By KELSEY UNRUH

Staff writer

Hillsboro High School auditorium curtains will rise on the musical ‘Curtains’ next week, which musical director Lynn Just described as a comedy murder mystery that is a show within a show.

“This group of actors is putting on a show, and the leading lady gets murdered during their last rehearsal before they open,” Just said. “So they have to sequester the whole cast to find out who the murderer is.”

For a musical within a musical, the opportunity rose for more lead characters.

“It’s a huge cast of leads, which is nice,” Just said. “It gives a lot of the students a vehicle to do some acting.”

Among the large cast is senior Vance Klassen, who will play Lt. Frank Cioffi, a detective who is a wannabe actor.

“He is constantly switching characters from being the detective to trying to help with the show,” Just said.

Klassen said this musical has been different from anything he has done before.

“The comedy behind it and style of the character is different than what I’m used to playing,” Klassen said. “It’s been interesting to see it all come together.”

Along with a larger cast comes a larger pit, which will consist of Tabor College band director Shawn Knopp, Tabor students, and other individuals.

“The only way we’re able to do that is because we have Chris Glanzer come do the sound,” Just said. “Otherwise you’d never hear them.”

The musical will also be different for the audience with its style of humor.

“This is a very smart, sophisticated show and I hope the audience will really listen to what’s going on, because the more they’ll listen and catch their lines the funnier it is,” Just said. “A lot of the humor the kids won’t get, but the adults will and it’s very, very funny.”

Though not widely known, Just encourages the community to come and discover the cleverness of the musical.

“My main concern is that because it’s not a show people go ‘Oh, I know that’ with, like ‘Sound of Music’ or ‘Oklahoma,’ people will decide not to come,” Just said. “It’s probably going to be one of our best shows, and I think people will really enjoy it.”

Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $5 for children 13 years and under, and may be purchased at at Hillsboro Senior Center from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Thursday, or online at www. usd410.net/Activities/fallmusical.htm.