Murder for Two

{{Short description|2011 musical comedy}}

{{Infobox Musical

|name= Murder for Two

|book= Kellen Blair, Joe Kinosian

|lyrics= Kellen Blair

|music= Joe Kinosian

}}

Murder for Two is a musical comedy, with book and lyrics by Kellen Blair and book and music by Joe Kinosian. The musical is a whodunit for two actors, who both sing and play an onstage piano. One actor performs the role of a policeman investigating a murder, and the other performs the roles of all the suspects and other characters.{{cite news |last1=Isherwood |first1=Charles |title=In the Musical 'Murder for Two,' One Man Is Many Suspects |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/theater/reviews/in-the-musical-murder-for-two-one-man-is-many-suspects.html |work=The New York Times |date=25 August 2013}}

The musical premiered at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2011,{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Chris |title=Without a real killer, this 'Murder' a misdemeanor |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-xpm-2011-05-17-ct-live-0518-murder-review-20110517-story.html |work=The Chicago Tribune |date=17 May 2011}} where it won a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Musical.{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Chris |title='Madness' and 'Candide' are top Jeff Award winners |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-xpm-2011-11-07-ct-ent-1108-jeff-awards-20111107-story.html |work=The Chicago Tribune |date=7 November 2011}} From 2013 to 2014, it ran off-Broadway at the McGinn/Cazale Theater and New World Stages in New York,{{cite news |last1=Isherwood |first1=Charles |title='Murder for Two' Moves to New World Stages |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/07/theater/reviews/murder-for-two-moves-to-new-world-stages.html |work=The New York Times |date=29 June 2014}} where it was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical,{{cite news |title=2014 Drama Desk Award Nominations - GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE Leads with 12; Followed by BRIDGES, FUN HOME, ALADDIN, ROCKY & More |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/2014-Drama-Desk-Award-Nominations-GENTLEMANS-GUIDE-Leads-with-12-Followed-by-BRIDGES-FUN-HOME-ALADDIN-ROCKY-More-20140425 |work=BroadwayWorld.com |date=25 April 2014 |language=en}} as well as an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical.{{cite news |last1=Gans |first1=Andrew |title=64th Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; Gentleman's Guide Wins Four Awards |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/64th-annual-outer-critics-circle-award-winners-announced-gentlemans-guide-wins-four-awards-com-218223 |work=Playbill |date=12 May 2014 |language=en}} The original Off-Broadway cast featured Jeff Blumenkrantz as the Suspects, and Brett Ryback as Marcus. The production was directed by [https://scottschwartzdirector.com/Scott_Schwartz_Theater_Director/Bio.html Scott Schwartz].{{Cite web |last=Gioia |first=Michael |date=June 29, 2014 |title=Mystery Solved! Off-Broadway's Murder for Two Closes |url=https://playbill.com/article/mystery-solved-off-broadways-murder-for-two-closes-com-218538 |website=Playbill.com}} The musical toured the United States in 2015,{{cite news |last1=Gioia |first1=Michael |title=Whodunit Musical Murder For Two Announces Tour Dates in Nine Cities |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/whodunit-musical-murder-for-two-announces-tour-dates-in-nine-cities-com-336483 |work=Playbill |date=2 December 2014 |language=en}} has been licensed for performances in St. Paul,{{cite news |title=Park Square's 'Murder for Two' is more about fun than mystery |url=https://www.twincities.com/2015/09/25/park-squares-murder-for-two-is-more-about-fun-than-mystery/ |work=The Pioneer Press |date=25 September 2015}} Fort Worth,{{cite news |last1=Shaw |first1=Punch |title='Murder for Two' slays with music and mirth |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/living/article116475793.html |work=The Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=22 November 2016 |language=en}} Boston,{{cite news |last1=Aucoin |first1=Don |title=A whimsical duo at the scene of the crime in Lyric Stage's 'Murder for Two' - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater/dance/2016/11/28/whimsical-duo-scene-crime-lyric-stage-murder-for-two/d44NRvgRlJ39jYMZoRsWVN/story.html |work=The Boston Globe |date=27 November 2016}} and Seattle,{{cite news |last1=Brendan |first1=Kiley |title=How to build a theater season — ACT director John Langs takes us behind the scenes |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/theater/how-to-build-a-theater-season-act-director-john-langs-takes-us-behind-the-scenes/ |work=The Seattle Times |date=4 October 2016}} and has been performed abroad in Canada,{{cite news |last1=Hobson |first1=Louis B. |title=Stage West's Murder for Two relies on versatile actors in high-energy whodunnit |url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/theatre/stage-wests-the-suspects-relies-on-versatile-actors-for-high-energy-whodunnit |work=The Calgary Herald |date=29 June 2017 |language=en}} the United Kingdom,{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Lyn |title=Murder for Two review – hotshot duo deliver a musical whodunnit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/jan/31/for-two-review-watermill-bagnor |work=The Guardian |date=31 January 2017}} Argentina,{{cite news |title="Asesinato para dos" en el Cultural San Martín |url=https://parabuenosaires.com/asesinato-para-dos-en-el-cultural-san-martin/ |work=Parabuenosaires.com |date=8 May 2017 |language=es}} and Chile.{{cite news |title=Cuti Aste y José Martínez actúan, bailan y cantan en Las Condes |url=http://finde.latercera.com/panorama/centro-cultural-de-las-condes-asesinato-para-dos/2018-06-24/ |work=La Tercera |date=24 June 2018 |language=es-CL}}