BWW Interviews: A.J. Shively Talks TUTS Underground's FIRST DATE

Fresh off Broadway, the comedy musical FIRST DATE has come straight to TUTS Underground. The night begins with a first date between everything-is-alright-when-it's-uptight Aaron and the outspoken Casey. It is Aaron's first blind date and Casey's seventieth. Both their friends bet on a simple night of drinks. But when you're on a first date, nothing is simple. All of the awkward starts, misinterpretations, and wandering thoughts are musicalized by Aaron and Casey's fellow patrons. I talk to A.J. Shively who portrays Aaron.

Hey A.J.! Thank you for speaking with me. My first question is about the challenges of FIRST DATE for you, as a performer. When I talked with Krysta Rodriguez, also in FIRST DATE, she said that the show can take a emotional and mental toll. What has been your experience?

It requires a lot of focus. I'd say the show is split pretty evenly between the reality, the kind of hyper realistic conversation happening between the two people on the date, and the crazy musical theatre figments of our imagination. It requires a lot of focus to not look at these great production numbers that are happening all around you. Also, we haven't had the food yet, but there are certain moments where I have to reorder my drink or say, "Will you finish this for me?" So you are tracking how fast and how much you need to drink. It's something I hadn't considered before we started rehearsing. I thought, "Oh, wow! I'm going to have to pay extra attention to how much I'm eating and drinking." [Laughs]

The original FIRST DATE was very successful. Do you think about that when you're preparing to performing?

No, actually, because this is a different production. Marley [Wisnoski], our director, said on the first day, "Ignore the stage directions because that was the original production. We're doing something different." We have the same words to say and the same music to sing, but it's a different take on it. It's a different take and interpretation.

I happen to know a bunch of people in the original Broadway cast. I was rehearsing a different show, in the same rehearsal studio, when they were working on [FIRST DATE]. I would eat lunch with them sometimes. It's interesting reading the script and knowing the people it was written around. I just got a good idea of where they were going with the tone, the jokes, and the flow of the piece.

How is the TUTS Underground version different?

The layout of the space, which changes how interactions are. And there are different jokes, because there were [different] things we found in our rehearsal process. We threw all of the stage directions out the door and went in trying to create our own, not imitate, so there are moments specific to our cast like there are moments specific to their cast.

Let's go back to preparing. How did you prepare for this role?

I made sure to be as familiar with the music as possible, because that takes the longest time to get in your body. (Dialogue and music lyrics, for whatever reason, is easier to learn for me.) So I was as familiar as I could be [with the music] while leaving room for the music director to make musical choices. I tried to read the script a lot. I tried to avoid listening to the cast recording or watching YouTube videos from the Broadway production, just so I could come up with my own ideas and decide what the story was on my own.

What do you think the center of this play is?

At the center of it, I think, is the idea of being yourself, because being who you are is the best approach to anything. You shouldn't feel like there's a certain way you have to be. It's not about how you're dressed or what witty thing you can come up with. It's about how we connect. Take that kind of self-consciousness away and just make a real connection. And fully participate. Don't close yourself off. At the end of the day, that's the most important thing.

How does the story and music support that?

You know when you're having a conversation with somebody, a word will trigger, and in an instant, your mood can change?

Yeah.

Those moments are musicalized in the piece. Basically, that's where all the music comes from. I think [the moments] do tell a story [saying] don't be distracted by all the baggage you bring into a relationship, all of the misinterpretations you can bring into a conversation. Just try to relax and listen to each other.

Does this tie into your perception of your character, Aaron? What is your perception?

Aaron is a perfectionist. His whole life, everything had to be right. I don't think he was fully participating in life [before meeting Casey]. He had tasks that he was achieving, but I don't know that he was really enjoying life. That perfectionism and that drive to reach the top of your field or, when you're in school, to make good grades or make the team, it can get the better of a lot of us. I think he learns throughout that what you do isn't as important as who you know. It becomes important to him, and it should be important to others, to have people in your life. Work to live. Don't live to work. That's the adage.

That's such an alien concept to Americans. We all struggle with that. How do you think Casey changes Aaron?

She is open and honest to the point of bluntness or rudeness. I think that's what triggers a change from him She almost immediately calls him out on his weird, awkward behavior and soulless, job-driven lifestyle. That's not from Aaron's world. Aaron's world is a much more socially constrained, don't always speak what's on your mind world. She challenges him to really speak to what's bothering him and to fully open up in a way that he'd never had to before.

I read a cute tagline somewhere that said FIRST DATE is a great choice for a first date. What do you think of that?

Taking a date to see live theatre is a pretty classy choice. [I Laugh] And you can show up early to see some of the cast members singing open-mic-night-style. There will be a working bar stage, so you can get a drink. There are premium tickets where you can sit at an actual dinner table that's part of the set. And the show is only an hour and a half then you're right downtown where there's all sorts of great bars and restaurants to go to. I think it's a great first date night. [Laughs]

Well, there you have it. Make your first date a trip to see FIRST DATE. The pre-show experience begins 30 minutes prior to the performance. There will be live music from the show band and a full service bar on stage. Show runs June 11 - 21 in Zilkha Hall, The Hobby Center. For more information, please visit http://tutsunderground.com/firstdate.

Photos and artwork courtesy of Theatre Under the Stars