Murder for Two: Joe Kinosian to join cast

Murder For Two composer Joe Kinosia is to play the roles of 'The Suspects' in the musical comedy from 20 Jan 2014. He assumes the roles from original cast member Jeff Blumenkrantz who will play his final performance on 19 Jan 2014.

Kinosia was nominated for a 2011 Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actor in a Principal Role for his portrayal of 'The Suspects' when Murder For Two had its world premiere at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago production won the 2011 Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for New Musical.

Kinosia said,

Jeff Blumenkrantz has brought his brilliant comedic chops to every single one of 'The Suspects' and I'm so excited to step into all of their shoes. I couldn't be more in awe of Jeff's talent and have delighted in watching his work at Second Stage Uptown and, currently, at New World Stages. Having played the role at Chicago Shakespeare, I'm thrilled to get a chance to do it again.

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 ('How to Succeed...') 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.