Full casting has been announced for the London premiere of Neil Sedaka musical BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO, which opens at Upstairs at the Gatehouse in March...
The cast will feature Robyn Mellor (Grease, Dreamboats and Petticoats, American Idiot) as Lois, Lauren Cocoracchio (Lost Boy) as Marge, Katie Paine (We Will Rock You) as Esther, Jonny Muir (The Simon and Garfunkel Story) as Gabe, Damien Walsh (Sunny Afternoon, Dreamboats and Petticoats) as Del, and Andrew Bradley (Godspell, Annie) as Harvey. Completing the cast are Abigail Carter-Simpson (Aliens Love Underpants) and Samuel Bailey (Pop Factor).
The London premiere of BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO, a comedy musical with a book by Ben H. Winters and Erik Jackson, music by Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield and Phillip Cody with musical arrangements by Tom Kitt is being produced at London’s Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate Village, from 29 March through to 23 April 2017, with press night on 31 March at 7.30pm.
This musical features 18 songs by pop icon Neil Sedaka including “Stupid Cupid”, “Laughter in the Rain”, “Solitaire”, “Oh! Carol”, “Calendar Girl” and of course the unforgettable title track “Breaking Up is Hard to Do”.
Set during the 1960 Labour Day weekend at “Esther’s Paradise Resort Hotel” in Catskills, New York, it features friends Marge and Lois from Brooklyn, looking for a good time and romance. They are hoping to find “Where the boys are” as Marge has been jilted at the alter and doesn’t want to be “Solitaire” so takes Lois to her honeymoon destination. Inevitably, two boys come along and the foursome together with Esther and the local comedian whisk us to 1960s colours and costume and the heat of Neil Sedaka’s singable catchy tunes.
The Catskills is a resort which showcased young entertainers - Neil Sedaka himself met his wife of 54 years, Leba, at her mother’s hotel there and contributed many of his own ventures into the book. BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO is directed by Jordan Murphy with musical direction from Oliver Hance and casting by Harry Blumenau for Debbie O’Brien Casting. The production is produced by Joseph Hodges Entertainments.
