Second Stage Uptown Extends MURDER FOR TWO Through 8/17

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) extends its New York premiere musical comedy Murder For Two, with book and music by Joe Kinosian, book and lyrics by Kellen Blair and directed by Scott Schwartz prior to opening through August 17. Murder for Two features Jeff Blumenkrantz (How to Succeed...) and Brett Ryback (The History Boys at Ahmanson). Previews began on July 10 and opening night is Thursday, July 25.

Murder For Two is presented at Second Stage Theatre's uptown home, the McGinn/Cazale Theatre on Broadway at 76th Street. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased by calling the Second Stage Theatre Box Office at 212-246-4422 or online at www.2ST.com.

Mixing classic musical comedy with a dash of Agatha Christie, everyone is a suspect in this house of eccentric characters unfazed by the dead body on the floor. But this whodunit comes with a killer twist: one actor investigates the crime (Brett Ryback), the other plays all thirteen suspects (Jeff Blumenkrantz), and they both play the piano! This madcap mystery will tickle the ivories and your funny bone.

Murder For Two features scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Andrea Lauer, lighting design by Jason Lyons and sound design by Jill BC DuBoff.

Created as a program to help develop and provide exposure for the voices of a new generation of theatre artists, the Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series(Christopher Burney, Curator & Associate Artistic Director), seeks to develop the skills of emerging playwrights, to provide early-career artists with the support of a major artistic institution, and to create new plays for the American Theatre. Each show has a limited rehearsal period, as well as a streamlined budget. Lead funding for Second Stage Uptown Series is provided by the Time Warner Foundation.

The series was among the first established by a prominent Off-Broadway institution to help nurture and advance the careers of young up and coming playwrights. Since its founding in 2002 the Uptown Series has showcased the works of several established playwrights including Rajiv Joseph (Gruesome Playground Injuries andBengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, "Nurse Jackie"), Leslye Headland (Bachelorette), Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Good Boys and True, HBO's "Big Love," "Glee"),Adam Bock (A Small Fire, The Drunken City), and Brooke Berman (Hunting and Gathering); actors Gavin Creel, Ari Graynor, Marin Hinkle, Halley Feiffer, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lorenzo Pisoni, Tracie Thoms and Tracee Chimo among many others; and directors Davis McCallum, Trip Cullman, Carolyn Cantor, Evan Cabnet and Jackson Gay.