Second Cup Café: "Curtains"

"Curtains" is an original musical comedy starring David Hyde Pierce and Jill Paice.

They visit the Second Cup Café to sing songs from the show's score by legendary songwriting team Kander & Ebb.

"Curtains" has been nominated for 8 Tony Awards this season including Best Musical.

Additionally, John Kander and the late Fred Ebb have been honored with special awards from the Drama Desk and Drama League for their achievements in musical theatre.

"Curtains" 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.

The play, which features one of the last scores by Kander & Ebb, opened March 22 on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

Pierce is best known for his Emmy-winning role as the fussy younger brother Dr. Niles Crane on the TV sitcom "Frasier." In 2005 he received a Drama Desk award nomination for outstanding actor in a musical for his work as Sir Robin in "Spamalot."

Before starring in "Curtains," Jill Paice appeared in New York in "The Woman In White," "Weird Romance," and in touring and regional productions of "Mamma Mia," "Les Misérables" and "Gypsy."

The original Broadway cast recording for "Curtains" was released on June 5th. The recording is produced by 9-time Grammy Award-winner Jay David Saks.