PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's First Date With Bryce RynessBryce Ryness (Hair, Leap of Faith) is back on the boards this summer, playing a variety of fun characters in the new musical comedy First Date. The singing actor, also an avid photographer, shares a recent two-show day at work.
By
Matthew Blank
September 03, 2013
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's First Date With Bryce Ryness
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's First Date With Bryce Ryness
Bryce Ryness (Hair, Leap of Faith) is back on the boards this summer, playing a variety of fun characters in the new musical comedy First Date. The singing actor, also an avid photographer, shares a recent two-show day at work. Read the Playbill.com story.
37 PHOTOS
Bryce Ryness here. Husband. Father. Actor in Broadway's First Date. The more we live and work in New York, the more I see that the Broadway community is like one, big urban tribe; a family of sorts. Let's go for a ride through a two-show day.
Bryce Ryness
Good morning! 8:00 AM. Since we had a little money left over from the week's budgeting, the family went down to have breakfast at 181 Cabrini. Judah (2) and Mercy (4) sip juice and charge up for the day.
Bryce Ryness
Uh Oh! Judah falls while running ahead and banged his knee. It is in these moments that it doesn't matter if you're on Broadway, Off-Broadway, working a LORT contract, or totally unemployed; that you're *there* is all that matters. Next stop…
Bryce Ryness
Church! We go to Trinity Grace Church on the upper west side. 10 AM. The family expands…
Bryce Ryness
Other Trinity Grace Church NYC-actor-family members: (l-r) Corey Cott (Newsies), Kyle Selig (Book of Mormon), me, Hannah Elless (Godspell), Darnell Abraham (Ragtime and Jenny Lee Stern (Forbidden Broadway)
After church, I return the family back home. And then head off to work. "You must take the A train…"
Bryce Ryness
I love the community of actors that work in this town. Sharing the experience reminds me that we're all in this together. Alex Michael Stoll, Lawrence Alexander, Michael Minarik, Tony LePage and Kate Rockwell.
Bryce Ryness
I walk pretty quickly so I'm constantly trying to find the path of least resistance to get to work. Sometimes, you gotta go where the tourists fear to tread on 8th Avenue.
Bryce Ryness
And now my work family; Sara Chase signs in, PSM Arturo Porazzi welcomes me in, and the "Happy Opening" faxes greet us on our walk up the stairs.
Bryce Ryness
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your half-hour call". Top to bottom: Krysta Rodriguez, Sara Chase and Kate Loprest prepare…
Bryce Ryness
While Zachary Levi, me, Kristoffer Cusick and Blake Hammond do the same.
Bryce Ryness
Our two able-bodied dressers handle all our craziness with style and grace: Tim Greer (above) and Jamie Englehart (below)
Bryce Ryness
"… this is your places call." Time to be funny! (l-r) Blake Hammond, Kate Loprest, Kristoffer Cusick and Sara Chase.
Bryce Ryness
With such a small cast we're constantly wondering, "Where's Heather?" She has yet to show up.
Bryce Ryness
Showtime! PSM Arturo Porazzi is calling today's matinee.
Bryce Ryness
Guerrilla photography: Sara Chase looks on as Krysta Rodriguez sings "Safer," a stirring ballad of irony and self-reflection.
Bryce Ryness
And while we're on the subject- these are Krysta's shoes for the show. Ferocious. And they're UGGs. Who knew?
Bryce Ryness
As the matinee closes out, the audience rises for a spirited standing ovation. Now onto the break!
Bryce Ryness
Quick backstage shot of the cast on our way out to the…
Bryce Ryness
STAGE DOOR! Zachary Levi always brings out his Jawbone portable speaker and turns the autograph line into a bumpin' dance party. It's a great scene.
Bryce Ryness
I have a physical therapy appointment between shows, working with Joe Conger from Performing Arts Physical Therapy. This is how I WANT physical therapy to go. However…
Bryce Ryness
This is generally how it ACTUALLY goes. Thanks for workin' me out, Joe. I'd be in knots without you.
Bryce Ryness
Meredith and the kids come to midtown for the dinner break. We meet up at a park on 49th between 9th and 10th Avenues.
Bryce Ryness
And then make our way back to the theater to play around in the air conditioning. I'm blown away by this "playground" that my kids are exposed to at this stage in their lives.
Bryce Ryness
Back to work for the evening performance. Zachary Levi warms up.
Bryce Ryness
Standbys Sydney Shepherd, Kevin Kern and Eric Ankrim discuss their upcoming Fantasy Football draft.
Bryce Ryness
Three cheers for the band! Photo #1: (clockwise from top left): Musical Supervisior/Conductor Dominic Amendum (piano 1), guitarist JJ McGeehan, and Assc. Music Director Matt Hinkley (piano 2).
Bryce Ryness
Band Photo #2: (clockwise from left): Reed & Keys 3 player Charles Pillow, Bassist Randy Landau, and drummer Steve Bartosik.
Bryce Ryness
Freeze! Kate Loprest showcases her extensive repertoire of freezes… which this show calls for… a lot.
Bryce Ryness
Heisenberg hat. Although, in the context of this show, it's adorned with peyos for comedic effect… and has nothing to do with selling meth. But I know… I know.
Bryce Ryness
Guerrilla photography! 'Allison' (Kate Loprest) magically transforms into a bride before our eyes! (l-r) The Catch, The Flip, The Smolder… this time AT Flynn Rider.
Bryce Ryness
Guerrilla photography! But 'Allison' (Kate Loprest) is powerless against 'Aaron' (Zachary Levi), who tells her off with one of the most rocking 11 o'clock numbers on Broadway.
Bryce Ryness
This is the entry to the upstage-center trap. This is also Admiral Ackbar. If you find this funny, you can be my friend.
Bryce Ryness
Final change: Blake Hammond (right) quickly hands off his 'Therapist' sweater to dresser Tim Greer in preparation for bows.
Bryce Ryness
Standing Ovation! The evening crowd leaps to its feet to celebrate our stars Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez.
Bryce Ryness
Full houses and joyful audiences. I'm so happy to be a part of this gem of a show, this cast, this family, this life!
Bryce Ryness
I'll conclude like my kids' bedtime books-- Goodnight, A train. Goodnight, GWB. Goodnight, New York. Thank you for sharing a wonderful 2-show day!
Ryness' theatre work includes Hair, (Drama Desk nom.), Leap of Faith, Legally Blonde, Around the World in 80 Days, See Rock City, Sleeping Beauty Wakes, Floyd Collins and Cabaret. His band's album "RYNESS" is available on iTunes.
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"Smash" and The Addams Family actress Krysta Rodriguez is set up with "Chuck" star Zachary Levi on a First Date in the new Broadway musical comedy that officially opened Aug. 8 at the Longacre Theatre.
The work, which received a Seattle premiere co-produced by A.C.T. and the 5th Avenue Theatre, features a book by Austin Winsberg ("Gossip Girl"), with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed), who began writing songs together in high school. Bill Berry (producing director of The 5th Avenue Theatre), who helmed the world premiere, directs the Broadway production, and Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) provides musical staging. Broadway previews began July 9.
The cast includes Levi (Broadway debut, TV's "Chuck," Disney's "Tangled," upcoming "Thor: The Dark World"), Rodriguez ("Smash," The Addams Family), Sara Chase ("Arrested Development," The Toxic Avenger), Kristoffer Cusick (Wicked, Rent), Blake Hammond (Sister Act, Billy Elliot), Kate Loprest ("Boardwalk Empire," Hairspray), Vicki Noon (Wicked, Mamma Mia!), Bryce Ryness (Hair, Leap of Faith, Legally Blonde), Eric Ankrim (Broadway debut), Kevin Kern (Wicked, The Wedding Singer, Les Miz) and Sydney Shepherd (Broadway debut).
Here's how the new Broadway musical is billed: "When tightly wound Aaron (Levi) is set up with serial-dater Casey (Rodriguez) a quick drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a hilarious, high-stakes dinner. As the date unfolds in real time, the couple quickly finds they are not alone on this date as Casey and Aaron's inner critics take on a life of their own when other restaurant patrons and the wait staff get into the act. Dinner is served with sides of Google background checks, fake emergency phone calls, supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents, who sing and dance them through ice-breakers, appetizers and potential conversational land mines. First Date is Broadway's new hysterical and hopeful new musical about the chances we take to find love."
The creative team includes scenic designer David Gallo, costume designer David C. Woolard, lighting designer Mike Baldassari, sound designer Kai Harada and hair designer Josh Marquette. Musical supervision, vocal and incidental arrangements are by Dominick Amendum, and August Eriksmoen orchestrates.
Tickets can be purchased at Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200.
First Date is produced by Junkyard Dog Productions (Randy Adams, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff, Sue Frost) in association with Stem Productions, Altar Identity Studios, Alex and Katya Lukianov, Susan W. and James C. Blair Family LP, Linda and Bill Potter, Yasuhiro Kawana, Vijay and Sita Vashee, Kevin and Lynn Foley, Jeff and Julie Goldstein, Edward and Mimi Kirsch, Frank and Denise Phillips, Stephen Reynolds and Paula Rosput Reynolds, Land Line Productions, Alhadeff Family Productions/Sheri and Les Biller, Pat Halloran/Laura Little Theatrical Productions, Tony Meola/Remmel T. Dickinson and John Yonover, and ShadowCatcher Entertainment/Tom and Connie Walsh.
The musical was originally co-produced by The 5th Avenue Theatre (David Armstrong, executive producer and artistic director; Bernadine Griffin, managing director, Bill Berry, producing director) and A Contemporary Theatre Seattle, WA (Kurt Beattie, artistic director, and Carlo Scandiuzzi, executive director).
The queer-themed short plays will be made available for free to non-profit theatres, schools, and community organizations to support fundraising for LGBTQIA+ groups.
