First Date

FIRST DATE, which opened on August 8, 2013 at Broadway's Longacre Theatre, plays its final performance today, Sunday, January 5, 2014, at 3pm, having played 34 previews and 174 regular performances. First Date, starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, began performances on Broadway on July 9, 2013, and has a book by Austin Winsberg, music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, direction by Bill Berry, musical staging by Josh Rhodes, orchestrations by August Eriksmoen, and musical supervision, vocal and incidental arrangements by Dominick Amendum.

2014 is upon us, which means that it's time to look back on all of the highs and lows that this past theatre season has brought. BroadwayWorld is wrapping up the year by tributing our favorite moments of 2013, and in this series, we're highlighting 13 of our favorite musical moments on stage in just 30 seconds. Below, check out a 30 second clip from one of our favorite musicals of the year- First Date.

Over the weekend, Betsy Brandt (Breaking Bad, The Michael J Fox Show) travelled to the Longacre Theatre to check out Broadway's FIRST DATE. BroadwayWorld brings you exclusive photos from backstage below!

It's just been announced that FIRST DATE, which opened on August 8, 2013 at Broadway's Longacre Theatre (220 W. 48th Street), will play its final performance on Sunday, January 5, 2014, at 3pm, having played 34 previews and 174 regular performances. FIRST DATE began performances on Broadway on July 9, 2013, and has a book by Austin Winsberg, music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner,direction by Bill Berry, musical staging by Josh Rhodes, orchestrations by August Eriksmoen, and musical supervision, vocal and incidental arrangements by Dominick Amendum.

Stars and casts from the current Broadway line-up have been busy in the studio, recording for the 2013 Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 15. Singing traditional and original holiday songs, this annual holiday music CD benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA), one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you exclusive photos from First Date's recording session for 'Go Tell It on the Mountain' with castmembers Zachary Levi, Kristoffer Cusick, Sara Chase, Kate Loprest, Eric Ankrim, and Blake Hammond.

The cast of First Date, the new Broadway musical about the chances we all take to find love, visited NASDAQ, where the cast and producers of First Date, including Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, rang the Closing Bell today, October 16. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you full photo coverage below!

The cast of FIRST DATE, the new Broadway musical about the chances we all take to find love, visited NASDAQ, where the cast and producers of FIRST DATE, including Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, rang the Closing Bell today, October 16. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you a sneak peek at the stars in Times Square below!

The fun new musical FIRST DATE boasts music from Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner and a book by Austin Winsberg. The show tells the story of what happens when hipster serial dater Casey (Krysta Rodriguez) and uptight Aaron (Zachary Levi) are set up for a blind date at a restaurant downtown. The investment banker and artist-type don't quite hit it off but they don't fall apart either. The other restaurant goers become every person who could stand in the way or influence a date, each one with a colourful song of their own. Sisters, ex's, best friends and more make an appearance during this dynamic blind date.

Broadway's FIRST DATE, the critically acclaimed new musical comedy starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, will hold an online auction to raise funds for Operation Smile through FirstDateAuction.com.

The cast of Broadway's First Date, the critically acclaimed new musical comedy starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, celebrates the release of their Original Broadway Cast Album with a one night only cabaret at Broadway's nightclub, 54 BELOW, tonight, October 15, 2013 at 9:30 PM.

The original Broadway cast recording of First Date, the critically acclaimed new musical comedy starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, will be released digitally and exclusively available at the Longacre Theatre Tuesday, September 24, 2013. Executive produced by Altar Identity Studios the CD, released by Yellow Sound Label, will be available in stores and everywhere music is sold Tuesday, October 15, 2013. With a book by Austin Winsberg, First Datei s directed by Bill Berry, has a musical staging by Josh Rhodes, with orchestrations byAugust Eriksmoen and musical supervision, vocal and incidental arrangements by Dominick Amendum. Click here to pre-order. Below, go inside the recording studio with the cast as they record the show's opener- 'The One.'

The cast of Broadway's FIRST DATE, the critically acclaimed new musical comedy starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, will celebrate the release of their Original Broadway Cast Album with a one night only cabaret at Broadway's nightclub, 54 BELOW, on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at 9:30 PM. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Operation Smile. Zachary Levi is a longtime supporter and Smile Ambassador for the organization, which provides free surgeries to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities for children around the globe.

FIRST DATE has just annnounced a new performance schedule, beginning Tuesday, October 8, 2013: Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm, Sunday at 3pm and 7.30pm. Tickets for FIRST DATE range from $35 to $137, and can be purchased at the Longacre Theatre box office or at Telecharge.com (212.239.6200). Please note that $30 rush tickets may be available the day of the performance. The current performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7pm,Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm and 7pm. Starting October 8, 2013 the performance schedule will be: Tuesdayand Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm, and Sunday at 3pm and 7pm.

The original Broadway cast recording of FIRST DATE, the critically acclaimed new musical comedy starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, will be released digitally and exclusively available at the Longacre Theatre Tuesday, September 24, 2013, with digital pre-sale beginning today at Amazon.com. Executive produced by Altar Identity Studios the CD, released by Yellow Sound Label, will be available in stores and everywhere music is sold Tuesday, October 15, 2013. With a book by Austin Winsberg, FIRST DATEi s directed by Bill Berry, has a musical staging by Josh Rhodes, with orchestrations by August Eriksmoen and musical supervision, vocal and incidental arrangements by Dominick Amendum.

Just last night, composer Alan Menken stopped by First Date on Broadway to support Zachary Levi, who worked with him on the 2010 animated film 'Tangled.' Below, check out an exclusive photo of Menken with the cast backstage!