Murder For Two

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Murder For Two

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  2any gender (adult)

Book by Kellen Blair and Joe Kinosian 
Lyrics by Kellen Blair 
Music by Joe Kinosian

The perfect blend of music, mayhem and murder! In this hilarious 90-minute show, 2 performers play 13 roles — not to mention the piano — in a witty and winking homage to old-fashioned murder mysteries. The New York Times calls it "Ingenious!"

Image: 2016 TheatreSquared Production (Beth Hall)

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2any gender (adult)
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Farce, Mystery/Thriller
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 2011 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Musical
    Nominee: 2014 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Book of a Musical
    Nominee: 2014 Drama League Award, Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical
    Nominee: 2014 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding New Off Broadway Musical

Details

Summary
Officer Marcus Moscowicz is a small-town policeman with dreams of making it to detective. One fateful night, shots ring out at the surprise birthday party of Great American Novelist Arthur Whitney and the writer is killed…fatally. With the nearest detective an hour away, Marcus jumps at the chance to prove his sleuthing skills—with the help of his silent partner, Lou. But whodunit? Did Dahlia Whitney, Arthur's scene-stealing wife, give him a big finish? Is Barrette Lewis, the prima ballerina, the prime suspect? Did Dr. Griff, the overly-friendly psychiatrist, make a frenemy? Marcus has only a short amount of time to find the killer and make his name before the real detective arrives… and the ice cream melts!

Murder For Two is the perfect blend of music, mayhem and murder! In this hilarious 90-minute show, 2 performers play 13 roles – not to mention the piano – in a witty and winking homage to old-fashioned murder mysteries. You won't want to miss this killer musical comedy!
History

Murder For Two was developed at The Adirondack Theatre Festival and 42nd Street Moon. Chicago Shakespeare Theater presented the World Premiere Production in May, 2011, which was extended 4 times and ran for more than 6 months. Kinosian and Blair were recognized with a 2011 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Musical. Murder For Two opened at Second Stage Theatre’s uptown home, the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, in July, 2013. It was extended twice due to popular demand. The Second Stage production transferred to New World Stages, where performances began on October 23, 2013. Murder For Two had a subsequent two-year national tour, and it has been performed in Japan, South Korea, China, Argentina, Brazil and the UK.

MARCUS MOSCOWICZ – an ambitious young officer

THE SUSPECTS
DAHLIA WHITNEY – the victim’s loopy widow
MURRAY & BARB FLANDON – the Whitneys’ bickering neighbors
STEPH WHITNEY – an overeager grad student
BARRETTE LEWIS – a self-incriminating ballerina
DR. GRIFF – a friendly local psychiatrist
TIMMY, YONKERS, & SKID – members of an antiquated boys’ choir
HENRY VIVALDI – a late arrival

Murder For Two is performed by two piano-playing actors, and is intended to be performed with minimal, if any, production elements. The only necessary set piece is a piano in the middle of the room on which the actors accompany themselves and one another. One actor portrays MARCUS, while the other portrays all of THE SUSPECTS. 

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Setting An isolated mansion in rural New England, present day.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No intermission, Physical Comedy
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“Ingenious! A snazzy double-act that spins out a comic mystery animated by funny, deftly turned songs.” – New York Times

“This whodunit... is proof positive that clever writing and excellent actors are all that is needed to captivate an audience... The props are few, but the entertainment value is high.” – Huffington Post, Read More

“Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair's score is a silly-clever throwback to 1950s novelty cabaret, and director Scott Schwartz milks the show for every drop of tomfoolery: vaudeville bits, sound effects, meta winks, audience participation. Like many a lark, Murder for Two... wins you over with droll writing and winsome performances... If you like your show-business men hardworking, you may end up smitten.” – Time Out NY, Read More

“Was the killer Dahlia, the deceased's wife, a Southern belle who resented her husband for ending her glamorous stage career? Or Barrette Lewis, the celebrated ballerina who was seeing him on the sly? Or the psychiatrist Dr. Griff, who seemed to be treating just about everyone in the room at the time of the murder? It couldn't possibly be a member of that boys' choir on hand for Arthur's birthday party, now could it? Then again, they're a tough little bunch.” – The New York Times, Read More

Videos

  • Murder For Two - Montage youtube thumbnail

    Murder For Two - Montage

  • Protocol Says youtube thumbnail

    Protocol Says

  • Friend Like You youtube thumbnail

    Friend Like You

  • A Lot Worse youtube thumbnail

    A Lot Worse

Photos

  • Murder For Two

    Image: 2016 TheatreSquared Production (Beth Hall)

Music

Music Samples

“Prelude / Waiting in the Dark” - Company
“Protocol Says” - Marcus
“Protocol Says (Reprise)” - Marcus
“A Perfectly Lovely Surprise” - Dahlia
“So...” - Company
“It Was Her” - Company
“A Lot Woise” - Timmy, Yonkers, Skid
“He Needs a Partner” - Company
“So What if I Did?” - Company
“A Friend Like You” - Company
“A Friend Like You (Reprise)” - Marcus
“Henry Vivaldi” - Henry Vivaldi
“Process of Elimination” - Company
“Steppin’ Out of the Shadows” - Dahlia
“Finale (I Need a Partner / Protocol Says)” - Company
“Finale Ultimo (A Friend Like You)”
Murder for Two is orchestrated for 1 piano and played by 2 actors in various character roles.
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway, Pop/Rock, Jazz
  • Dance Requirements None
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

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2 Piano-Vocal

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Authors

Author

Joe Kinosian

Author

Kellen Blair

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