Westwood Native's Off-Broadway Play Opens to Full House

An Westwood native's off-Broadway play opened to a sold-out audience last week.

The play, The Bad Date Project, was co-written and directed by Troy Miller, who grew up in Westwood and Ridgewood. Miller also happens to be the son of Westwood Councilman Robert Miller.

The comedy features a variety of "bad date" stories. Troy Miller said the inspiration for the show came when he and his co-writter, Stephen Stocking, both found themselves suddenly out of long-term relationships. Miller had been in a relationship for 13 years, since he was a teenager, and wasn't totally sure about how to navigate the world of dating in New York City.

"We had both gone on some really awful dates," Miller said.

The two began collarborating on a script, but soon realized their own bad date stories would not be enough to fill the whole show. They held some "bad date parties" and invited guests to share their own experiences. Miller said they ended up with more than 100 stories, about half of which — including two of his own — ended up in the final script.

"We had a lot to choose from," Miller said. "It's not just me that's meeting crazy people."

The Bad Date Project runs through June 23. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit the show's website.

Miller got his start in theater while living in Westwood. His first experience was acting in a play at when he was about 8, he said. Miller kept with it through school and eventually began working on shows in the city.

After The Bad Date Project, Miller will have a six-week break before he begins directing another off-Broadway play, which he previously directed off-off-Broadway.

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