RISE & SHINE BROADWAY FANS! It’s the first day of November 2020. We are just 25 DAYS AWAY from New York’s legendary MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET in a whole new way despite the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual event goes by another name which rings in the holiday season…. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. To still show our love and appreciation for this landmark tradition and the Broadway Theater scene, we are continuing on with our TOP 30 BROADWAY AT MACY’S COUNTDOWN.
At # 25 on our countdown, we spend a day in the life of romance in New York City when there is no coronavirus spreading. So many people have dreams to find a special soulmate in their life, However, there are some do's and don'ts to building that perfect relationship. This timeless show is a celebration of all of that…. Mainly, it centers on the blind date of a quirky conservative banker and an artsy serial-dater. Yup, It's First Date The Musical. The show features an original score by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner along with a book by Austin Winsberg
From the 2013 CBS telecast direct from the stage of Broadway's Longacre Theatre, Zachary Levi as "Aaron", Krysta Rodriguez as "Casey", and the cast perform a medley of the show's opening number THE ONE and the finale SOMETHING THAT WILL LAST.
The show originally was developed and premiered in Seattle, Washington at the
ACT Theatre (in association with The 5th Avenue Theatre) back in 2012. Under the direction of Bill Berry and staging by Josh Rhodes, the world premiere cast consisted of….
Eric Ankrim as "Aaron",
Kelly Karbacz Griffith as "Casey",
Billie Wildrick as "Grandma Ida", "Lauren", & others,
Vicki Noon as "Allison" & others,
Brandon O'Neill as "Gabe", & others,
Benjamin Harris as "Reggie" & others,
Richard Gray as "The Waiter" "The Therapist" & others,
and
Greg McCormick Allen as "Casey's Father" & others.
The show went through various changes and officially arrived on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre back in 2013 for a complete total of 208 performances. The show received mixed reviews but a huge cult following. With Bill Berry's direction and Josh Rhodes' choreography, this cast featured….
Zachary Levi as "Aaron",
Krysta Rodriguez as "Casey",
Sara Chase as "Grandma Ida", "Lauren", & others,
Kate Loprest as "Allison" & others,
Bryce Ryness as "Gabe" & others",
Kristoffer Cusick as "Reggie" & others,
and
Blake Hammond as "The Waiter" "The Therapist" "Casey's Father", & others.
In addition, Eric Ankrim and Vicki Noon continued with the show serving as standbys. Both performers have went on for their original Seattle roles on Broadway.
The show did not receive and nominations or wins for the Tony Awards in 2014.
Following the success of Broadway, FIRST DATE began its life being performed in schools, community, and regional theaters around the world including productions in Japan, Buenos Aires, and Melbourne.
The musical was also set to make its UK debut in London along with a National Tour this Fall 2020 (led by Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo). However, all productions have been postponed till further notice.
However during this continued time of the COVID-19 pandemic most recently, a virtual production of FIRST DATE was filmed and live-streamed in London…almost in the style of a movie. It was streamed for a limited 3 nights. Produced by Lambert Jackson and The Crazy Coqs along with direction by Dean Johnson, the cast was led by….
Simon Lipkin as “Aaron”,
Samantha Barks as “Casey”,
Danielle Seers as “Allison, Grandma Ida”, Lauren, & others,
Nicholas McLean as “Reggie” & Others,
and
Oscar Conlon-Morrey as “The Waiter” & Others.
FUN FACT: NYBT Tour Guide Michael is real life cousin of Sara Chase (one of the original cast members from Broadway). In the video, Vicki Noon is performing in Sara's track.
Isn't this show such a love letter of LOVE in New York?
#BroadwayAtMacysCountdown #LetsHaveAParade #BroadwayWillBeBack #Miracleon34thStreet #MacysParade
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