Lakeview’s Ellen Markus Featured in Oil Lamp Theater’s “First Date"

Lakeview’s Ellen Markus is the properties designer Oil Lamp Theatre’s production of First Date, with a book by Austin Winsberg and music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner. Markus has worked on multiple productions with Oil Lamp Theatre, including 2022’s Failure: A Love Story, for which she received a BroadwayWorld Chicago Award nomination for best scenic design. First Date is directed by Christina Ramirez and runs September 5 through October 20 at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road in Glenview.

When blind date newbie Aaron is set up with serial-dater Casey, a casual drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a hilarious high-stakes dinner. As the date unfolds in real time, the couple quickly finds that they are not alone on this unpredictable evening. In a delightful and unexpected twist, Casey and Aaron's inner critics take on a life of their own when other restaurant patrons transform into supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents, who sing and dance with them through ice-breakers, appetizers and potential conversational land mines.

The performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.,Saturdays at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. The current running time is 90 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are on sale now for $20 - $30 for previews and $34 - $48 for the run at OilLampTheater.org.