
The work, which received a Seattle premiere co-produced by A.C.T. and the 5th Avenue Theatre, features a book by Austin Winsberg ("Gossip Girl"), with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed). Previews are scheduled to begin July 9 at The Longacre Theatre.
Bill Berry (producing director of The 5th Avenue Theatre), who helmed the world premiere, will direct the Broadway production, and Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) will provide musical staging. Opening night is set for Aug. 8.
The cast also includes Sara Chase ("Arrested Development," The Toxic Avenger), Kristoffer Cusick (Wicked, Rent), Blake Hammond (Sister Act, Billy Elliot), Kate Loprest ("Boardwalk Empire," Hairspray) and Vicki Noon (Wicked, Mamma Mia!).
Here's how the new Broadway musical is billed: "When tightly wound Aaron (Levi) is set up with serial-dater Casey (Rodriguez) a quick 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 they are not alone on this date as Casey and Aaron's inner critics take on a life of their own when other restaurant patrons and the wait staff get into the act. Dinner is served with sides of Google background checks, fake emergency phone calls, supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents, who sing and dance them through ice-breakers, appetizers and potential conversational land mines. First Date is Broadway's new hysterical and hopeful new musical about the chances we take to find love."
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Krysta Rodriguez |
First Date is produced by Junkyard Dog Productions (Randy Adams, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff, Sue Frost) in association withStem Productions, Altar Identity Studios, Alex and Katya Lukianov, Susan W. and James C. Blair Family LP, Linda and Bill Potter, Yasuhiro Kawana, Vijay and Sita Vashee, Elim Enterprises LLP, Kevin and Lynn Foley, Jeff and Julie Goldstein, Edward and Mimi Kirsch, Paula and Stephen Reynolds, Tony Meola/John Yonover, ShadowCatcher Entertainment /Tom and Connie Walsh, and Pat Halloran/Laura Little Entertainment.
The musical was originally co-produced by The 5th Avenue Theatre (David Armstrong, executive producer and artistic director; Bernadine Griffin, managing director, Bill Berry, producing director) and A Contemporary Theatre Seattle, WA (Kurt Beattie, artistic director, and Carlo Scandiuzzi, executive director).
Visit FirstDateTheMusical.com.