Review: 'First Date,' Art Lab, ShowTown Productions Collaboration

A virtual production of FIRST DATE, a collaboration of Art Lab and ShowTown Productions, is streaming for five performances on Stellar July 23-23, 2021. Art Lab and ShowTown Productions have previously collaborated on virtual productions of the musicals Disenchanted and Amour, as well as the online series “The Show Must Go On Show,” and “Art Lab Presents.”

Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young – former “American Idol” contestants who are married in real life – co-star in this new virtual production of the 2013 Broadway musical comedy. The production is well directed by Meg Fofonoff.

FIRST DATE premiered at Seattle’s ACT Theatre in 2012 before a Broadway premiere in 2013 starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez. It features music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner and book by Austin Winsberg.

The contemporary musical tells the story of Aaron Young and Casey DeGarmo, two single New Yorkers on a blind date with nothing to lose, except maybe their patience and sanity. This funny and very relatable musical puts you right at the bar along with them – and all the persistent voices in their heads. Will there be a second date?

The contemporary pop Broadway score leads the couple through the often cringeworthy moments that many can relate to as they search for the perfect partner.

Diana DeGarmo, a singer, songwriter, and full-out entertainer, from stage to screen, uses her powerhouse vocals to perform the numbers of Casey, a free-spirited young woman living in New York. Singer/songwriter/actor Ace Young is adorable in the role of Aaron, and of course, nailed the vocals easily.

The five supporting cast members make their marks with the various roles they are assigned.
Nick Cearley takes on the roles of Man 2; he is the co-creator and one half of the critically acclaimed Undie-Rock duo The Skivvies. Kevin Massey, who was the understudy of Monty Navarro on Broadway in Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and performed the role in the first national tour, is Man 1.

Jennifer Sánchez (Broadway’s 'Sunday in the Park with George') easily covers the roles of Woman 1. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jen is a singer-songwriter and actress who has been featured in eight Broadway shows. Vishal Vaidya is cast as Man 3, which means he gets to play the waiter.

Aurelia Williams appears as Woman 2 and is excited to be pioneering a new theater frontier in the virtual space. When theater returns in person, she will be performing in the World Premiere of Anne of Green Gables at the Goodspeed Opera House.

Costumes designed by Jennifer Tremblay work pretty well. Director of Photography Howie Michael Smith tries to make it appear that the actors are not performing separately in front of a green screen and for the most part succeeds. FIRST DATE fans will appreciate how this medium allows the voices in the couple’s heads appear and disappear, with their own backgrounds.

Musical direction by Julie McBride is spot on, with the recording of the vocals even better than the spoken lines. The band features Elena Bonomo on drums, Josh Plotner on reeds, Jakob Reinhardt on guitars and Yuka Tadano on the bass, making the most of the fun score.

The stream runs 90 minutes without an intermission. Tickets are now on sale. Regular priced tickets are $20. For more information, click:
https://www.stellartickets.com/o/art-lab-llc/events/first-date-the-virtual-broadway-musical.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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