YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – “Dating Sucks: The Musical,” the original comic musical by Rust Belt Theater Company, will return to the stage this weekend for a two-weekend run.
The shows will take place at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6-7 and 13-14 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Youngstown Playhouse. Tickets are $15 for regular admission. For reservations, call 330 507 2358.
This will be the 15th year that the hit show, a Valentine’s season favorite, is being performed.
“Dating Sucks” was written by Robert Dennick Joki, with orchestrations by Josh Taylor. It is a revue-style musical that explores the peaks and pitfalls of modern dating, pairing cringeworthy, real-life dating stories with original songs.
The show also features dialog taken directly from online dating profiles, mobile dating app conversations and even from the audience itself. Rust Belt describes it as “a raunchy multimedia musical that leaves little to the imagination.”
The show is updated annually to reflect the current dating climate. This year’s production features new stories and four brand-new songs, including “AI – Love You” a love song written in the style of ChatGPT; and “Three Wives,” which was inspired by the musical “SIX” and the three wives of Donald Trump.
The cast includes Caitlyn Murphy, Sarah Whitlatch, PK Lankford, Lisa Torrence, Vasi Sfikas, Tina Duster, Lexi Zelinsky, Rachel Myers, Carlos Rivera and Joki.
The Youngstown Playhouse is located at 600 Playhouse Lane, off Glenwood Avenue.
Pictured at top: The cast of “Dating Sucks: The Musical” includes Sarah Whitlatch, Caitlyn Murphy, Rachel Myers, Tina Duster and Carlos Rivera.