When tightly wound Aaron (Zachary Levi) is set up with serial-dater Casey (Krysta 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.
Broadway’s latest addition, First Date, is a musical comedy gem starring Zachary Levi (‘Chuck’) and Krysta Rodriguez (‘Smash’). While you quickly fall in love with Aaron’s geeky, nervous behavior, go-getter Casey takes longer to warm up to, but their witty banter throughout the show gets you there. The couple’s date is interrupted throughout the show with advice from friends and siblings, reprimanding by parents, and more. While interruptions during dates are usually not a good thing, these forays into song and dance are the best parts of the show. Whether bantering over religion, bail-your-friend-out-of-a-bad-date phone calls, or tearing your ex to shreds, the songs will make you laugh out loud in your seats and probably bring up some old memories from your own dating experiences. First Date could certainly score a second date with us!
The cast, featuring Sara Chase, Kristoffer Cusick, Blake Hammond, Kate Loprest and Bryce Ryness, does an outstanding job portraying an array of characters throughout the course of the evening. Blake’s performance was particularly heartwarming, while Kristoffer kept me laughing the entire show. Although the show is, in essence a comedy, it is highly relatable and speaks to the audience about taking chances, opening up, and finding love. By the end of the night you will be swooning over the two lovebirds. Date night, anyone?
Ticket prices range from $37-$137 and can be purchased here.
First Date is now playing at Longacre Theater located at 220 W. 48th Street.
