By Kenneth Jones
23 Jan 2007

David Hyde Pierce in Curtains.
photo by Joan Marcus

The Broadway-bound murder-mystery musical Curtains is one of three nominees in the theatrical division of The Edgar Awards.

Named for the master of suspense Edgar Allan Poe, the awards are handed out by The Mystery Writers of America. Nominations were announced Jan. 19. Winners will be announced at the Edgar Week convention in Manhattan April 23-27.

Nominated in the category of Best Play are the Ahmanson Theatre's staging of Curtains, John Kander, Fred Ebb, Peter Stone and Rupert Holmes' musical comedy about a backstage murder during the creation of a musical comedy; Arizona Theatre Company's Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, by Steven Dietz (it's a popular title in 2007, as well); and The Players' Ring production of Ghosts of Ocean House by Michael Kimball.

Following its 2006 run in Los Angeles, Curtains begins previews at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre Feb. 27. Scott Ellis directs. David Hyde Pierce stars as a show tune-loving investigator.

Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure is adapted from William Gillette's smash play Sherlock Holmes, as well as two stories by Arthur Conan Doyle ("A Scandal in Bohemia" and "The Final Problem"). It premiered at Arizona Theatre Company and Pasadena Playhouse in 2006 and was also seen at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and is blossoming this season elsewhere.

Kimball's Ghosts of Ocean House premiered in May 2006 at The Players' Ring in Portsmouth, NH. According to production notes, the plot goes something like this: "To inherit the family ocean house, three siblings and two spouses must spend one week for each of ten years living together in the Victorian mansion — or else the house will be torn down and its land turned into a public park. This is their final year, their final week. But the newest family member, a flighty, fragile young bride named Darlene, harbors a dark, mysterious past — as does the quiet old house — and when they come together, ghosts begin awakening."

The Edgars honor excellence in mystery writing in several categories.

For more information, visit www.mysterywriters.org.