NJ Rep to Premiere New Musical DATE OF A LIFETIME, 3/6-4/6

New Jersey Repertory Company will present the new musical "Date of a Lifetime" with book and lyrics by Carl Kissin and music by Robert Baumgartner, Jr., produced in association with Hat on a Hat, LLC, on March 6 through April 6, 2014 at 179 Broadway in Long Branch. Marlo Hunter is the Director/Choreographer and Daniel Rein is the Musical Director.

Marvin and Katie have a fleeting encounter while speed dating. During their brief time together they imagine what their lives would be like if they allowed this momentary meeting to evolve to the next level. Their decisions may determine their entire future and whether this will turn out to be a date from hell or a date of a lifetime.

Marlo Hunter (Director & Choreographer) credits include Adam Overett's "My Life is a Musical" presented as a Developmental Lab (Perry Street Theatricals, Cheryl Weisenfeld, Patrick Blake, Joan Raffe & Jhett Tolentino) at The Duke Theater; "Island Song" (words by Sam Carner, music by Derek Gregor, story by Sam Carner, Derek Gregor and Marlo Hunter) at the Bloomington Playwrights Project. Associate Choreographer on The Public Theater's "Much Ado About Nothing" for the Mobile Unit (Chase Brock, Choreographer; Associate Choreographer, Roundabout Theatre's revival of "Picnic" (Chase Brock, choreographer; Sam Gold, director). In 2008, she founded "Eating Their Words" through which she pairs prominent playwrights and seasoned chefs for an unprecedented artistic collaboration, resulting in an evening of three world-premiere plays, coupled with the bespoke menu they inspired. Through "ETW", Marlo has commissioned and directed new plays by Neil LaBute, Douglas Carter Beane, Theresa Rebeck, David Grimm, Annie Baker, Brooke Berman, Amy Herzog, Keith Reddin, Beau Willimon, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Sam Forman, Rob Ackerman, Sarah Treem and Steven Levenson.

Jamie LaVerdiere ("Marvin") comes to NJ Rep straight from the Broadway company of "Motown" and the pre-Broadway workshop of "The Countess of Storyville". His other Broadway tours include: "The Producers" (St James), "Pirate Queen" (Hilton), "Urinetown" (First National), "A Chorus Line" (Europe). His off-Broadway credits include: "Closer than Ever" (York), "I Love You", "You're Perfect"(Westside), "This Side of Paradise" (St Clements), "We the People" (Lucille Lortel), "Cam Jansen" (Lambs), "Gold Rush" (Danny Kaye). His New Jersey credits include: "1776" and "The Baker's Wife" at Papermill Playhouse, "Enigma Variations" at the Garage Theatre. His television and film roles include: "TV Funhouse", "Hell is other People", and "The Producers".

Trisha Rapier ("Katie") Broadway credits include: "Sister Act" (Mary Martin of Tours, u/s and performed for Victoria Clark and Carolee Carmello as Mother Superior), "The Boy From Oz" starring Hugh Jackman (Liza Minnelli u/s and performed). Her off-Broadway credits include: "Sessions" (Mary), "Her Song" at Birdland, "Shout! The Mod Musical", "Nerds:// A Musical Software Satire" (Myrtle), "NEWSical the Musical" (Trisha), "Golf: The Musical" (Trisha), "Pirates of Penzance" (Mabel), "Forbidden Broadway" (Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand).Tours: "The Who's Tommy" (Mrs. Walker u/s and performed), "Forbidden Hollywood" (Marlene Dietrich, Nicole Kidman). Regional: "Next to Normal" (Diana), "Xanadu" (Melpomene), "Closer Than Ever" (Woman 1), "Crazy For You" (Irene Roth), World Premiere of "My Ohio" (Bonnie Bell), "Caroline, or Change" (Rose Stopnick), "The Full Monty" (Vicki Nichols) "Evita" (Eva), "Cabaret" (Sally Bowles) "Miss Saigon" (Ellen), "Little Shop of Horrors" (Audrey), "Guys and Dolls" (Adelaide), "Agnes of God" (Agnes).

Performances are Thursdays, Fridays at 8:00 pm; Saturdays at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm; and Sundays at 2:00 pm and select performances at 7:00pm. Special reduced price previews Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7 are at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Saturday, March 8 at 3:00 pm. Opening night followed by a reception is Saturday, March 8 at 8:00 pm.

Tickets are $42; Previews are $35; Opening night with reception is $60. Discounts are available for seniors, students, and groups of 10 or more. NJ Rep is a year-round, professional, non-profit theater located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch only minutes from the Jersey Shore. Free on-site parking is available and there is easy access from NJ Transit (North Jersey Coast Line) and Academy Buses.

Contact the NJ Rep Box Office at 732-229-3166 or visit www.njrep.org to reserve your seats online. Follow NJ Rep on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Tumblr. For more information and publicity photos, contact Adele Sammarco, Director of Marketing and Communications, at 732-229-3166 ext. 103.

New Jersey Rep is a member of the National New Play Network, The New Jersey Theater Alliance, Theater Communications Group, and the Monmouth and Long Branch Arts Councils. Support for NJ Rep is provided in part by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Shubert Foundation, the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, the Stone Foundation of New Jersey, the Baumol Family Foundation, OceanFirst Foundation, the Investors Foundation, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, the Darien Family Fund of the Ayco Charitable Foundation, the Jewish Communal Fund, the Community Foundation of New Jersey, Dramatists Guild Fund, Actors Equity Foundation, ERBA Company, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and the American Theatre Wing.

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