The release, which is slated to drop May 19, will include songs by Stephen Sondheim, Frank Loesser, and Rodgers & Hammerstein, Joni Mitchell and Sara Bareilles. Also featured will be Phil Collins' "You'll Be in My Heart" from Tarzan.

The album will be produced by PS Classics co-founder Tommy Krasker.

"People write us all the time and ask if we accept submissions, and even when we tell them to go ahead and send us a bio, or a link, or a disc, we caution them that our recording schedule is solidified months and months in advance, that we're usually drowning in releases and paperwork, and that it might be a while before we can get around to reviewing it," Krasker told Playbill.com. "But Nicholas wrote us last August, introduced himself, and sent a few links of him singing – and Philip and I knew then and there that we wanted to be involved in his first solo disc. He has one of those sounds that just takes to the microphone, a remarkable ability to interpret a lyric, and a voice that can run the gamut of dynamics and ranges with ease – just what we look for when signing new solo artists. It's not often that a recording results from a simple introduction and submission, but it's awfully fun – and extremely gratifying – when it does."

"The First Time..." will have music direction and arrangements by pianist David Budway, along with Neal Caine on bass, Donald Edwards on drums, and Ron Afif on guitar. PS Classics co-founder Philip Chaffin and Barry Ball serve as executive producers.

Rodriguez's credits also include The Toxic Avenger, Mother Courage and Her Children, My Fair Lady and his Helen Hayes Award-winning performance in Oklahoma! His numerous concert performances include appearances at Radio City Music Hall, 54 Below, Feinsteins, Birdland and the Metropolitan Room. A portion of the proceeds from "The First Time..." will go to benefit the Broadway Dreams Foundation. The album is currently available for pre-order at PSClassics.com. Numerous cast albums are also available at PlaybillStore.com.