A perfect blend of Music, Mayhem, and Murder!
Murder for Two
DATES July 31-August 17, 2025
RUN TIME Approximately 95 minutes, no intermission.
PRICE $20-$75
PLAYWRIGHT Book and Music by Joe Kinosian and Book and Lyrics by Kellen Blair
a co-production with Cortland Repertory Theatre
Two actors play 13 roles, and the piano as small town cop Marcus Moscowicz dreams of becoming a detective. When a novelist is struck dead (at his own birthday party no less) Moscowicz gets on the scene and tries to solve the case before the real detective arrives.
“Ingenious! A snazzy double-act that spins out a comic mystery animated by funny, deftly turned songs.” – The New York Times
Murder for Two is a hilarious tour de force that has been taking the world by storm for over a decade. Following the well-tuned comic antics of ten suspects, a rookie officer, and a murder (or two!) this show has it all. Stay tuned for laughs, a killer score, and a killer you won’t see coming. Murder for Two had its World Premiere on May 12, 2011 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago, IL.; Barbara Gaines, Artistic Director; Chris Henderson, Executive Director. It was then mounted at Second Stage in New York City and has had successful productions in the United Kingdom and Australia, and in translation in China, Japan, South Korea, Poland, Finland, Chile, and Argentina.
Industry Night
- Wed, Aug 6, 7:30pm
On sale 12pm until show time, day of show, in person only..
Pay-What-You-Can
- Thu, Jul 31, 7:30pm
- Thu, Aug 07, 2:00pm
- Sat, Aug 09, 7:30pm
- Thu, Aug 14, 2:00pm
On sale 12pm until show time, day of show, in person only..
Joe Kinosian (Book and Music) Joe is the composer and co-bookwriter (with lyricist Kellen Blair) of Murder for Two, which he’s also performed in over 700 times. Murder for Two had its world premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, receiving the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Musical and earning Joe a nomination for Best Leading Actor, before going on to an acclaimed off-Broadway run, where it earned Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations. A two-year national tour and well-received productions in Japan, China, Korea, England, Chile, and Argentina followed. Joe’s work with Kellen has been showcased at The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and on Broadway at the Theatre World Awards, and their new backstage musical/farce is currently in development at Second Stage Theater. In addition, Joe (with Marcus Stevens) adapted the children’s book Dragons Love Tacos into a successful touring musical. Joe is the recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Award, selected and presented by Stephen Schwartz, and the Harrington Award from the BMI Workshop. His acting credits include Dear Edwina (off-Broadway), as well as regional productions of Dirty Blonde with Emily Skinner, An Act of God, and the title role in The Nerd. kinosianandblair.com
Kellen Blair (Book and Lyrics) is the Drama Desk nominated co-creator of Murder for Two, the murder mystery musical comedy that ran for a year off-Broadway and has been continuously produced across the United States and internationally since 2014. The show earned Kellen (and co-writer Joe Kinosian) the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Musical Work in Chicago and the ASCAP Foundation Mary Rodgers / Lorenz Hart Award for their contribution to musical theatre. Kellen’s lyrics have been heard on Broadway stages (at the Theatre World Awards), at the Kennedy Center, and in theatres across the country. His other musical works include Scrooge in Love (available to license through Tams-Witmark), Just Between the All of Us (an immersive musical comedy commissioned by Pittsburgh CLO), and Diane Steals the Show (being developed with Second Stage Theatre). In addition to writing for the theater, Kellen enjoys writing fiction and poetry. He teaches film and playwriting in New York City, where he lives with his wife and young son. kinosianandblair.com
Marcus Joe Bliss
The Suspects Robbie Harrison
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* Member, Actor's Equity Association
** Member, United Scenic Artists
Director Melanie Keller
Music Director Nicolás Guerrero
Scenic Designer Anita Stewart**
Costume Designer Mark Reynolds
Lighting Designer Mary Lana Rice
Sound Designer Seth Asa Sengel
Stage Manager Meg Lydon*
Melanie Keller
Joe Bliss
Robbie Harrison