Curtain rises on 'Curtains' at Benet Academy

In Benet Academy's production of "Curtains," actors dive into a big bag of musical-theater numbers.

Cowboys from "Oklahoma," urban dances from "West Side Story" and graceful couples a la Fred and Ginger are all spoofed in the production, opening today in St. Daniel Hall auditorium in Lisle. They didn't spare "The Music Man," either.

Or themselves, for that matter.

Those cowboys may look a little familiar, mocking routines from Benet's last spring musical, a production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic.

Somehow, actors say, choreographer Susan Olsen pulls all that together for funny, quirky parodies.

"I've always been fascinated with her ability to put together moves that continue to baffle us, things you wouldn't necessarily expect," said senior Chris Oechsel of Naperville, who plays Aaron Fox.

The cast also has to maneuver through a murder mystery set backstage of a Broadway-bound production in a whodunit musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb - the team behind "Chicago" and "Cabaret."

Before delving into rehearsals, directors required actors to create in-depth back stories for their characters. The cast doesn't simply pose and recite lines onstage.

"They're creating characters that are bigger than what they're given on the page," said Lauren Condon, one of the production's directors and an English teacher at Benet.

Theresa Moen, a senior from Lisle who plays Georgia Hendricks, researched historical events leading up to the 1950s in Boston and developed her character's relationship with her onstage ex, Aaron.

"She's sassy, but she always means well," Moen said.

But is she capable of murder?

The audience will search for the culprit in a sea of suspects. And, ultimately, it will appreciate entertaining tributes to musical theater, Moen said.

"We create this bubble," said Moen, echoing her director's instructions. "We create this world."

Catch the show at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, March 8 and 15; Fridays, March 9 and 16; Saturdays, March 10 and 17; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 11.

Tickets are $10 and available in the lobby of St. Martin Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on school days. For details, call (630) 287-0317.