By Nick Fearns | The Haldimand Press
March 19, 2026
PORT DOVER—When a leading lady drops dead during opening night, the show – and the investigation – must go on in Lighthouse Festival Theatre’s upcoming production of Curtains.
The musical comedy murder mystery, directed by interim artistic producer David Leyshon, runs April 10 to April 26 as Lighthouse’s annual community production.
The show brings together performers from across the region for a large-scale Broadway-style musical that blends comedy, mystery, and high-energy song and dance, with many familiar local faces taking the stage.
Written by Rupert Holmes with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, Curtains first opened on Broadway in 2007 starring David Hyde Pierce, known for his role as Niles in Frasier.
Leyshon said the show has long been popular with theatre audiences because it mixes the excitement of a musical with the intrigue of a classic whodunit.
Set in 1959 Boston, the story begins with the troubled opening night of a brand-new musical called Robbin’ Hood. When the show’s untalented leading lady collapses and dies during the curtain call, Detective Frank Cioffi is called in to investigate. The detective also happens to be a theatre fan, and he works to solve the crime while helping the production continue.
Leyshon said the concept works because it brings together two genres audiences enjoy.
“It’s a big giant love letter to the theatre,” he said. “It combines two things that people love most when coming to see a play. People tend to really love a musical and really love a murder mystery, and it combines those two things together with fantastic music and tons of comedy.”
The Lighthouse production is this year’s community show, a special annual project that invites performers from across the region to join a large ensemble cast. Participants come from communities including Brantford and Oakville to take part, alongside local residents who audiences may recognize from past productions or from around the community.
Among the cast members is Haldimand Press Senior Reporter/Assistant Editor Mike Renzella, adding a familiar face for local readers in the audience.
“We have a number of people from the community,” Leyshon said. “We have a whole bunch of really dedicated and excellent performers from the community that are joining us for this show.”
While Lighthouse’s summer season features professional productions, the community show relies on local performers who volunteer their time while balancing work and other responsibilities. Leyshon said the commitment required is significant, but the cast has approached rehearsals with enthusiasm.
“These actors are coming with the same dedication and focus and care that a professional company would come with, except they’re coming to rehearsal after full days of work and full days of their normal lives,” he said. “It’s a big ask. We know we ask a lot of them to commit that time and focus, and they are rising to the challenge.”
Casting for the show began in October 2025, with the production team reviewing auditions and assembling the large cast. A few music rehearsals were held shortly before the holidays, before the company began full rehearsals in the new year.
“We did a few music rehearsals right before Christmas, and then we hit the ground running in the new year,” Leyshon said. “We’ve been in rehearsals since January.”
With a large cast and numerous musical numbers, the production promises a lively stage filled with singing, dancing, and comedic moments.
“What we hope people can expect is they’re going to come to the theatre not only for a musical and for a good laugh, but also for a wonderful sense of mystery,” Leyshon said.
“There’s great music, great tunes, lots of dancing. It’s a big company, so there are a lot of people on stage, which is always thrilling.”
Behind the scenes, the production is supported by a mix of Lighthouse staff, volunteers, and visiting creative team members.
Leyshon said the collaboration has been key to preparing the show for the stage.
“The team at Lighthouse has been incredible in terms of support when it comes to all the technical elements,” he said. “We have a fantastic group of volunteers that are coming in to assist with the running of the show.”
The creative team also includes a community member serving as stage manager and a choreographer travelling from Hamilton to help bring the musical’s dance numbers to life.
“We do have a really fantastic group of people all putting a strong effort into ensuring that we get a really good product on the stage,” Leyshon said.
Although Leyshon has directed several productions in the past, he said this marks his first time directing a community theatre project. The experience has highlighted the enthusiasm and dedication local performers bring to the stage.
The annual community show also serves as a transition point in Lighthouse’s theatre calendar, taking place each spring before the theatre launches its professional summer season.
“The community show is a very special project for us at Lighthouse,” Leyshon said. “It’s something that we’re really excited about getting on stage, and it seems to be something that is not only really exciting for us but also really exciting for the community.”
Performances of Curtains run April 10 to April 26. Tickets are $32, with opening night priced at $37. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Lighthouse Festival Theatre box office or online at lighthousetheatre.com.
After studying journalism at Niagara College, Nick Fearns began his reporting career immediately after graduation with the Macklin Mirror in Macklin, Saskatchewan. He later returned to Niagara, where he worked for Niagara This Week, writing for seven different newspapers across the peninsula. Nick joined The Haldimand Press in the summer of 2024 and has since focused on community-driven reporting that highlights local voices and issues. He is an Ontario Community Newspaper Association award winner and is passionate about community journalism.
