MURDER FOR TWO Brings Music, Mayhem and Murder to Park Square Tonight

Park Square continues its 41st season next month with the Minnesota premiere of the musical comedy MURDER FOR TWO on the Andy Boss Thrust Stage. The whodunit by Kellen Blair (book and lyrics) and Joe Kinosian (book and music) is the perfect blend of music, mayhem and murder. In this hilarious 90-minute show, two performers play thirteen roles -- not to mention the piano -- in a witty and winking homage to old-fashioned murder mysteries.

"This high-octane musical mystery extravaganza demands a tour de force performance from two comedic-piano playing-singer-actors," says director Randy Reyes. Stephen Houtz musical directs the caper, which the New York Times called "Ingenious! A snazzy double-act that spins out a comic mystery animated by funny, deftly turned songs."

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! With the nearest detective an hour away, Marcus jumps at the chance to prove his sleuthing skills. Everyone is a suspect in this hilarious miniature musical murder mystery filled with patter songs and comic ballads. One actor (Nic Delcambre) in this daring Vaudevillian duo investigates the crime. The other (Andrea Wollenberg*) plays all the suspects. And they both play the piano.

On the heels of Park Square's highly popular Sherlock Holmes adaptations, MURDER FOR TWO continues a new tradition of mystery plays at Park Square. Inspired by Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, and the hard-boiled heroes of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, MURDER FOR TWO adds a lethal dose of healthy humor to the surprise and shocks of literature's best whodunits. The show is produced with special support from Park Square's Mystery Writers Producers' Club and Wells Pianos.

The MURDER FOR TWO production team includes Aaron Chvatal (Costume Designer), Sarah Brandner (Set Designer), and Michael P. Kittel (Lighting Designer), Anita Kelling (Sound Designer), and Sadie Ward (Properties Designer).

Park Square will continue its season in November with Athol Fugard's searing and timely drama My Children! My Africa! (November 11-29) on the Andy Boss Thrust Stage.

MURDER FOR TWO Performance Schedule: Previews begin tonight, September 18 and run through September 24. September 25 is Opening Night, and the run continues through November 1. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. except for Saturday and Sunday matinees, which begin at 2 p.m. All performances are in the company's Andy Boss Thrust Stage in the lower level of Saint Paul's historic Hamm Building, 408 St. Peter Street.

Ticket prices: Previews: $27 and $37. Regular Run: $40 and $60. A $2 facility fee will be added to each ticket to help maintain Park Square's two stages. Discounts are available for seniors, those under age 30, and groups. Tickets are on sale at the Park Square ticket office, 20 W. Seventh Place, or by phone: 651.291.7005, (12 noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday), or online at www.parksquaretheatre.org.

*Member, Actors Equity Association