On April 5 and 6, Radford High School students performed “Curtains” the musical, a mystery and comedy at Leeward Community College Theatre. Auditions for the show began on Jan. 11 and 12 and the cast rehearsed after school Monday to Friday, from Jan. 15 until the opening night.
The show was directed and choreographed by Kathy Casperson along with student choreographer sophomore Jade Culbertson, and produced by parent volunteers Ron and Sarah Knight. Mary Sullivan was the production week parent, who communicated with cast and crew parents and helped with food during production week. Chorus, acting, and guitar teacher Mark Primeaux was the musical director and Ingrid Gray helped with the ensemble music, pit piano, and rehearsal accompaniment.
Casperson was impressed with her team’s effort and collaboration. She said, “I watched every show from the back of the theater where all the tech was. I was so thrilled every time I watched, everything coming together between moving the set, the lighting, the actors and actresses on stage I thought it was really good.”
“Curtains” is set in 1959 at Boston’s Colonial Theatre. The play begins on opening night when the leading lady of a musical is murdered and all the cast and crew become suspects by the local detective who happens to be a musical theater fan. Curtains is a humorous and fun musical for both the cast and the audience.
It was chosen to be this year’s musical because it’s different from past musicals. Casperson as well as Primeaux knew that this musical would be harder, but they knew that Radford students would be able to do it.
Casperson noted her admiration and appreciation of everyone who was in the musical and who helped out. She explained that she loved watching the production being put together and seeing the results of everyone’s hard work.
“I want to thank everyone I’ve listed in my director’s note, as well as my husband Brandon Casperson and the set engineers who came in and helped rebuild the set when it broke at night the weekend before production,” said Casperson.
Casperson’s younger daughter, Mady attended several of the rehearsals. She said, “My favorite part was when Brooklyn (who plays Niki Harris) came out with a pink gun.”
The performance was a collaborative effort of over 56 crew and cast members. Key individuals who aided in the play included Costuming and tech lead volunteers Marcie Christensen, Kellie Pitts, and junior Sadie Kindle, stage manager freshman Bella Appleton, and prop masters volunteers Audrey Sare and Regan Christensen. The cast of “Curtains” starred Lieutenant Frank Cioffi played by junior Owen Sullivan, Niki Harris played by junior Brooklyn Christensen, and Carmen Bernstein played by senior Ainsley Knight.
Casperson mentioned how she watched other high school productions of the musical on YouTube and she thinks that Radford High School’s production of “Curtains” the musical was one of the best productions. The next musical production from Radford High School will be announced next school year.