Extra... Extra... Read All About It: Murder at the Eureka Theatre. Witnesses Leave Laughing.

Last season we began asking our audiences to give us their unabashed reviews of our shows. Although we didn't specifically ask our audience this season, I found an unsolicited review on Goldstar.  Here is the review, with kind permission.  My guest blogger Gregory Alonzo.

Kinosian and Blair have publicly professed their allegiance to the conventions of the venerable musicals of a bygone era. The truth is, however, that they’ve composed a minor classic all their own that is as much subversive as it is respectful to the genre. That is no mean feat!

The nonstop humor is played with both broad and subtle strokes, and a perpetual droll wink, by a talented cast of two. To his credit, Adam Overett plays the straight man with enough comic alacrity and musical finesse to weather the force of nature that is Joe Kinosian. It's a daunting task, to say the least, and he succeeds admirably.

Kinosian, co-creator of the piece, adroitly performs ten discrete characters with a near boundless élan. The sheer physical and mental dexterity needed to convincingly portray several personalities while maintaining an insouciant charm is a genuine tour de force. The man is truly possessed with a prodigious, albeit demonic, talent!

Inasmuch as this comedy is also a musical, one is obliged to mention that the catchy melodies don’t wield quite the same impact as the masterfully honed wit of the lyrics. And Kinosian’s singing voice, while more than adequate, doesn’t live up to his acting prowess.

If one were to make a suggestion, despite its relative brevity, the show would benefit from an intermission. It can actually be exhausting just watching Kinosian, and one does detect a slight waning of both endurance and comic-timing during the latter half.

Be that as it may, this successful exercise in manic hilarity is as fun as it gets in live theatre. And it’s hard to imagine a better venue for this scale of production than the cozy ambiance of the Eureka Theatre. Go see it-now!

A native San Franciscan, Greg is an inveterate theatergoer. His day job is as an attorney with a solo practice in San Jose.

Need more reviews?

Here they are, and no spoilers... but they are raves!

Robert Sokol for the San Francisco Examiner

Pat Craig for the Mercury News

George Heymont for My Cultural Landscape

Richard Dodd for the Bay Area Reporter

Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave for BeyondChron

Purchase tickets to 42nd Street Moon's West Coast Premiere of Murder for Two, A Killer Musical by calling (415) 255-8207 or click here.

Where Where Were You On the Night Of : An Interview with the Creators of Murder for Two

Our journey into the minds of Murder for Two, A Killer Musical co-creators Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair continues. Today, we discover how the show has changed over the past year and a half.

Hear some more...

                    Part 1                                        Part 2                                        Part 3

     

  
Don't miss your chance to see the West Coast premiere of Murder for Two, a Killer Musical. Playing Nov. 3 through Nov. 21, 2010 at the Eureka Theatre.  For tickets, call (415) 255-8207 or click here.

Just the Facts Ma'am: An Interview with the Creators of Murder for Two

Join Kellen Blair (Book / Lyrics) and Joe Kinosian (Book / Music) -- in part three of this multi-part interview -- as they discuss their musical theatre influences and why Murder for Two, a Killer Musical will be a hit with 42nd Street Moon's audience.

Need to catch up?

Part 1                                                    Part 2

  

If you'd like to see Murder for Two, a Killer Musical, get your tickets early.  This West Coast Premiere has a limited run and will sell out!  Call (415) 255-8207 or see our website.

Questioning the Suspects: An Interview with the Creators of Murder for Two

In part two of our multi-part interview with Joe Kinosian (composer/co-book writer) and Kellen Blair (lyricist/co-book writer), Joe tells us about his 12 characters in Murder for Two, as well as his multiple roles in the creation of the show.

If you missed part one, click here for my last blog.

If you'd like to see Murder for Two, get your tickets early.  Call (415) 255-8207 or see our website.  Tickets go on sale August 17.

Let the Interrogation Begin: Interviewing the Creators of Murder For Two

There are so many things to be excited about next season at 42nd Street Moon, but for me personally, the most exciting is the production of Murder For Two: A Killer Musical.

This is the first time Moon has produced a brand new work.  San Francisco will be the first major city to produce this hilarious and innovative work.

Murder For Two is two parts Agatha Christie, mixed with one part old-fashioned musical comedy, added to that, a dash of 21st century flair (shaken, not stirred).

I had a wonderful opportunity to talk to the creators of Murder while in New York back in March.  This is a multi-part interview (each is about 2.5 to 4 min long), which will be posted over the next few months. There are also exclusive interview "snippets" (30 seconds to a minute each) that will only be found on Facebook, so if you haven't "become a fan" of 42nd Street Moon on Facebook, now is a good time!

In part 1 we meet the creators and learn their motivations for writing Murder For Two.

If you'd like to join us for our 18th Season and reserve your seats for Murder For Two, click here.  Otherwise, single tickets will go on sale August 15, 2010 and can be purhcased online or by calling us at (415) 255-8207.

Cast of Thousands (well dozens, anyway.) - Update

For a small theatre company, 42nd Street Moon definitely boast some pretty large casts.  This fall 31 actors will grace the Eureka's stage.

Considering that our second show, Murder For Two, has only has two actors in it.  That leaves 30 actors for A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (16 actors) and Babes In Arms (14 actors).  For those of you who are trying to figure out how 16 + 14 + 2 = 31, you'll see below.

I thought I'd share with you the casts for the Fall 2010 Season. There is only one role left to be  cast, but once it is, you my dear readers will be the first to know.

As I'm sure most of you know, Moon shows generally have about a 50/50 split between new and returning cast members. Next season, we're gonna be seeing a whole lot of new faces!

Twenty of the 31 actors comprising the casts A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Murder For Two, and Babes In Arms are new faces to Moon. (They are denoted below with a double asterisk.)

But that doesn't mean there won't be some Moon favorites as well!

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
PSEUDOLUS – Megan Cavanagh, our Moonie favorite from Jubilee, High Spirits, and Out of This World, will be heading our Forum Cast. Megan has also appeared in the major blockbusters A League of Their Own, and Mel Brooks' Robin Hood Men in Tights. Currently touring in Menopause: The Musical, she will be joining us this October for her fourth show with 42nd Street Moon.

HYSTERIUM – Mike Rhone**

PHILIA – Meghan Ihle**
HERO – Luke Chapman
SENEX – Bob Greene
DOMINA – Chris Macomber
MARCUS LYCUS – Rudy Guerrero
MILES GLORIOSUS – Rob Hatzenbeller
ERRONIUS – Elmer Strasser**
GYMNASIA – Kate Paul**
VIBRATA – Christine Bagube**
TINTINABULA – Janine Burgener**
FIRST PROTEAN – Isaiah Boyd**
SECOND PROTEAN – Jack Sale**
THIRD PROTEAN – Tyler Costin**


Murder For Two

ALL 13 SUSPECTS - Joe Kinosian**
Joe isn't just starring as 13 different characters (the Peter Sellers of our day perhaps?) But he also co-wrote the book, composed the music, and created 13 character backstories for Murder For Two. This is truly a tour de force and you won't want to miss it. Look for a multi-part series of interviews with Joe and co-writer/lyricist Kellen Blair, here on the blog. There will be additional footage of the interview exclusively on facebook.

*** UPDATE (7/20/2010)***

Adam Overett has been cast as Detective Marcus.

*** END UPDATE***

Babes In Arms
[Babes is an extra special case. Not only are there a number of new actors, but there is some amazing young talent in this show. Starting at age 10, Annie Donahey first joined Moon for Finian's Rainbow. She is now a seasoned actress at age 17!  At at age 13, Gabriel Stephens will be the youngest actor to work with Moon since Ben Franklin in Paris. We are so happy to have so many wonderful young actors working with us on Babes In Arms.]

VAL – Michael Scott Wells **
BILLIE – Alexandra Kaprielian
GUS – Caleb Haven Draper
BABY ROSE – Sophia Rose Morris **
MARSHALL – Joshua James **
DOLORES – Tyner Rushing **
PETER – Jonathan Shue**
IRVING DE QUINCY – Isaiah Boyd (making his debut in Forum)
LEE CALHOUN/FLAMBEAU – Zak Franczak
SAM REYNOLDS – Ben Euphrat **
PENNY – Maeve Martin **
BEAUREGARDE – Gabriel Stephens **
MAIZIE – Annie Donahey
SHERIFF REYNOLDS/DAN LaMAR – Dirk Leatherman **


We are so happy to have all these new actors become Moonies (no Kool-aid needed). If you'd like a chance to see them all next season, consider a season subscription. Click here.