By Jake C. Schwartz
It’s the most dangerous game that anyone can play — the dating game! And what part of dating is as nerve-wracking as a first date? Well, when it comes to Dominion Stage’s production of the romantic musical comedy First Date, you get to spend an uninterrupted 95 minutes seeing every nerve-wracking detail.
First Date is a story about Casey and Aaron, two opposites who were set up on a blind date. You get to see their relationship grow and get a peek into their minds throughout the entire process. While the script by Austin Winsberg is a little outdated, these performers bring tremendous heart and personality to these characters — and you really grow attached to them throughout the show.
Director Elizabeth Suzanne really gets the most out of her actors. Her staging is clever, and her blocking is incredibly precise. She manages to keep up the pace of the show, so it never drags. Set designer Alex Bryce created a wonderful restaurant environment for this production. With the show being set in a single location for 98 percent of its runtime, Bryce’s set contains multiple playing spaces to keep the movement fresh. Moving on to sound, I will say that there were quite a few times during the show — particularly in the musical numbers — that I could not hear the actors or understand what they were saying.
Something fun about this show is that aside from the performers who play Casey and Aaron, every other part is played by five cast members (Casey B. Duncan, Rachel Rabinovitz, Karen Shim, Erica Kilgore, and Chuck Dluhy), who each hilariously play three to five different characters. I’d like to specifically shout out Casey B. Duncan and Erica Kilgore. Duncan’s physical comedy and line delivery made my stomach hurt because I was laughing so hard. Kilgore had such clear and distinct physicality in each of her characters. She has a phenomenal voice and got quite a few laughs throughout the show.
The first half of the first date was the adorably nervous Aaron, played wonderfully by John Moses. Moses plays an incredibly sweet and sympathetic version of this character. He may put his foot in his mouth a bit, but you can tell he means well. Moses plays Aaron in a way that you just can’t help but root for his success, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention his lovely singing voice.
Finally, we have Casey played by Thea Simpson-Diaz, who absolutely steals the show. Her solo, “Safer,” was a complete showstopper. It was full of power and raw emotion, transporting the audience into Casey’s mind. Simpson-Diaz has a beautiful voice, great comedic timing, and had wonderful chemistry with everyone she interacted with on stage. She played the part to perfection and is a true standout.
If you’re looking for a wholesome, fun, and feel-good musical — First Date at Dominion Stage is running through July 25 at Theatre on the Run!
Running Time: 95 minutes, no intermission.
First Date plays through July 25, 2026 (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm), presented by Dominion Stage, performing at Theatre on the Run, 3700 S Four Mile Run, Arlington, VA. Purchase tickets ($30 for general admission) at the door or online.
Lighting and Sound Design by Laura Mineo, Costume Design by G Weiss, Props Design by Isaac Saiger & Luca Doolittle, Stage Manager: Quinn Laubbax, Assistant Stage Manager: Emmett McNulty
Music Direction by Matthew Brown, Choreography by Jolene Vetesse
Jake C. Schwartz has been an actor/director in the Maryland and Virginia theater scene for the last 12 years. Originally from Baltimore, he worked as a public school Theatre Arts teacher for three years before becoming American University’s Production and Event Coordinator. He is the founder of the nonprofit Baltimore Spiderman, where he visits hospitals in costume to spend time with some of the children.
