November 21 – December 8
When blind date newbie Aaron is set up with serial-dater Casey, a casual drink at a busy St. Louis restaurant turns into a hilarious high-stakes dinner. As the date unfolds in real time, the couple quickly finds that they are not alone on this unpredictable evening. In a delightful and unexpected twist, Casey and Aaron’s inner critics take on a life of their own when other restaurant patrons transform into supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents, who sing and dance them through ice-breakers, appetizers and potential conversational land mines. Can this couple turn what could be a dating disaster into something special before the check arrives?
Actors
Molly Wennstrom (Casey) holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts. Molly recently won a St. Louis Theatre Circle Award for her performance as Louise Rabiner in Dear Jack, Dear Louise at the New Jewish Theatre. Other NJT credits include: The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods and Ensemble in Jerry’s Girls. Additional credits: Phoebe in As You Like It (St. Louis Shakespeare Festival), Princess in Spells of the Sea (Metro Theater Company), and Margo Crawford in Bright Star (Charleston Stage Company). Molly would like to thank her family, friends, and husband Eli for all their love and support.
Mitch Henry-Eagles(Aaron)is honored to perform with the New Jewish Theatre for the first time. He has appeared with over a dozen local companies, most recently in Life Is A Dream at Upstream Theater. In addition to scripted work, Mitchell has performed improvisational theatre locally at The Improv Shop and in festivals nationwide. Originally from southern Iowa, he received his education at Washington University and is a proud resident of the City of St Louis. Much love to Morgan for all the support in the world, and for that first date 7 years ago which changed his life forever.
Jayson Heil (Man #1) is thrilled to be making his New Jewish Theatre debut! St. Louis credits include The Mousetrap and Saturday Night Fever (Stray Dog Theatre), and A Christmas Carol (The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis). Jayson graduated from the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University with a BFA in Acting. He’d like to thank his friends and family for their unwavering love and support.
Drew Mizell (Man #) is overjoyed to be making his New Jewish debut! Drew is a Theatre & Mass Communications Teacher at STEAM Middle school whose recent credits include Nevermore (Edgar), The Mousetrap (Trotter), and Saturday Night Fever (Tony) at Stray Dog Theatre. Previously, he was a Featured Singer on Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines and performed regionally in Los Angeles. He would like to thank his fiancé, Ruben, for his constant love and support.
Will Bonfiglio (Man #3/Waiter) is so grateful to return to the New Jewish Theatre! He has treasured working here over the years ever since his first NJT production playing Stephen Hoffman in 2016’s Old Wicked Songs (St. Louis Theatre Circle Award nomination). Other favorite productions include 2019’s Fully Committed (St. Louis Theatre Circle Award winner) and 2023’s Every Brilliant Thing. Much gratitude and love to Rebekah, Lee Anne, and the rest of the NJT family.
Greta Rosenstock (Woman #1) is thrilled to be back on the NJT stage after last appearing in Jerry’s Girls! Recently, she performed in the Muny’s production of Les Misérables and in a staged reading of Bad Jews with the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis in collaboration with the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. Other favorite credits include Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbit/Emma Goldman), How to Succeed… (Rosemary), and 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Rona). While living in New York City, Greta participated in several readings of new musicals and sang with a variety of prestigious vocal ensembles. Greta is currently the Music and Drama Teacher at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School and Music Specialist at United Hebrew Congregation. She is grateful to C and her whole family, as ever.
Grace Seidel (Woman #2) is thrilled to be returning to New Jewish Theatre after previously appearing in 4,000 Miles in 2017! Favorite theatre credits: Merrily We Roll Along (Mary), The Mad Ones (Kelly), Into the Woods (Little Red Ridinghood), The Last Five Years (Cathy), Ride the Cyclone (Constance), The 25th… Spelling Bee (Olive, St. Louis Theatre Circle Nomination), Avenue Q (Christmas Eve), and Be More Chill (Christine). Thank you to the entire NJT team for this incredible opportunity. Proud Korean American. She/her.
Production Team
Lee Anne Mathews (Director & Choreographer) is delighted to return to the New Jewish Theatre to direct this charming musical. St. Louis audiences have seen her work at the Muny, the Fox, the Westport Playhouse, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, and many other local companies. Director credits at the J include Raging Skillet and Imagining Madoff. As an actor, producer, educator, and director, Lee Anne traveled extensively before landing in STL in 2006. Currently the Artistic and Education Director at the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, she is thrilled to help young people in our community engage with the performing arts. As a public speaking and professional development facilitator, Lee Anne is both a private consultant and artist with COCAbiz, working with TEDx St. Louis, among other notable storytellers. Thanks to Rebekah for this lovely opportunity!
Larry Pry(Music Director)is excited to return to the New Jewish Theatre after music directing last year’s award winning Into the Woods. He is a former faculty member for Webster University’s Sargeant Conservatory of Theatre Arts and SLU’s Fine Arts department. Larry is a nationally recognized and award-winning vocal coach, music director, clinician, orchestrator and accompanist. Larry served as an audition pianist, casting assistant and Publicity Manager for The Muny theatre in Forest Park for 18 years. Larry is honored to spend his days as part of the Donor Services Team for the Foundation for Barnes Jewish Hospital.
John Stark (Scenic Designer)returns to NJT for his 4th scenic design, followingWay to Heaven, The Whipping Man, and Time Stands Still. He is a recently retired Professor at Illinois State University where he also served as Artistic Director for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival from 2017-2024. He has designed over 200 shows including 47 with the Shakespeare Festival. He also designed Falling at Mustard Seed Theatre in St. Louis that performed Off-Broadway in 2012. Other work includes Drury Lane, Victory Gardens, and Famous Door Theatres in Chicago. His design for The Living received a Joseph Jefferson Award for outstanding scenic design in 1997.
Michele Siler (Costume Designer) has been designing costumes for NJT since 2001, productions including Red, We All Fall Down, All My Sons, Into the Woods, The Immigrant, Broadway Bound, Dear Jack, Dear Louise, Brighton Beach Memoirs (St. Louis Theatre Circle Nominee) and The Whipping Man. Recent credits include The Rose Tattoo, The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire for the Tennessee Williams Festival (St. Louis Theatre Circle Nominee), The Sound Inside, The Nerd, Barefoot in the Park, (Moonstone Theatre), Hamlet, The Tempest, The Heir Apparent (St. Louis Theatre Circle Nominee) for St. Louis Shakespeare, Into the Breeches (St. Louis Theatre Circle Nominee) Shakespeare in the Streets: Winds of Change for the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, Waiting for the Marlboro Man, Bitter Fruit, A Human Being Died That Night, The Death of Atahualpa (Kevin Kline Award Nominee) for Upstream Theater, Blithe Spirit (St. Louis Theatre Circle Nominee) and Waiting for Godot for St. Louis Actors’ Studio. Michele was named “Best St. Louis Costume Designer” in the 2016 Post- Dispatch GO! List and was named a 2022 “Unsung Hero” by the St. Louis Jewish Light.
Katie Orr (Props Supervisor) – is a designer, painter, theatre-marketing aficionado, and graduate from Stephens College. As a theatre advocate and native St. Louisan, it’s her passion to highlight local theatre. There are so many incredible unsung companies, and that is why she stays in STL–to further her mission as a committed designer, artist, and advocate in the St. Louis community. Some design credits include: Into the Woods (New Jewish Theatre Company), Eddie & Vinnie (Metro Theatre Company), Proof (Moonstone Theater Company), Forgottonia (Fly North Theatricals), 12 Angry Jurors (Missouri Baptist University). www.katiemicorr.com
Denisse Chavez (Lighting Designer) received her BA in Theatre Arts from The University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX and her lighting design MFA from Purdue University. Her design work has been recognized by the United States Institute of Theatre Technology with the Jonathan Resnick Lighting Design Award. Her credits include As You Like It with the Saint Louis Shakespeare Festival, Everybody with Saint Louis University, and Mojada with the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company. She is happy to be back at the J!
Amanda Werre (Sound Designer) is excited to be back at The New Jewish Theatre as the sound designer for First Date. Previously at New Jewish she has designed All My Sons, Into the Woods, Gloria, a Life, Jerry’s Girls, Dear Jack, Dear Louise, An Act of God, Life Sucks, Tuesday’s with Morrie, Intimate Apparel, Yentl and My Mothers Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding. A St. Louis based sound designer, her work has been heard locally at Moonstone Theatre Company, The Tennessee Williams Festival, COCA, Max and Louie Productions, The St. Louis Zoo, Metro Theatre Company and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Outside of the St. Louis, her work has been heard at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, Hope College, The University of Toledo, Cider Mill Playhouse, Idaho Shakespeare Festival and Great Lakes Theatre. She teaches Sound Design for Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University.
Abby Pastorello (Wardrobe Supervisor) – is a Costume, Hair/Wig, and Makeup Designer and is the current resident Costume Designer for STLCC, Meramec Theatre. She wants to thank all of her friends and family for their endless love and support in pursuing her passion and is ever so grateful to do what she loves as her job. Favorite past credits for design include: The Mousetrap, The Trail To Oregon (STLCC), She Loves Me, Picasso At Lapin Agile, Ubu Roi, Suddenly Last Summer (Tennessee Williams Festival), Dr. Ride’s American Beach House, The Glass Menagerie (STLCC), Heathers: The Musical, Bright Star, The Pajama Game (AFL Nominees for Outstanding Costume Design), The Man WHO Came to Dinner (AFL Winner for Outstanding Costume Design), Other non-design credit include: The Inheritance (Tesseract Theatre Co.), Harvey Milk, Awakenings, Carmen, The Magic Flute (OTSTL), King Lear (STL Shakespeare Festival), The Glass Menagerie, The Rose Tattoo (Tennessee Williams Festival).
Tony Anselmo (Master Electrician) regularly works with New Jewish Theater, and many other theater companies around St. Louis, as a lighting designer and electrician. Some favorite past designs include The Year of the Bicycle at Upstream Theater, and Souvenir at Max and Louie Productions.
Gregory Carr II (Assistant Stage Manager) is so excited to be back at the J this year! Thanks to everyone involved. Enjoy the show!
Emily Clinger (Stage Manager) is thrilled to return to the J, where she has been stage managing since 2011. Some of her favorite shows here are Act of God, Bad Jews, Driving Miss Daisy, and Raging Skillet. She has also worked at St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, The Old Creamery Theatre, Arrow Rock Lyceum, Triad Stage, Charleston Stage, and the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation. Emily is a proud graduate of The University of Virginia; Wahoowa! You can follow her ridiculously handsome cat on Instagram @SirWadsworthSTL.