Sunday night I went to see the new Kander and Ebb musical, "Curtains" at the Ahmanson Theater. It's excellent and I suspect will be a big hit.

It marks the final collaboration of John Kander and the late Fred Ebb -- and spent nearly two decades in development.

At first blush it's a musical comedy about a theatrical production plagued by a series of murders of members of the cast and the Boston police detective (played by David Hyde Pierce) who comes to investigate -- and reveals his own fascination with community theater. But, really, the show is a love-letter to the truly American art form: musical theater.

Edward Hibbert, fresh off the hit smash "The Drowsy Chaperone," plays an over-the-top director of the show within a show.

I know it's early in the season, but I smell Tony.