‘First Date: The Musical’ Landing on BroadwayHD

First Date: The Musical, the stage production filmed during the pandemic and starring Broadway’s Pretty Woman star Samantha Barks (Les Miserables) and West End performer Simon Lipkin (Avenue Q, Ghost Stories), is landing exclusively on the BroadwayHD theater streaming platform.

The production, directed by Dean Johnson, was previously live-streamed for a limited time in October from the Crazy Coqs music venue in London. The BroadwayHD deal marks the first time the show will be available since this limited run.

Written by Austin Winsberg with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, First Date: The Musical follows cool chick Casey and tightly wound Aaron, two New York City singles who are set up by friends and family. From the outset, the first date seems to be doomed. The two have nothing in common, but, with the help of a meddling but well-meaning waiter, and a host of other characters along the way, can this mismatched pair turn what could be a dating disaster into something special before the check arrives? In addition to Barks and Lipkin, rounding out the cast are Nicholas McLean (Wicked, Cinderella) as Man #1, Oscar Conlon-Morrey (Only Fools and Horses The Musical) as Man #2, Rufus Kampa (Goodnight Mister Tom) as Young Aaron, and Danielle Steers (Sweet Charity, Bat Out Of Hell) as Woman #1.

“Performers have been able to do some really excellent work over the past few months, despite all of the challenges, and First Date is a great example of that,” said Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane, co-founders of BroadwayHD said. “It was a special treat for fans who were able to catch the live stream this fall and we feel privileged to make it available again to a global audience through BroadwayHD. We know viewers will just fall in love with this show.”

Producers Lambert Jackson added: “First Date was the first musical we managed to film in situ during the global pandemic and, thanks to the willingness of the amazing actors, creative team, venue and crew, and the brilliant authors, we were able to produce something really special that was enjoyed by thousands of households in a safe, but still theatrical, manner. We are thrilled that BroadwayHD have decided to take the show and that more people will get to experience this amazing production.”