First Date the Musical on Broadway

 

 

First Date the Musical is a musical with a book by Austin Winsberg and music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner. Based around the concept of a Blind date, the musical made its world premiere during 2012 at Seattle’s ACT Theatre in a 5th Avenue Theatre co-production and made its Broadway debut August 8, 2013 at the Longacre Theatre.

 

 

What’s It all About

 

When blind date newbie Aaron (Zachary Levi; Chuck and Thor: The Dark World) is set up with serial-dater Casey (Krysta Rodriguez; Smash and The Addams Family), a casual drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a hilarious high-stakes dinner. As the date unfolds in real time, the couple quickly finds that they are not alone on this unpredictable evening. In a delightful and unexpected twist, Casey and Aaron’s inner critics take on a life of their own when other restaurant patrons transform into supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents, who sing and dance them through ice-breakers, appetizers and potential conversational land mines. Can this couple turn what could be a dating disaster into something special before the check arrives?

 

Who’s In It

 

 

 

Zachary Levi

Zachary Levi was last seen on NBC’s hit show Chuck. Levi portrayed a regular guy whose life gets scrambled when he inadvertently has government secrets downloaded into his brain while reading an email sent from a long lost friend. “Chuck” has been a media and fan favorite since its fall 2007 release and continues its popularity even after the series finale. Levi grew up in Ventura County, CA. He began acting in the theater at the early age of six, performing lead roles in regional productions such as Grease, The Outsiders, Oliver, Godspell, The Wizard of Oz, Big River and Marvin’s Room. It was this early training that ultimately brought him to the attention of Hollywood. – This is Zachary Broadway Debut

 

Krysta Rodriguez	Most recently appeared on Broadway originating the role of Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family. She originated the role of Wednesday Addams in the world premiere Chicago try-out run of the new Broadway-bound musical The Addams Family.The show received its planned debut at New York’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. After playing the role for over a year and lending her voice to the show’s original cast recording, Rodriguez left the musical on March 8, 2011. She also was in the original Broadway casts of In the Heights, Spring Awakening and Good Vibrations, as well as playing Bebe in the revival of A Chorus Line. She can currently be seen as Ana Vargas on the NBC show Smash.
Blake Hammond	Broadway: Sister Act, Elf, Billy Elliott, Hairspray, The Lion King, The Music Man, Kiss Me Kate, On the Town. Off Broadway: 6. National Tours: 6. Many Film/TV credits and a webseries at ThenWeGotHelp.com. Blake has received the LA Critics, Florida Carbonell, Chicago After Dark, and Broadwayworld.com Seattle Awards.
Bryce Ryness Broadway-Hair,Leap of Faith, Legally Blonde; Off-Broadway in Around the World in 80 Days, Hair, See Rock City	Eric Ankrim After originating the role of Aaron in Seattle’s production, Eric couldn’t be happier to experience his First Date with Broadway on this production.
Kate Loprest Wonderland, Xanadu, Drowsy Chaperone.Tour: Wicked (Glinda/Nessarose u/s)Chicago, Little House on the Prairie (Nellie Oleson). Recent: Single Girls Guide (Emma)	Kevin Kerr (Standby) Wicked (Fiyero), The Wedding Singer (Robby Hart standby), and Les Miserables (Marius). West End: Hair. Pre-Broadway: 9 to 5 (L.A.). Off-Broadway: Next to Normal
Kristoffer Cusick Broadway: Hands on a Hardbody (s/by for Benny, Jesus), Wicked (Fiyero), Saturday Night Fever (Gus).1st National Rent (Angel, u/s Mark), original Lax & Chicago Wicked (Fiyero)	Sarah Chase Broadway debut.Off-Bway The Toxic Avenger (Cast Recording), First Wives Club (San Diego Theatre Critics Award, best supporting actress).
Sydney Shepherd (Standby) Broadway debut! Recently graduated from UNCSA and was last seen in NYC as the cellist/foley artist in Sonnet Repertory Theatre’s production of The Picture of Dorian Gray.	Vicki Noon Broadway: Wicked. Tours/Regional: Mamma Mia! (Sophie), First Date (Allison), Annie Get Your Gun (Annie), Cats (Demeter).

Creative

 

Austin Winsberg

(Book) is a writer/producer for film and television. His TV credits include: Gossip Girl, Jake in Progress (Creator/Executive Producer  youngest showrunner in ABC history), Wedding Album, Still Standing and Glory Days. Winsberg has written numerous television pilots for: ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC Family. He has also written movies for: New Line, Dreamworks Animation and Warner Bros. Winsberg graduated with a Theater Arts degree from Brown University. He continues to work in theater, directing and mentoring plays for the Blank Theatre Companies Annual Young Playwrights Festival in Los Angeles.

 

Alan Zachary

(Music and Lyrics) co-wrote music and lyrics for a Broadway musical adaptation of the film Secondhand Lions (book: Rupert Holmes / Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures) which will have its world premiere at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre in September 2013. Concurrently, he is collaborating on the score for two new musicals for Broadway Across America and Warner Bros. As a frequent songwriter for Disney, Zachary co-authored book, music and lyrics for the original stage musical Twice Charmed (Soundtrack on Walt Disney Records) and has written songs and developed projects for Disney Animation, Disney Channel and theme parks around the globe. Together with Michael Weiner, Zachary has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and their songs have been translated into over 20 languages. Last year, the duo were the recipients of the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award for Broadway-bound musical theatre songwriters. Other credits include: music and lyrics for DreamWorks The Time Machine, the Folgers Coffee hit viral commercial Happy Morning, and projects for VH1, Amazon Studios, Universal, Hanna-Barbera and 20th Century Fox. www.zacharyandweiner.com

 

Michael Weiner

(Music and Lyrics) The co-composer/lyricist of First Date, an original Broadway-bound musical, which had a sold-out premiere run at Seattle’s 5th Ave/ACT Theatres last spring. Michael is also co-writing the music and lyrics for a Broadway musical adaptation of the film Secondhand Lions (book by Rupert Holmes/produced by Warner Brothers Theatre Ventures/premiering at Seattle’ 5th Ave. Theatre in September 2013). Weiner composed music for the original musical Liberty Smith, which recently enjoyed a successful premiere run at the historic Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. He is currently co-writing the scores for three new musicals: one produced by Warner Brothers, another for Broadway Across America, and a third with book by Danny Strong (Emmy/Golden Globe award-winning writer of HBO’s Game Change and Recount). For Disney, Michael has written songs and scripts for Disney Animation, Disney Channel and theme parks worldwide, including: book/songs for the hit original stage musical Twice Charmed (Soundtrack on Walt Disney Records). Additionally, Michael scored Fine Line Features’ film Man of the Century, and has created TV/Internet projects for FOX, VH1 and the Folgers Coffee hit commercial “Happy Morning. Michael is the 2012 recipient of the ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award, an award honoring the most promising new musical theatre songwriters in America.

 

Bill Berry

(Director) Has served as the producing director of the 5th Avenue Theatre since 2010. His 5th Avenue Theatre productions of First Date, Rent, The Music Man, West Side Story, Wonderful Town, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and The Wizard of Oz garnered public and critical acclaim, three Seattle Times Footlight Awards among them. His work as a freelance director was seen at Papermill Playhouse (On The Town) and in noteworthy productions of Cabaret at The Ordway (Ivie Award recipient), American Musical Theatre of San Jose, and Theatre Under the Stars.

 

Musical Numbers

 

It is all one act, so there is no intermission.

 

“The One”“ – Company
“First Impressions” – Aaron, Casey
“Bailout Song #1 – Reggie
“The Girl For You” – Company
“The Awkward Pause” – Company
“Allison’s Theme #1 – Allison
“That’s Why You Love Me – Bad Boys
“Bailout Song #2 – Reggie
“Safer”- Casey
“I’d Order Love” – Waiter
“Allison’s Theme #2 – Aaron, Allison, Gabe
“The Things I Never Said” – Aaron, Aaron’s Mother
“Bailout Song #3” – Reggie
“In Love With You” – Aaron
“The Check!” – Company
“Something That Will Last” –  Casey, Aaron, Company

 

My Review

First Up its a great night out, we can all remember our first date, it always starts awkward and warms in middle and then comes to an end. Will there be a call back or is it back to dating.com. Our two main characters Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez play all of these scenes like you are looking into a mirror. The songs all fit so well with the story, the first song “The One” is a stand out, and starts with all the supporting cast introducing us to our first date couple. Another song worth a note is the “bailout song”, where a friend calls just in case you need to escape the date (a few times). The support cast play many roles from Jewish mothers to Catholic priests in “The Girl For You” and then comes “The Awkward Pause”. The whole cast were fantastic, Zachary who makes his Broadway Debut the stage fits well. Krysta is a stand out after her great performance in TV’s “Smash” musical Hit List, her voice is amazing. I would love to see her playing the title role in “Evita”. A special mention for Blake Hammond a great performance as the barman-waiter who has seen and heard all the first dates before.

 

“First Date” Now Playing at

 

Longacre Theatre 220 W 48TH Street New York City