5th Avenue Theatre Recieves Grant from Biller Family Foundation
The 5th Avenue Theatre is the recipient of a major grant from The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation to support its unique education program, the Rising Star Project. Over the next three years, the Biller Family Foundation will make a gift of $300,000 to the program, enabling the theater to expand the Rising Star Project extensively and create more opportunities for students to gain valuable insight into a professional environment, develop life skills that will serve them regardless of career path, and benefit from this massive theater enrichment opportunity. The Rising Star Project is the only program of its kind in the country.
BWW Flashback: FIRST DATE with Zachary Levi & Krysta Rodriguez Wraps Broadway Run Tonight
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.
FIRST DATE to Close on Broadway January 5, 2014
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.
FIRST DATE Cast to Celebrate Album Release with Cabaret Show at 54 Below, 10/15
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 one week from today with a one night only cabaret at Broadway's nightclub, 54 BELOW. 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. Though the cabaret is nearly sold out, tickets are $35 each and can be purchased at 54BELOW.com.
FIRST DATE Cast Recording Now Available
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 today, 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 DATE is 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. The album debuted at number 1 on the iTunes soundtrack chart.
FIRST DATE to Celebrate Cast Album Release with Benefit Show at 54 Below, 10/15
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 Announces New Performance Schedule; Beginning 10/8
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.
STAGE TUBE: In the Recording Studio with the Cast of FIRST DATE; Album Now Available for Pre-Order
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. Check out a brief, first look at the cast in the recording studio below!
Yellow Sound to Record FIRST DATE Cast Album; Set for Fall 2013 Release
Monday, August 12, 2013, the original Broadway cast recording of FIRST DATE, the critically acclaimed new romantic musical comedy starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, will be recorded. Executive produced by Altar Identity Studios, the album will be recorded and released by Yellow Sound Label, produced by Michael Croiter and Dominick Amendum and will be available through Amazon, iTunes and everywhere music is sold in the fall of 2013. Directed by Bill Berry,FIRST DATE has a book by Austin Winsberg, musical staging by Josh Rhodes, with orchestrations by August Eriksmoen and musical supervision, vocal and incidental arrangements by Dominick Amendum.
Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez Lead FIRST DATE on Broadway, Opening Tonight
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.
Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez Lead FIRST DATE, Beginning Tonight on Broadway
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).
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).
FIRST DATE's Zachary Levi Makes Appearance at 'Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular' Today
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).