Altar Identity Studios Rings NASDAQ Closing Bell with Cast of First Date

NEW YORK, Oct. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --  Altar Identity Studios, co-producers for the Broadway musical First Date, celebrated the show's breakout success by ringing the closing bell at the NASDAQ stock exchange. Stars Zachary Levi (TV's "Chuck," Disney's "Tangled") and Krysta Rodriguez ("Smash" and The Addams Family) were in attendance to close out the trading day and promote the play, which Variety called "a rare commodity on Broadway."

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131017/NY99819)

Having opened on August 8^th, the production was co-produced by Altar Identity Studios and Tony-Award winners Junkyard Dog Productions and J. E. Craig (Memphis). In addition to co-producing the production, Altar Identity Studios produced the First Date soundtrack, now available in stores and on iTunes.

"We were thrilled to ring the bell with the cast of First Date. The show has been a great success. We're pleased to demonstrate our unique, risk-mitigated approach to entertainment investing through great entertainment such as First Date and our latest project, BIG STONE GAP," said Wade Bradley, Altar Identity Studios CEO.

On Tuesday, Altar Identity Studios announced the green light for BIG STONE GAP, the highly anticipated film adaptation of writer/director Adriana Trigiani's international, best-selling book series. The film will star Ashley Judd, Patrick Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg and will be produced by Academy Award® Best Picture winner Donna Gigliotti (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, nominated for THE READER, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK), James Spies (THE CONTENDER) and J. E. Craig (Broadway's FIRST DATE). Filming begins on October 19^th.

About Altar Identity Studios
Altar Identity Studios (a Media Society company) combines Media Society's exclusive, members-only community and its community of highly experienced feature film and live theatre production companies with an end-to-end managed-risk platform which finances production, marketing and distribution costs. The pioneering combination enables affluent members to become Altar Identity Executive Producers with priceless access and experiences while engaged in the art and business of filmmaking and live theatre. 

Altar Identity is co-producer of 'First Date' the musical, currently running on Broadway at the Shubert's Longacre Theatre and produced by the 'Best Musical' Tony Award winning team behind 'Memphis,' Junkyard Dog Productions and J. E. Craig.

FIRST DATE stars Zachary Levi as Aaron and Krysta Rodriguez as Casey, features Sara Chase ("Arrested Development," The Toxic Avenger), Kristoffer Cusick (Wicked, Rent), Blake Hammond (Sister Act, Billy Elliot), Kate Loprest ("Boardwalk Empire," Hairspray) and Bryce Ryness (Hair, Leap of Faith), and the cast also includes Eric Ankrim (World premiere of First Date), Kevin Kern (Wicked), Vicki Noon (Wicked) and Sydney Shepherd (The Picture of Dorian Gray). With a book by Austin Winsberg ("Gossip Girl"), music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed) and musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella), FIRST DATE is directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5^th Avenue Theatre). 

When tightly wound Aaron (Zachary Levi) is set up with serial-dater Casey (Krysta 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. 

Tickets for First Date range from $35 to $137, and can be purchased at the Longacre Theatre box office or at www.Telecharge.com (212.239.6200). The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3 and 7pm.

Media Enquiries:
PUBLIC, nyc
Mark DeFrancis - 301.758.5431
[email protected]

FIRST DATE/BIG STONE GAP Contact:
The Hartman Group
Emily McGill – 212.398.1800
[email protected]

SOURCE Altar Identity Studios