Murder For Two: Jeff Blumenkrantz re-joins Cast

Original cast member Jeff Blumenkrantz reprises his roles as 'The Suspects' in Off-Broadway's musical comedy Murder For Two at the New World Stages from 17 Mar 2014. His last performance in the production was on 19 Jan 2014, after which the show's composer Joe Kinosian assumed the roles. Blumenkrantz returns after his engagement playing The Beadle in Stephen Sondheim's 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' at the New York Philharmonic, alongside Emma Thompson.

Jeff Blumenkrantz is both a performer and composer, earning a Tony Award nomination in 2003 with 'Urban Cowboy' for Best Original Score. His Broadway credits as a performer include 'How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'(1995), 'A Class Act'(2001), 'Damn Yankees'(1994), '3 Penny Opera'(1989) and 'Into The Woods'(1987).

Murder For Two opened Off-Broadway at New World Stages on 06 Nov 2013, following previews from 23 Oct 2013, where it is playing an extended engagement through to 06 Jul 2014.

The musical opened to mixed reviews: An ingenious miniature musical in the form of a snazzy vaudevillian double-act (NY Times); The show tries hard to be breezy (NY Daily News); As subtle as a gun to the head (Variety).

Directed by Scott Schwartz, the show currently stars Jeff Blumenkrantz and Brett Ryback ("LG15: The Resistance").

Featuring music by Joe Kinosian, lyrics by Kellen Blair, with book by Joe Kinosia and Kellen Blair, Murder For Two is a unique take on the murder mystery in which one actor (Ryback) plays the detective, one actor (Blumenkrantz) plays all the suspects and they both play the piano.

Great American novelist Arthur Whitney has been shot at his surprise birthday party. Officer Marcus, who longs to shed his shoddy reputation and finally become a detective, is thrown into a zany drawing room where the list of suspects reads like a who's who of crazy, from a wife who seems more concerned about who stole the ice cream than who murdered her husband to a twelve-member boys choir that is nine members short.

The creative team features scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Andrea Lauer, lighting design by Jason Lyons and sound design by Jill BC DuBoff.

Murder For Two played an earlier New York engagement at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre from 10 Jul - 25 Aug 2013, as part of Second Stage Theatre's Uptown season.

The show is being produced Off-Broadway by Jayson Raitt, Barbara Whitman, Steven Chaikelson and Second Stage Theatre.

- by Tom Millward