“Two dow shay” is a spoonerism for “two show day.” Two shows a day is a business day in the theater, and the joke is that it’s so exhausting that even the term can’t be said properly. “Two dow shay” has been printed on several T-shirts.
   
“Wants a puppy but instead gets to work a two dow shay! FML” was posted on Twitter by Paul O’Toole on May 2, 2009. “TWO DOW SHAY….for those not in my company, that is two day show” was posted on Twitter by Kevin Gutches on May 9, 2009. “A two dow shay! We’re all in this together” was posted on Twitter by Paul O’Toole on May 16, 2009. “People who use ‘Two Dow Shay’ make me want to die. In other news, we have a TWO SHOW DAY for Caesar!” was posted on Twitter by Alli on November 16, 2013.
 
“2 dow shay here at The Mia” was posted on Twitter by donell.✨ on August 1, 2009. “2 Dow Shay!!!” was posted on Twitter by Tony Howell on August 21, 2009. “2 dow shay” was posted on Twitter by D.M.K. on June 26, 2010.
   
     
Twitter
Paul O’Toole
@paultotoole
Wants a puppy but instead gets to work a two dow shay! FML
12:22 PM · May 2, 2009
   
Twitter
Kevin Gutches
@GutchGutch
TWO DOW SHAY….for those not in my company, that is two day show. We are not very tricky, just plain.. over IT!
12:04 PM · May 9, 2009
   
Twitter
Paul O’Toole
@paultotoole
A two dow shay! We’re all in this together.
11:18 AM · May 16, 2009
   
Twitter
Paul O’Toole
@paultotoole
Another two dow shay. The rest of the week is one dow shays though, so that’s good.
1:45 PM · Jul 23, 2009
   
Twitter
donell.✨
@TheDJF_
2 dow shay here at The Mia. I’m gonna try and see if I can find a way for my body NOT to crash halfway through act 2 of the matinee.
12:07 PM · Aug 1, 2009
   
Twitter
Tony Howell
@tonyhowell
2 Dow Shay!!!
12:52 AM · Aug 21, 2009
   
Twitter
alyysaurusrex
@AlyLeo1022
Two dow shay.
6:48 PM · Dec 6, 2009
   
Twitter
D.M.K.
@stagelight17
2 dow shay.
11:54 AM · Jun 26, 2010
   
Twitter
Ryan Lammer
@RyanLammer
Two dow shay
1:19 PM · Jul 22, 2010
     
Twitter
Walter Tillman ☮️
@wdtillman
Getting ready for another two show day… (Are you happy I didn’t use “two dow shay,” Claus?)
2:46 PM · Aug 22, 2010
 
Twitter
kevin
@kevintcurtis
2 dow shay
2:33 PM · Dec 23, 2010
   
Twitter
Andrew Eckert
@AndrewREckert
I do not find it endearing when people say “two dow shay”...if you have two shows on one day, it’s a two show day, NOT the former!
4:15 PM · Jul 20, 2011
   
Twitter
Alli
@IHateAlliNoto
People who use ‘Two Dow Shay’ make me want to die. In other news, we have a TWO SHOW DAY for Caesar! @ 12 and 5! Watch us #StabCorwin!
9:48 AM · Nov 16, 2013
   
Twitter
Holiday Szn..Dee Marie✨
@itsmee_deemarie
“I gotta go to bed bc we got a 2 do shay tomorrow.” -friend
“2 dow shay? You mean 2 show day?” -other friend
“Yeah that too.”
She’s tired it guess lol
12:46 PM · Dec 16, 2017
   
Twitter
Jboogie
@joanna_caruso
3 show day**** 3 dow shay****
1:52 PM · Feb 17, 2018 from Fayetteville, NC
 
YouTube
Lin-Manuel Miranda Teaches You Broadway Slang | Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair
Nov 27, 2018
Vanity Fair cover star Lin-Manuel Miranda teaches you Broadway slang.
 
Vanity Fair
SLANG SCHOOL | SEASON 1 | EPISODE 35
Lin-Manuel Miranda Teaches You Broadway Slang
Vanity Fair cover star Lin-Manuel Miranda teaches you Broadway slang.
Released on 11/27/2018
Transcript
(...)
Two dow shay.
That is a two show day.
We cope with two show days in different ways.
When I was doing Hamilton I actually made an arrangement
with the wonderful Paramount Hotel
across the street from the Richard Rodgers.
They would give me a hotel room key
and I would take a hot bath in between shows
and just soak.
It was like my mental and physical reset.
 
Twitter
Lay
@seasonsoflay
My favorite part of a two show day is saying two dow shay sorry not sorry
4:09 PM · Feb 29, 2020
 
Twitter
Justen Willhite 🎭
@midhitedrama
It’s a TWO DOW SHAY! (translation; two show day) So excited to see some MORE Spartans take the stage! Raise your voice,
@northmentheatre
! 🥹
7:55 PM · Nov 12, 2022 from Oak Park High School