Photo Flash: San Diego Musical Theatre presents FIRST DATE

You go on a blind date organized by your sister's husband or a work colleague, and you meet a complete stranger in a busy, inner-city café; What could possibly go wrong - apart from everything? Opposites attract in this uproarious romantic musical comedy about the chances we take to find love. When blind date newbie Aaron meets serial dater Casey, a first date turns into a hilarious high stakes dinner. In an unexpected twist, Aaron and Casey's inner critics' transform restaurant patrons into scheming exes, overbearing parents, and supportive best friends who sing and dance them through their date. Will Aaron and Casey be able to turn this disastrous date around before the check arrives?

"This charming, snappy show first came across my radar when it was produced in Seattle at the ACT Theatre," shared director J. Scott Lapp. "I had previously worked on Warner Brother's Secondhand Lions with the writers of First Date, Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner and after hearing some of the clever lyrics and catchy score, I began following the show as it made its way to the east coast where it landed on Broadway. First Date is the perfect date night show and playing at the historic Horton Grand in the Gaslamp district only adds to its charm and appeal. I'm thrilled to be back in my hometown of San Diego and getting to work with SDMT and this incredible cast of artists and comedians is an opportunity I couldn't resist," says Lapp.

The exceptional cast includes Joshua David Cavanaugh as Aaron, Cassandra Nuss as Casey, Zackary Scot Wolfe as Man 1, Lauren King Thompson as Woman 1, Jonathan Sangster as Man 2, Lindsay Joan as Woman 2, and John Massey as Man 3.

The creative team is comprised of J. Scott Lapp (Director), Jon Lorenz (Music Director), Allison Spratt Pearce (Choreographer), Stephen Gifford (Set Design), AJ Paulin and Michael Von Hoffman (Co-Lighting Design), Kevin Anthenhill (Sound Design), Janet Pitcher (Costume Design), David Medina (Properties Design), Bret Young (Production Manager), Craig Campbell (Company Manager), and Paul Morgavo (Stage Manager).

J. Scott Lapp (Director) is thrilled to be working back in his hometown of San Diego with SDMT and this incredible cast! Jeremy is an alumnus of the Directors Lab West, a proud member of the SDC and a 2011 SDC Emerging Artist. He is also the Artistic Director of The Barn Stage Company in Temecula, California where he recently directed Chess in Concert and Peter and The Starcatcher. Associate/Assistant Directing credits include Broadway: Bonnie and Clyde; National Tour: Murder for Two, Xanadu (La Jolla Playhouse, National Tour); Off-Broadway: Murder For Two (New World Stages, Second Stage); Regional: Rain (Old Globe), Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Paper Mill Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse), Into the Woods (Old Globe), Secondhand Lions (5th Ave), Somewhere in Time (PCS), Good People (Old Globe), A Room With A View (Old Globe), Somewhere (Old Globe), Bonnie and Clyde (NY Workshop, La Jolla Playhouse, Asolo Repertory), Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin (La Jolla Playhouse). Selected directing credits include International: Murder for Two (Japan), New York: Freedom Riders, Wearing Black (NYMF); Regional: Murder for Two (Farmers Alley, The Red Barn Theatre), Peter and The Starcatcher, Spring Awakening, Urinetown The Musical (Barn Stage Company), Zapata! The Musical (New York), Murder for Two (Denver, Pittsburgh), The Untitled John Mayer Project (World Premiere). Upcoming projects include Sweeney Todd at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and Murder for Two at The Cape Cod Playhouse! He is a recipient of Noel Craig, PAMTA, Inland Theatre League, Patté, National Youth Theatre, Billy and Director's Choice awards. www.jscottlapp.com

Performances run March 31 - May 7, 2017 at the Horton Grand Theatre in the Gaslamp district of downtown San Diego. Showtimes are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. For more information on First Date and upcoming SDMT productions visit www.sdmt.org or call the box office at (858) 560-5740.

Photo by: Ken Jacques

Joshua David Cavanaugh (Aaron) and Cassandra Nuss (Casey). Photo by: Ken Jacques
Joshua David Cavanaugh (Aaron) and Cassandra Nuss (Casey). Photo by: Ken Jacques
L|R: Zackary Scot Wolfe, Lindsay Joan, Lauren King Thompson, Joshua David Cavanaugh, Jonathan Sangster, Cassandra Nuss, and John Massey. Photo By: Shawna Sarnowski
Jonathan Sangster (Man 2). Photo by Ken Jacques
L|R: Jonathan Sangster, Cassandra Nuss, Zackary Scot Wolfe, and Joshua David Cavanaugh. Photo by Shawna Sarnowski
L|R: Lindsay Joan, Jonathan Sangster, Zackary Scot Wolfe, Cassandra Nuss, Lauren King Thompson, Joshua David Cavanaugh, and John Massey. Photo by: Shawna Sarnowski
L|R: Zackary Scot Wolfe, Joshua David Cavanaugh, Cassandra Nuss, and Lindsay Joan. Photo by Shawna Sarnowski
Joshua David Cavanaugh (Aaron) and Cassandra Nuss (Casey). Photo by: Ken Jacques