The CLO obtained numerous prestigious bookings and produced their own shows, often with stars as the lead roles.

In 1977, the Civic Light Opera shifted its operations to the Orpheum Theatre, and by the end of that year, Carole Shorenstein Hays and James M. Nederlander assumed operation of the Curran and launched their Best of Broadway season starting with John Raitt in the national tour of Shenandoah and including the West Coast debut of Annie.

Work included new upholstery for seats, carpeting, mechanical and electrical systems as well as expanded and upgraded lobbies.

Originally, it was changed to a minor degree to accommodate the installation of a sound booth without decreasing the orchestra seating capacity.

There were two coat check rooms: one off to the south of the main floor interior lobby and the other on the balcony (adjacent to the ladies' restroom).

Productions that have been staged at the Curran prior to moving to Broadway have included A Chorus Line revival (2006),[3] Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (2013),[4] Biloxi Blues (1985), Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983), Carnival in Flanders (1953),[5] Dame Edna: Back With a Vengeance (2004),[6] Fences (1987),[7] Gigi (1973),[8] Head Over Heels (2018),[9] Home Sweet Homer (Odyssey) (1975),[10] Hugh Jackman in Performance (2011),[11] Jitney (2002),[12] Kismet (1953),[13] La Boheme (Baz Luhrmann's production) (2002),[14] Lennon (2006),[15] Lestat (2005–2006),[16] Magdalena: a Musical Adventure (1948),[17] Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me (2006),[18] Oliver!

(1962),[19] Peter Pan (1954),[20] Pickwick (1965),[21] Ring of Fire (2006),[22] Soft Power (2018),[23] The Grand Tour (1978),[24] Three Wishes for Jamie (1951),[25] White Christmas (2004–2005),[26] and Wicked (2003).

[27] Zenda (Alfred Drake, Chita Rivera, Vernon Duke) world premiere 1963, Oliver!

As operated by SHN, the Curran hosted five years of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, becoming the show's longest domestic run outside of New York City.

Other significant long runs presented by SHN at the Curran include Les Misérables, Jersey Boys, They're Playing Our Song, as well as Lily Tomlin in Jane Wagner's The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe.