Michael Weiner News

Blumenthal Performing Arts' production of the Broadway musical comedy FIRST DATE is part of the 2015-2016 PNC Broadway Lights.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) has announced its 2016-2017 Season, which features a compelling selection of stories centered upon the power of change and moving forward.

Opening last night at Chapel off Chapel, Pursued By Bear's production of the 2013 Broadway musical First Date was a true delight. From the moment you enter the theatre Sarah Tulloch's set design established the tone for what was a very fun and enjoyable evening. The cafe inspired set, not only accompanies the story perfectly but enables the audience to feel as though they are in the cafe with the protagonists of the story. Those protagonists, Aaron (Jordan Mahr) and Casey (Rebecca Hetherington) take us on a riotous journey of their first blind date together. Mahr and Hetherington shine in their individual portrayals of the characters and work together brilliantly. Mahr in particular shines as the up tight, highly nervous Aaron, his version of 'In Love With You' is a musical highlight. 'The Thing's I Never Said' a stunning duet between Aaron and Aaron's mother (Nicole Molloy) is where First Date also shines. For while it stands up as a musical comedy it also has heart and touches on some very real, poignant moments highlighting that while we come in contact with so many people in our lives, often we do not know the burdens they are carrying or the stories that lie underneath the surface.

Casting has been announced for Blumenthal Performing Arts' production of the Broadway musical comedy FIRST DATE, which is part of the 2015-2016 PNC Broadway Lights.

SoLuna Studio will produce the musical comedy FIRST DATE as a part their professional mainstage season, with performances running August 5th-14th.

The 5th Avenue Theatre is proud to present the second annual NextFest: A Festival of New Musicals. The company's rehearsal halls will be brimming with activity this fall as new musicals take shape in readings and intensives, brought to life by local and Broadway talents.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theatre Festival, has announced that they have partnered with The ASCAP Foundation, The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), and SDC Foundation to curate three panel conversations with industry professionals, aimed at providing more insight into the musical development process.

MACHA Theatre Co. and Treehouse Productions present the Tony Nominated and awarding winning Broadway play NEXT FALL in its 2015-1016 season. Written by Geoffrey Nauffts. NEXT FALL is about two gay men in a committed relationship with a twist, with one, Luke, being devoutly religious and the other, Adam, an atheist. The play revolves around their five-year relationship and how they make it work despite their differences. However, an accident changes everything. NEXT FALL paints a beautiful and funny portrait of modern romance, asking the hard questions about commitment, love, and faith. Directed by Robin Long.

Symphony Space pays exuberant homage to the Great White Way with Project B-way/95, a two-week celebration comprising 14 events, now through April 20. A particular highlight is this year's installment of Symphony Space's signature event, WALL TO WALL STEPHEN SCHWARTZ (tonight, April 16).

Symphony Space pays exuberant homage to the Great White Way with Project B-way/95, a two-week celebration comprising 14 events, April 7 - 20. A particular highlight is this year's installment of Symphony Space's signature event, WALL TO WALL STEPHEN SCHWARTZ (Saturday, April 16).

Symphony Space pays exuberant homage to the Great White Way with Project B-way/95, a two-week celebration comprising 14 events, April 7 - 20. Curated and Produced by Joel Fram andAnnette Jolles, and named for the intersection where Symphony Space stands, Project B-way/95 salutes Broadway with an exciting array of concerts, tributes, film screenings, discussions, workshops, and more. Anchored by three starry concerts in the Sharp Theatre - an evening with the incomparable Patti LuPone (Tuesday, April 19), the cheerfully nepotistic "All in the Family" with Kelli O'Hara (Monday, April 11), and this year's installment of Symphony Space's signature event, Wall to Wall Stephen Schwartz (Saturday, April 16) - Project B-way/95 offers something for every lover of American musical theater. Tickets for all events are available at symphonyspace.org.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) has announced its 2016-2017 Season, which features a compelling selection of stories centered upon the power of change and moving forward.

Symphony Space pays exuberant homage to the Great White Way with Project B-way/95, a two-week celebration comprising 14 events, April 7 - 20. Curated and Produced by Joel Fram and Annette Jolles, and named for the intersection where Symphony Space stands, Project B-way/95 salutes Broadway with an exciting array of concerts, tributes, film screenings, discussions, workshops, and more. Anchored by three starry concerts in the Sharp Theatre - an evening with the incomparable Patti LuPone (Tuesday, April 19), the cheerfully nepotistic "All in the Family" with Kelli O'Hara (Monday, April 11), and this year's installment of Symphony Space's signature event, Wall to Wall Stephen Schwartz (Saturday, April 16) - Project B-way/95 offers something for every lover of American musical theater. Tickets for all events are available at symphonyspace.org.

This March, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. Scroll down for details!

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

FIRST DATE THE MUSICAL is a new musical with a book by Austin Winsberg and music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner. It's based around the various permutations of blind dating. It made its world premiere in 2012 at Seattle's ACT Theatre in a 5th Avenue Theatre co-production and made its Broadway debut in 2013. FIRST DATE THE MUSICAL has a noticeable sitcom quality. It also has genuine wit, charm and a musical panache that is a breath of fresh air compared to the overblown musicals being created these days. Set mostly in a Manhattan restaurant, it shows the audience the extremely awkward first date of Aaron (Scott Garrett Graham) and Casey (Marett Hanes), a serial dater who's clearly more experienced with romance Russian roulette. This blind date is Aaron's reentry into the world of romance after being ditched at the altar by his fiancee, Allison (Kate Sullivan Gibbons), and his nervousness is clearly evident. The couple's inner thoughts are revealed in the evening's musical numbers.

The three-day 2016 ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop in Partnership with DreamWorks Animation and The Wallis concluded tonight with a special scholarship presentation by ASCAP Workshop Artistic Director and Tony, Oscar and Grammy Award-winner Stephen Schwartz. Six recipients - Mina Bloom, Rachel Gilbert, Tristan McIntyre, Dylan Schifrin, Bailey Share-Aizic and Juan Solis - were invited onto the stage of the Bram Goldsmith Theater at The Wallis to receive a combined $5,000 in scholarship funds to be applied to furthering their studies in musical theater and songwriting.

Life doesn't always work out the way we want, or expect it to. What would happen if you could turn back the clock to a younger version of yourself and start over? 17 Again - a new musical based on the popular 2009 film starring Zac Efron and Matthew Perry - tells the story of a married 35-year-old man who fears his best days have passed him by, until he mysteriously wakes up as a seventeen year-old high school basketball star with the chance to rewrite the future he believes he was meant to have.

The Utah premiere of FIRST DATE, presented by Midvale Main Street Theatre, is a great chance to experience a new show straight from Broadway.

Pittsburgh CLO presents the Pittsburgh premiere of FIRST DATE, now through April 24, 2016 at the CLO Cabaret. This inventive new version of the Broadway musical comedy was created just for Pittsburgh CLO by the original writers, Austin Winsberg, Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!