Michael Weiner News

A Contemporary Theatre and The 5th Avenue Theatre are excited to announce that the new comedy First Date opens tonight at the Longacre Theatre as the first musical of the 2013-14 Broadway season, starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez. First Date received its world premiere in Seattle onstage at ACT Theatre and was co-produced by ACT and The 5th Avenue Theatre in 2012. Watch a scene from the Seattle premiere and check out photos in the flashback below!

The funny and frisky new musical comedy sends a welcome blast of cooling hipness into Broadway's summer.

FIRST DATE opens tonight on Broadway and we're excited to present an exclusive first look at scenes from the hot new musical starring Zachary Levi, star of TV's 'Chuck,' Disney's feature film Tangled and Thor: The Dark World, making his Broadway debut opposite Broadway and television ingenue Krysta Rodriguez ('Smash,' The Addams Family). Check out a montage below from First Date, Broadway's new romantic musical comedy and then click to buy tickets!

Tony Award-winning producer Junkyard Dog Productions (Memphis) has just announced that leading man Zachary Levi, star of TV's "Chuck," Disney's feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, will make his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingenue Krysta Rodriguez ("Smash," The Addams Family) in FIRST DATE, Broadway's new romantic musical comedy. With a book by Austin Winsberg ("Gossip Girl"), music and lyrics byAlan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed) and musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) FIRST DATE is directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre). Featuring Sara Chase ("Arrested Development," The Toxic Avenger), Kristoffer Cusick (Wicked, Rent), Blake Hammond (Sister Act, Billy Elliot) and Kate Loprest ("Boardwalk Empire," Hairspray), the cast of FIRST DATE also includes Vicki Noon (Wicked, Mamma Mia!). FIRST DATE begins performances Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and opens Today, August 8, 2013, at Broadway's Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Additional casting to be announced shortly.

An all-star cast will take the stage at The 5th Avenue Theatre this fall in the celebrated organization's 15th new musical, Secondhand Lions. Based on the beloved film starring Michael Caine and Robert Duvall, Secondhand Lions springs to musical life in Seattle with a superbly talented cast of Broadway stars and Seattle musical theater actors. Lead by Tony Award nominees Gregg Edelman and Mark Jacoby, this adventure story also features Jason Danieley, Jenny Powers, Kevin Earley,Jared Michael Brown, Kendra Kassebaum, Sophia Anne Caruso, and Justin Huertas. Johnny Rabe, star of Broadway's A Christmas Story, takes center stage as Walter.

Zachary Levi, star of TV's 'Chuck,' Disney's feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, will make his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingenue Krysta Rodriguez ('Smash,' The Addams Family) in First Date, currently in previews at the Longacre Theatre. Rodriguez just celebrated her birthday with her FIRST DATE castmates after last night's show, and BroadwayWorld brings you exclusive photo coverage below!

Zachary Levi stopped by THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO last night to chat about his starring role in the new Broadway musical 'First Date.' Check out his appearance below!

Zachary Levi, star of TV's 'Chuck,' Disney's feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, will make his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingenue Krysta Rodriguez ('Smash,' The Addams Family) in First Date, currently in previews at the Longacre Theatre. With a book by Austin Winsberg ('Gossip Girl'), music and lyrics byAlan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed) and musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) First Date is directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre). BroadwayWorld is excited to debut production shots for the new musical below!

In the video below, standby Eric Ankrim teams with Krysta Rodriquez, Zachary Levi and the rest of the cast to rap about filling in for Levi, who will be out of the show to attend Comic-Con in San Diego.

From the farms of Texas to the sands of Arabia, The 5th Avenue Theatre is taking Seattle on an unforgettable journey in Secondhand Lions - a thrilling new musical based on the popular film starring Michael Caine and Robert Duvall. Secondhand Lions springs to musical life in Seattle with a cast that includes Broadway stars Gregg Edelman, Mark Jacoby, Jason Danieley, Kevin Earley, Kendra Kassebaum, Jenny Powers, and A Christmas Story's Johnny Rabe as Walter, the show's young lead, alongside several of Seattle's favorite musical theater stars.

Leading man Zachary Levi, star of TV's 'Chuck,' Disney's feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, makes his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingenue Krysta Rodriguez ('Smash,' The Addams Family) in First Date, Broadway's new romantic musical comedy. With a book by Austin Winsberg ('Gossip Girl'), music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed) and musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) First Date is directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre). Featuring Sara Chase ('Arrested Development,' The Toxic Avenger), Kristoffer Cusick (Wicked, Rent), Blake Hammond (Sister Act, Billy Elliot) and Kate Loprest ('Boardwalk Empire,' Hairspray), the cast of First Date also includes Vicki Noon (Wicked, Mamma Mia!). First Date begins performances tonight, July 9, 2013, and opens Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Broadway's Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street).

To make Broadway an experience affordable for all, FIRST DATE has instituted $25 student rush tickets and $35 balcony seats. A limited number of student rush tickets priced at an inexpensive $25 can be purchased with a valid student ID at the box office (one ticket per ID) on the date of the performance. In addition $35 balcony level seats are available in advance for all performances at the Longacre Theatre box office or at www.Telecharge.com (212.239.6200). FIRST DATE,Broadway's new romantic musical comedy, begins performances Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and opens Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Broadway's Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street).

Zachary Levi, star of TV's 'Chuck,' Disney's feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, will make his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingenue Krysta Rodriguez ('Smash,' The Addams Family) in First Date, Broadway's new romantic musical comedy. Click HERE to listen to the pair talk about the musical on NPR's 'All Things Considered' this weekend with Rebecca Sheir!

Zachary Levi ('Chuck,' Tangled, Thor: The Dark World) will be interview about making his Broadway debut in First Date live during NBC's broadcast of 'Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular' airing tonight, July 4, at 8pm EST. First Date,Broadway's new romantic musical comedy, begins performances Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and opens Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Broadway's LongacreTheatre (220 West 48th Street).

Zachary Levi, star of TV's 'Chuck,' Disney's feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, will make his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingenue Krysta Rodriguez('Smash,' The Addams Family) in First Date, Broadway's new romantic musicalcomedy. With a book by Austin Winsberg ('Gossip Girl'), music and lyrics byAlan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed) and musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) First Dateis directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre). BroadwayWorld brings you clips of the cast in action below!

Zachary Levi, star of TV's 'Chuck,' Disney's feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, will make his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingenue Krysta Rodriguez('Smash,' The Addams Family) in First Date, Broadway's new romantic musicalcomedy. With a book by Austin Winsberg ('Gossip Girl'), music and lyrics byAlan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed) and musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) First Dateis directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre). In the video below, meet the cast of the Broadway-bound show and go behind the scenes of their Broadway photo shoot!

Tony Award-winning producer Junkyard Dog Productions (Memphis) is proud to announce that Bryce Ryness, Eric Ankrim, Kevin Kern and Sydney Shepherd will join stars Zachary Levi ('Chuck,' Tangled,Thor: The Dark World) and Krysta Rodriguez ('Smash,' The Addams Family) in FIRST DATE, Broadway's new romantic musical comedy. FIRST DATE begins performances Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and opens Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Broadway's LongacreTheatre (220 West 48th Street).

SMASH's Krysta Rodriguez sings a song from the upcoming new Broadway musical FIRST DATE during Broadway Rocks, a concert supporting St. Mary's Kids, also featuring Rodriguez's co-star Zachary Levi. Click below to watch her performance!

Tony Award-winning producer Junkyard Dog Productions (Memphis) has just announced that leading man Zachary Levi, star of TV's 'Chuck,' Disney's feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, will make his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingenue Krysta Rodriguez ('Smash,' The Addams Family) in First Date, Broadway's new romantic musical comedy. With a book by Austin Winsberg ('Gossip Girl'), music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed) and musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) First Date is directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre). Featuring Sara Chase ('Arrested Development,' The Toxic Avenger), Kristoffer Cusick (Wicked, Rent), Blake Hammond (Sister Act, Billy Elliot) and Kate Loprest ('Boardwalk Empire,' Hairspray), the cast of First Date also includes Vicki Noon (Wicked, Mamma Mia!). First Date begins performances Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and opens Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Broadway's Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Additional casting to be announced shortly. The marquee just went up at the Longacre theatre and you can check it out below!

Tony Award-winning producer Junkyard Dog Productions (Memphis) has just announced that leading man Zachary Levi, star of TV's “Chuck,” Disney's feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, will make his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingénue Krysta Rodriguez (“Smash,” The Addams Family) in FIRST DATE, Broadway's new romantic musical comedy. With a book by Austin Winsberg (“Gossip Girl”), music and lyrics byAlan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed) and musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) FIRST DATE is directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre). Featuring Sara Chase (“Arrested Development,” The Toxic Avenger), Kristoffer Cusick (Wicked, Rent), Blake Hammond (Sister Act, Billy Elliot) and Kate Loprest (“Boardwalk Empire,” Hairspray), the cast of FIRST DATE also includes Vicki Noon (Wicked, Mamma Mia!). FIRST DATE begins performances Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and opens Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Broadway's Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Additional casting to be announced shortly.