'Theater Talk' Remembers Peter Stone on June 29

Peter Stone, who is credited with the original book and concept for Curtains, the New Musical Comedy Whodunit, will be honored on "Theater Talk" on Friday, June 29th with "Remembering Peter Stone," a tribute to the great librettist.

Stone wrote books for many Broadway shows, including the classic musical 1776 about the signing of The Declaration of Independence. He won Tony awards for his books  for Titanic, Woman of the Year, and 1776. The witty and articulate Stone made six appearances on "Theater Talk" before his death in 2003, and the program pays tribute to him every year with this special holiday show.

"Remembering Peter Stone" airs locally in New York on Channel Thirteen, Friday, June 29 at 12:30 AM.

Curtains, a new, original musical comedy featuring one of the last scores by the legendary songwriting team of Kander and Ebb, is now playing on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street, west of Eighth Avenue). 

Curtains stars Tony Award-winner David Hyde Pierce as Lieutenant Frank Cioffi and Debra Monk as producer Carmen Bernstein.  The production also stars Karen Ziemba as lyricist Georgia Hendricks, Jason Danieley as composer Aaron Fox, Jill Paice as ingénue Niki Harris and Edward Hibbert as director Christopher Belling, with John Bolton as theatre critic Daryl Grady, Michael X. Martin as stage manager Johnny Harmon, Michael McCormick as investor Oscar Shapiro, Noah Racey as choreographer Bobby Pepper, Ernie Sabella as producer Sidney Bernstein and Megan Sikora as understudy Bambi Bernét.   

The show is an original musical comedy with a book by Rupert Holmes (multiple Tony Award-winner for The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Say Goodnight Gracie), music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb (the Tony Award-winning songwriters of Cabaret, Chicago, New York New York), original book and concept by Tony Award®-winner Peter Stone (1776, Titanic, The Will Rogers Follies), and additional lyrics by John Kander and Rupert Holmes.

Curtains is directed by four-time Tony Award-nominee Scott Ellis, also represented on Broadway this season with The Little Dog Laughed and the national tour of 12 Angry Men.  Choreography is by Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie).

Producers are Roger Berlind, Roger Horchow, Daryl Roth, Jane Bergère, Ted Hartley and Center Theatre Group.  The show had its world premiere on August 9, 2006 at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. 

According to production notes, the musical "unfolds backstage at Boston's Colonial Theatre in 1959, where a new musical could be a Broadway smash, were it not for the presence of its talent-free leading lady.  When the hapless star dies on opening night during her curtain call, Lieutenant Frank Cioffi (David Hyde Pierce) arrives on the scene to conduct an investigation.  But the lure of the theatre proves irresistible and after an unexpected romance blooms for the stage-struck detective, he finds himself just as drawn toward making the show a hit, as he is in solving the murder. "

Set design is by Anna Louizos, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski and sound design by Brian Ronan.  Orchestrations are by William David Brohn.  Music direction and vocal arrangements are by David Loud.