A.J. Shively & Jessica Janes to Lead FIRST DATE at TUTS Underground; Full Cast Announced!

Get ready for the most fun you've ever had on a date, with a cast you can't help but fall for! TUTS Underground brings you First Date, the hilarious and hopeful musical about the chances we all take to find love. This uniquely charming show runs June 11 - 21 in Zilkha Hall at The Hobby Center.

When blind date newbie Aaron is set up with serial-dater Casey, a casual drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into an uproarious high-stakes dinner 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. As the date unfolds, the couple quickly finds that they are not alone on this unpredictable evening. This is one first date you won't want to end!

?A.J. SHIVELY (Aaron) Broadway: La Cage Aux Folles; Brigadoon (Benefit Concert). Nat'l Tour: The Sound of Music. Off-Broadway: February House (The Public); Unlock'd (Prospect); ...Guide To A Successful Marriage (Cherry Lane); Things To Ruin (Second Stage); Little Airplanes Of The Heart (Ensemble Studio Theatre). Regional: Old Globe; CenterStage; George Street Playhouse; Long Wharf; TheatreWorks; Gulfshore Playhouse; NYMF; Fringe NYC. TV/Film: "The Daily Show"; Syrup; HairBrained; Nobody Walks In LA; No One Asked Me (upcoming). BFA: University of Michigan.

JESSICA JANES (Casey) is thrilled to be back at TUTS Underground! TUTS Underground: LMNOP, Reefer Madness. TUTS: The Music Man. Catastrophic Theatre: Anna Bella Eema, clean/through, American Falls, Paradise Hotel, Bluefinger, The Pine, Tamarie Cooper's Old As Hell, Tamarie Cooper's Doomsday Revue, A Very Tamarie Christmas. Stages Repertory: Panto Mother Goose, The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Theater LaB: See Rock City!, Reefer Madness. Mildred's Umbrella: The Flu Season. www.jessicajanes.net

ADAM GIBBS (Man #1) is happy to return the TUTS where he was last seen in Hello, Dolly. Recent credits: HGO's Sweeney Todd, title roles in Theatre LaB's My Name is Asher Lev and Classical Theatre Company's Dr. Faustus, Alley Theatre: Ether Dome, Our Town, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Christmas Carol, Stages Repertory: Life Could Be A Dream, Yankee Tavern, and Amy's View, Unity Theatre: Forever Plaid, Miller Outdoor: Thoroughly Modern Millie. He is a proud member of AEA.

DYLAN GODWIN (Man #3) returns to TUTS having previously appeared in The Music Man, Reefer Madness, James and the Giant Peach, Sweet Potato Queens (workshop), Beauty and the Beast and 110 in the Shade. National Tour: Fiddler on the Roof (Motel) Regional: Good People, A Christmas Carol, Ether Dome, Amadeus, Peter Pan and Our Town(Alley Theatre.) Life Could Be A Dream, AltarBoyz (Stages), The Tempest, Ubu Roi (Classical Theatre Company). Houston Press Breakout Performer 2014, Broadway World Best Supporting Actor 2014.

MARK IVY (Man #2) TUTS: Little Shop (Seymour), The Music Man (Traveling Salesman), James...Giant Peach (Centipede);TUTS Underground: Reefer Madness (Ralph); Stages: Xanadu (Thalia), Life Could Be a Dream (Eugene), Next to Normal (Henry), Rabbit Hole(Jason), Various Pantos; The Alley: A Christmas Carol (Travis, Apparition); MSYT's Alice in Wonderland (Mad Hatter); BCCM's Finian's Rainbow (Og), On the Town, etc.; Theatre LaB: True Love Lies (Royce). BFA in Musical Theatre from SHSU. HSMT and BTP alumnus! instagram/twitter:@ivyonce.

KATHRYN PORTERFIELD (Woman #2) is thrilled to be back here at TUTS! Regional Credits: The Music Man (Ensemble) at TUTS, James and the Giant Peach (Lady Bug) with HSMT, Sweet Potato Queens (Flower Tammy) at TUTS Underground, Panto: Rapunzel (Rapunzel) and Xanadu (Euterpe) at Stages Rep, Into the Woods (Lucinda) at Main Street Theater, Parade (Lucille), The Secret Garden (Martha) and Les Miserables (Fantine) at Casa Mañana.

BROOKE WILSON (Woman #1) Favorite credits: Waiting for Johnny Depp (Rita), Reefer Madness (Sally), Whorehouse (Doatsey Mae), Hands On A Hardbody (Cindy), Urban Cowboy (Sissy), Whorehouse (Shy), The Music Man (Ethel), LMNOP (Ruth/LaGreer), When You Wish, Singing In The Rain, Cats, Beauty And The Beast at TUTS, Trailer Park Musical (Jeannie), Full Monty (Georgie), RENT (Maureen), Trailer Park Musical (Pippi), Evita (Eva cover), The Water Coolers (Judy) (nat'l/inat'l tours), Honky Tonk Angels (Sue Ellen), Bat Boy (Maggie), Beauty And The Beast (Babette),Footloose (Ariel), Christmas Carol, The Miser and Forum at The Alley. www.brookewilson.com

TUTS Underground creative team includes director Marley Wisnoski, assistant director Nathan Wilson, choreographer Dana Lewis, musical director and conductor Jack Beetle, scenic designer Ryan McGettigan, sound designer Andrew Harper, lighting designer Christina R. Giannelli and costume designer Colleen Grady.

This production of First Date is made possible by the generosity of Mr. David Romero & Mr. David Greiss.
Air transportation is provided by United Airlines, the official airline of Theatre Under The Stars.

TUTS Underground offers a contemporary musical theatre experience featuring local talent in Zilkha Hall at The Hobby Center, one of Houston's most intimate performance venues located in the heart of downtown.

VIP Experience: Anticipate the thrill of a first date by becoming a part of the action with stage side seats at TUTS Underground's new musical, First Date! These special VIP seats include a private table for two with tasty snacks, water and an up close and personal view of the fun and flirty production. VIP seats are limited - secure yours today by calling the TUTS Underground Box Office at 713.558.TUTS (8887).

"Don't be late for your First Date!" Pre-Show Experience: Enjoy live music from the show band and the full service bar on stage 30 minutes prior to each performance.

Tickets: $25 - $49, Online: tutsunderground.com, Phone: 713.558.TUTS

Photo Credit: Douglas Gates

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