Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (musical)

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do is a jukebox musical written by and Ben H. Winters, based on the songs composed by Neil Sedaka, with lyrics by Sedaka, Howard Greenfield, and .^[1]^[2] The title of the musical is taken from Sedaka's signature song "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do."

Characters[]

Marge Gelman
Lois Warner
Del Delmonaco
Gabe
Esther
Harvey

Musical numbers[]

Act I

"Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" - Del with Lois and Harvey
"" - Marge
"Where the Boys Are" - Lois and Marge
"Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" - Del and Harvey
"The Diary" - Gabe
"Stupid Cupid" - Lois and Del
"" - Marge and Del
"" - Harvey
"Oh! Carol" - Del
Act I Finale ("The Other Side of Me","", "Where The Boys Are") - Gabe, Marge, and Lois

Act II

"Calendar Girl" - Del, Marge, Lois, Esther, and Harvey
"Next Door To An Angel" - Harvey and Esther
"Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" (Reprise) - Harvey
"Solitaire" - Marge
"Laughter In The Rain" - Gabe
"My Friend" - Lois and Marge
"King Of Clowns" (Reprise) - Harvey and Esther
"Stairway To Heaven/Little Devil" - Marge and Lois
"Love Will Keep Us Together" - All

Productions[]

The Southeastern United States regional premiere of 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" opened at Actor's Playhouse at the Miracle Theater on January 11, 2006, and ran through February 12, 2006. Gordon Greenberg directed a cast that included Stuart Zagnit (Harvey Feldmann), Edward Staudenmayer (Del Delmonaco), Nora May Lyng (Esther Simowitz), Jaime LaVerdiere (Gabriel Green), Jenny Fellner (Marge Gelman), and Laura Woyasz (Lois Warner). Choreography by Lisa Schriver, and the Design Team included Scenic Designer Jesse Poleshak, Costume Designer Thom Heyer, and Lighting design by Jeffery Croiter.^[3]^[4]

The UK Premiere of ‘Breaking Up Is Hard To Do’ ran at The Guildhall Theatre in Derby in September 2016. Produced by JKB Productions the show received very favourable reviews locally and inspired more UK based productions in its wake. The cast featured Richard Hague as Del Delmonaco, Rachael Wyatt as Lois Warner, Sarah Towle as Marge Gelman, Tom Banks as Gabe, Richard Symes as Harvey and Kerry Britnell as Esther. A tour of this production was considered on the back of an excellent critical reception but ultimately did not come to fruition.

The musical received its London premiere at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate, from March 29, 2017, produced by Joseph Hodges Entertainments. The production was directed by Jordan Murphy, with musical direction by Oliver Hance, choreography by Alyssa Noble, design by Richard Cooper, sound by Phil Wilson and casting by Harry Blumenau for Debbie O' Brien Casting. The cast includes Robyn Mellor as Lois, Lauren Cocoracchio as Marge, Damien Walsh as Del, Jonny Muir as Gabe, Katie Paine as Esther, Andrew Bradley as Harvey, Abigail Carter Simpson and Samuel Bailey.

References[]

^ "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do". Theatrical Rights. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
^ Julio Martinez (January 13, 2009). "Review: 'Breaking Up Is Hard to Do'". Variety. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
^ Actors' Playhouse website, retrieved January 2, 2019[url=https://www.actorsplayhouse.org/news/news_breakingup2.htm]
^ Review, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, published January 27, 2006, retrieved January 2, 2019 https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2006-01-27-0601250632-story.html

[1] "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do". Theatrical Rights. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.

[2] Julio Martinez (January 13, 2009). "Review: 'Breaking Up Is Hard to Do'". Variety. Retrieved 24 September 2015.

[3] Actors' Playhouse website, retrieved January 2, 2019[url=https://www.actorsplayhouse.org/news/news_breakingup2.htm]

[4] Review, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, published January 27, 2006, retrieved January 2, 2019 https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2006-01-27-0601250632-story.html

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]