By KYANA AGUILERA
What happens when a tightly wound finance nerd and a free-spirited artist meet for a blind date? A show filled with comedy, heart, and a lot of inner voices. “First Date” is truly a show for everyone.
The show premiered on Thursday, April 17, and continued through the weekend— but don’t worry! There are still three more performances left this Thursday through Saturday, April 24-26th, at the Hendricks Center downtown. This article gives you a peek behind the curtain as well as a review of opening night.
Beloit College’s spring musical brings this heartfelt rom-com to life with a talented cast: Oscar Gallardo ‘28, Kaelie Moreno ‘27, Gene Abron ‘28, Justin White ‘25, Journey Beier ‘28, Savanna Warthen ‘28, and Damila Hurn ‘28. The two student actors playing the leads are Oscar Gallardo 28 playing Aaron, “a nerdy, nervous, and awkward guy” and Kaelie Moreno 27 playing Casey, “a bold, daring, and blunt girl”. The two developed their natural, complimentary attitudes towards another outside of the show, working hard to get Casey and Aaron’s connection right. They both shared how much the audience can learn from the show when it comes to dating, connection, self-reflection, and love.
When asked what their characters learn about relationships over the course of the show, Oscar said, “He learns to be himself in front of other people,” adding that you shouldn’t let the past affect you and just be yourself. Kaelie said, “Casey learns to let herself be vulnerable in front of other people, to have less guilt around dating, and just have fun.” They also agreed that “First Date” has helped grow their acting and singing skills. Oscar added, “It made me more confident as an anxious person, being able to play an anxious person.”
But rehearsals weren’t always serious, when asked about the funniest moments, Kaelie laughed, “There’s lots of moments where we have to be still in the background, so we’d be running through things and I’m trying to stay still but there’s people in the back trying to make me laugh.” Most of these moments happened during songs, especially cast favorites “I’d Order Love” and “Can’t Help But Love Me.” Their shared growth, both on and off the stage, reflects the heart of “First Date.”
The second interview was with a crew member, Gabriella Willis 27, one of the two assistant stage managers for the show. In “First Date specifically,” Willis said that tech contributes a lot because it’s a show with many moments where you’re in the character’s head and the rest of the stage is in the background. Willis highlighted how behind-the-scenes work is just as crucial as what happens on stage, bringing the characters’ inner worlds to life through thoughtful technical design.
The show starts with an energetic opening number that sets up the story’s setting and premise. The cast delivers a funny, inviting stage presence, Oscar making a quick, memorable first impression and Kaelie with a funny, confident on stage impression. The audience was laughing from beginning to end, with relatable humor, sometimes a little vulgar, and always well-timed. Oscar, Gene, and Justin especially shine in delivering the comedy with ease and comfort. I wish there was a wider cast, with so many actors playing so many roles; however, they all do a great job of differentiating each one so you’re never confused. Savanna Warthen opens with a beautiful voice, bringing a natural ease to her roles. As the show progresses, the leads definitely get more comfortable with each other and the audience.
Watching the show, I would assume Oscar is a shy, mumbling wreck and Kaelie is an intimidating, judgmental firecracker, if I had not interviewed them both before and gotten a grasp of their personalities, as it is quite the opposite. Oscar is well-spoken and grounded, Kaelie is warm and funny. This goes to show how amazing they are at channeling their characters and keeping a consistent on-stage presence.
One standout moment is when Kaelie’s character, Casey, begins to let her guard down and you can practically see the wall come down. The show consists of good relatable aspects of dating such as parents, religion, exes, social media, bail outs, friendzones, ordering, and paying, that keeps the audience engaged and laughing. Reggie’s recurring “bailout” character was a crowd favorite, bringing energy each time he appeared. All of the musical numbers were performed with enthusiasm, though Oscar’s solo “In Love With You” could be even stronger with more confidence and fun. There’s a tension in the song between lust and hate that has the potential to make it one of the show’s best. Overall, First Date delivered a charming and relatable experience with every actor having standout performances and dynamic character work.
After watching the show, I’d say it’s a must-see. It’s upbeat, lively, and genuinely enjoyable. The cast and crew have done an amazing job creating a wonderful environment for the audience, especially with limited resources and time. Both Oscar and Kaelie expressed how important it is to support the arts. “It helps humans express themselves,” Oscar said. “It’s a very underrepresented, yet beautiful part of human nature,” Kaelie added. Supporting the arts at Beloit means showing up, but it also means more than that, it means bringing it more publicity, talking about it more, and promoting the shows. With three more performances this weekend, now’s the perfect time to do just that. So grab a friend, or a date, and go enjoy a night of theater that’ll make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even see dating in a new light.
Feautred Image: “First Date” stage; Kyana Aguilera ’27
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