"Make curtain" --Is this a well known usage of this expression?

Solution 1:

In legitimate theater and shows with the same rules Curtain is the clock time that the entire caste and crew must be on site. This is usually no less that an hour before the curtain actually Goes Up and often much more. The operative question backstage during the days before the show is When's Curtain?, that is, when do I need to be here.

Your story may involve people who are only going to see the show but the phrase Make Curtain refers to the backstage drop dead time. Since Anthony Bourdain was very familiar with theater jargon it is likely that they had the phrase in mind even if it was for a simpler use.