FIRST DATE Announces $25 Student Rush Policy

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).

Tickets for FIRST DATE range from $35 to $137, and can be purchased at the Longacre Theatre box office or at www.Telecharge.com(212.239.6200). The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm and 7pm. Beginning August 5, 2013 the performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm and 7pm. Please note: The role of Aaron will be played by Eric Ankrim (who originated the role in the 2012 Seattle production) from July 16 through July 21, 2013, as a result of a standing commitment for Zachary Levi.

FIRST DATE stars Zachary Levi as Aaron and Krysta Rodriguez as Casey, features Sara Chase ("Arrested Development," The Toxic Avenger), Kristoffer Cusick (Wicked, Rent), Blake Hammond (Sister Act, Billy Elliot), Kate Loprest ("Boardwalk Empire," Hairspray) and Bryce Ryness (Hair, Leap of Faith), and the cast also includes Eric Ankrim (World premiere of First Date), Kevin Kern (Wicked), Vicki Noon (Wicked) and Sydney Shepherd (The Picture of Dorian Gray). 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).

When tightly wound Aaron (Zachary Levi) is set up with serial-dater Casey (Krysta Rodriguez) a quick drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a hilarious, high-stakes dinner. As the date unfolds in real time, the couple quickly finds they are not alone on this date as Casey and Aaron's inner critics take on a life of their own when other restaurant patrons and the wait staff get into the act. Dinner is served with sides of Google background checks, fake emergency phone calls, supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents, who sing and dance them through ice-breakers, appetizers and potential conversational land mines. FIRST DATEis Broadway's new hysterical and hopeful new musical about the chances we take to find love.

FIRST DATE has scenic and media design by David Gallo, costume design by David C. Woolard, lighting design by Mike Baldassari, sound design by Kai Harada, Hair Design by Josh Marquette with orchestrations by August Eriksmoen and musical supervision, vocal and incidental arrangements by Dominick Amendum. FIRST DATE is produced by Junkyard Dog Productions (Randy Adams, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff, Sue Frost) in association with Stem Productions, Altar Identity Studios, Alex and Katya Lukianov, Susan W. and James C. Blair Family LP, Linda and Bill Potter, Yasuhiro Kawana, Vijay and Sita Vashee, Kevin and Lynn Foley, Jeff and Julie Goldstein, Edward and Mimi Kirsch, Frank and Denise Phillips, Stephen Reynolds and Paula Rosput Reynolds, Alhadeff Family Productions/Sheri and Les Biller , Pat Halloran/Laura Little Theatrical Productions, Tony Meola/Remmel T. Dickinson and John Yonover, andShadowCatcher Entertainment/Tom and Connie Walsh.

FIRST DATE was originally co-produced by The 5th Avenue Theatre (David Armstrong, Executive Producer and Artistic Director; Bernadine Griffin, Managing Director; Bill Berry, Producing Director), and A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle, WA (Kurt Beattie, Artistic Director; Carlo Scandiuzzi, Executive Director) from March 10 to May 20, 2012. Variety called FIRST DATE "Flat-out ingenious!" and The Seattle Times said FIRST DATE is "Terrific - snappy and irreverent!" The production was awarded four Seattle Times Footlight Awards, including best musical.