POSTPONED DUE TO LOCKDOWNS

MURDER FOR TWO

Music and lyrics by JOE KINOSIAN

Book and lyrics by KELLEN BLAIR

May 21st - 31st 2020

Alex Theatre, St. Kilda

Postponed due to Melbourne lockdowns, Murder For Two was originally intended to be part of Antipodes Theatre Company's 2020 Season and would have been the Australian Premiere.

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!

Runtime: 90 minutes, no interval

Recommended for audiences: 12+, parental discretion is advised.

Warnings: No Special Cautions

Cast: Unannounced

Music and lyrics: JOE KINOSIAN (he/him)

Book and lyrics: KELLEN BLAIR (he/him)

Director: LAUREN MCKENNA (she/her)

Musical Director: DAVID BUTLER (he/him)

Producer: BRANDON PAPE (he/him)

Biographies are available below.

Meet the Team

Joe Kinosian

He/Him
MUSIC & LYRICS
Joe Kinosian is the composer and co-bookwriter of Murder For Two, which 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. Since its off-Broadway run, there have been many acclaimed productions of Murder For Two across the country and around the world. It Came From Outer Space, Joe’s next musical with collaborator Kellen Blair, is currently slated for Chicago Shakespeare’s next season. Regional acting credits include Two Pianos, Four Hands, An Act of God, Dirty Blonde, and the title role in The Nerd. Joe was also the arranger for, and performed in, The Gorgeous Nothings: In Concert, produced by Life Jacket Theater, which sold out its run at Joe’s Pub and was subsequently broadcast by Playbill.com. His work has appeared at The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and on Broadway at the Theater World Awards.Description goes here
Kellen Blair

He/Him
BOOK & LYRICS
Kellen Blair 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.
Lauren McKenna

She/Her
DIRECTOR
Lauren McKenna takes the reins as director. Lauren is a prolific figure in Australian musical theatre, with directorial credits including DREAMSONG (EbbFlow Theatre), MAD WORLD (David Butler Studios) and the upcoming CHEEKY (Hayes Theatre Co.).
David Butler

He/Him
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
David Bulter is a founding member of Antipodes and is director of David Butler Studio. David is currently nominated for a Green Room Award for his music direction on our recent production of GHOST QUARTET. Previous MD credits include MAD WORLD (David Butler Studio), FALSETTOS (StageArt, Green Room Award Nomination) and INTO THE WOODS (Bottled Snail Productions).
Brandon Pape

He/Him
PRODUCER
Brandon is the Artistic Director for Antipodes Theatre Company. Melbourne credits: GhostQuartet, #Really?! with Mel andPeppy, Bowie Ball,Mad World, From: New York, For: Him.NYC credits: the world premieres of Only You Can Prevent Wildfires, Happily After Ever (also Edinburgh Fringe), and Gordy Crashes for RicochetCollective (which he also co-founded)and several projects as resident producer with The Orchard Project andThe Drama League. Favorite directing credits include The Last Five Years, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Shape of Things, and Big Love. @midwestrunaway