Musical Comedy 'First Date' Performances On Tap In Reading

Press release via Colonial Chorus Players of Reading

READING, MA — At first glance, Aaron and Casey have absolutely nothing in common: He’s into mergers and acquisitions and looking for a meaningful relationship, while she’s a free-spirited artist who has always had a thing for bad boys in the past.

When Aaron and Casey are set up on a blind date, their first impressions set the tone for the rest of the evening, as when he sings, “She’s a little artsy. She’s hip and cool. She’s just like all those girls that ignored me all through school” and she counters with, “He’s a bit annoying, and overdressed. He’s got the kind of vibe that says, ‘Look at me—I’m stressed.’”

That’s the setup of the pop-rock musical comedy First Date, coming to Colonial Chorus Players of Reading May 2–11.

First performed on Broadway in 2013, First Date has music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner and a book by Austin Winsberg largely inspired by personal experience. Allison Holloway directs, with musical direction by Andrew Wray.

The cast features Richie DeJesus and Kimberly Merck as Aaron and Casey. Katie Iafolla, Robb Laureles, Kristen Sehn, Michael Silvia, and Reading’s own Stephen Russo play a chorus of besties, parents, older siblings, and exes that live in the main characters’ inner thoughts and comment on the date as the evening progresses.

First Date has performances May 2, 3, 9, and 10 at 7:30 PM and May 4 and 11 at 2 PM at the Old Hose House Theater, 1249 Main Street, Reading. Please note: This show contains mature language and is recommended for audiences 16+. For tickets and information, go to www.ccp1961.org.