's sudden death then led to John Kander's decision to go on or not. He thought the show should go on and so the show finally opened on Broadway 2007 March after several try-outs. The score, although not at J/E's best, contains several fantastic songs from the show: "I Miss the Music" superbly sung by Jason Danieley, the mournful yet funny "The Woman's Dead", Showstoppers "Show People" and "It's a Business" and the delightful "A Tough Act to Follow". Among the cast, Debra Monk is irreplaceable in the cast recording, whereas David Hyde Pierce (who'd got a Tony for his performance in this musical) is fit as a fiddle in the role of the showbiz geek gumshoe. The lyrics are not included in the cast recording, but opened to the public for download: http://www.manhattanrecords.com/curtainslibretto/