“First Date, The Musical” opened at Centerstage Theatre recently, and it’s a rollercoaster of a romantic comedy.

Somewhat reminiscent of the 1995 film “Before Sunrise,” the entire show takes place over the course of a single evening, following the two lead characters, Casey and Aaron, as their relationship evolves over the course of a single blind date.

Casey is played by Jessie Sellek, who has been in a variety of other productions at Centerstage, most recently, Fairy Sweetheart in “Sleeping Beauty”. 

The character of Casey is complex, with walls up and a history of preferring “bad boys” in dating. Which is the total opposite of Aaron, as well as the total opposite of the sweeter fairy and princess roles Sellek has been seen in before, and she does incredible with bringing Casey to life and demonstrating her range. 

Aaron, played by Richard Cubi, initially comes across as a dorky polar opposite to Sellek’s Casey. But as the show goes on and their conversation goes deeper, his backstory and personality shine through, revealing a character just as complex as Casey, which Cubi portrays well.

The rest of the cast is a small ensemble, who play both nameless characters (filling out the background during dialogue and duets between the leads) and characters that come and go as a part of Casey and Aaron’s internal monologues – Casey’s sister and best friend, Aaron’s best friend and ex. 

Each actor shines in their own right when they have their solo moments, especially Mandela Gardner, who plays Casey’s best friend, Reggie. Reggie eases tension with his increasingly concerned, increasingly comedic voicemail interludes. Another standout is Natalie Wingerter, who plays Allison, Aaron’s mysterious ex.

The show moves between comedic and emotional beats with ease, making the audiences laugh and fall silent, captivated, always drawn in and able to connect with the characters well.

Actors aside, visually, the show is outright fun to watch. From the elaborate set design and props, to the graphics and lighting, to the costume changes that ensemble members make to switch from role to role with almost unnoticeable ease, there’s no element of the show that gets overlooked. All of the detail poured into it boosts and enhances the performances well.

With a live band and enthusiastic crowds, “First Date, The Musical” is guaranteed to be a fun night out. With only two weekends left, the show runs through April 21, 2024. More information can be found at centerstagetheatre.com.