'First Date' Opens at North Fork Community Theatre Thursday

MATTITUCK, NY — The North Fork Community Theatre continues to shine with a full slate of productions planned for the upcoming months.

On Thursday, "First Date," will kick off the 59th season.

The musical, which starred Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez on Broadway, leads off the NFCT's 2016-2017 season and will be followed by "Almost Maine", "The Female of the Species", "Cabaret", and "Thoroughly Modern Mille."

Individual show tickets are $25. Season tickets are also available at the price of all five shows for $100.

According to a release, "First Date" is "a lighthearted musical comedy that chronicles a blind date between Aaron, who has never gone out with a stranger, and a serial romancer Casey. As the funny and occasionally foul-mouth show sings on, the ensemble cast comes to life as various characters from Aaron and Casey's past — and possible future. The show is perfect for a real first date, a girls' night out, or if you are looking for night at the theatre packed with more laughs than you can count."

"First Date" is directed by Chris Fretto, who was also recently heard last year as the voice of the plant in NFCT's "Little Shop of Horrors."

The musical director for the production is Karen Hochstedler, of NFCT's "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", and stage manager, set decorator and co-producer hats are worn by Liz Liszanckie. Frank Imperial built the sets and Katie Smith choreographed the show, which also stars Nicole Bianco, who choreographed "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" as Casey, and Sam Notaro, who previously starred in "The Boyfriend" a few season ago. The cast also includes Brendan Noble, Laura Meade, Ralph D'Ambrose, Julia Pulick, and Manning Dandridge, who has been seen in many NFCT shows and will be directing "Cabaret" this spring.

The Village Cheese Shop will be sponsoring an opening night reception onThursday at 7 p.m. before the show starts at 8 p.m. The reception will feature Bridget Elkin's photography in the NFCT's "Side Gallery" from October through April, with 30 percent of the proceeds of the sale of the photography shown at the NFCT going toward NFCT's renovation campaign.

The show runs from Thursday and runs through October 30 on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and may be reserved by calling 631-298-6328) or by clicking here. North Fork Community Theatre is located on Old Sound Avenue in Mattituck.

For more information, click here or call 631-298-4500.