University Theater Players present First Date

The musical comedy plays April 13-16

Please Note: Photos Added

Aiken, SC (04/11/2023) — The University of South Carolina Aiken will present its production of the musical First Date on April 13-15 at 7:30 p.m. and April 16 at 2:00 p.m. on the mainstage in the Etherredge Center on the campus of USC Aiken.

First Date is a musical with a book by Austin Winsberg and music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner. Based on the concept of a blind date, the musical made its world premiere in 2012 at Seattle's ACT Theatre and later moved to Broadway on August 8, 2013.

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 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 them through ice-breakers, appetizers, and potential conversational land mines. Can this couple turn what could be a dating disaster into something special before the check arrives?

Dewey Scott-Willey directs the University Theatre Players production. The cast includes Cade Melnyk as Aaron, Kayla Hutto as Casey, Angelo Gooch as Man 1, Gracie Willis as Woman 1, Patrick Grant as Man 2, Kaitlyn Golyski as Woman 2, and Emmett Walden as the waiter. Technical staff is as follows: Mae Tormala (Technical Director and Lighting Designer), Chet Longley (Set Designer), Roshard Campbell (Sound Designer), Cade Melynk (Props Lead), Collette Miller (Costume Designer), Jaden Napier (Stage Manager) and Ashleigh Ponder and Eliyana Brown (Assistant Stage Managers)

Tickets for First Date are $8 students, $12 for military / senior / faculty, and $15 general admission and may be purchased online at https://etherredgecenter.universitytickets.com/ or by calling the box office at 803-641-3305, M-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Please note: this show features adult content and language.