"BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO"

By NEIL SEKAKA

Directed by Jim Tropp

“BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO” featuring the hit songs of legendary musician Neil Sedaka, This high energy musical begins on Labor Day weekend in 1960, when two friends from Brooklyn seek romance and good times at a Catskills resort. The score showcases 18 Neil Sedaka classics including , Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, Laughter In The Rain, Calendar Girl, Where The Boys Are, Oh Carol!, and Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.

Produced by Wisconsin Theatreworks at Beloit Ironworks Building/ American Industrial Art Gallery, 655 Third St. Beloit, WI 53511

Performances: May 1-17, 2009

Performance Times: Friday, May 1 @ 8pm Saturday, May 2 @ 8pm Sunday, May 3 @ 2pm Friday , May 8 @ 8pm Saturday, May 9 @ 6:30pm - Dinner Theatre Sunday, May 10 @ 11:00am -Special Mother's Day Brunch Friday, May 15 @ 8pm - Dinner Theatre Saturday, May 16 @ 6:30pm - Dinner Theatre Sunday, May 17 @ 2pm

Ticket Prices: $25 Show Only $48 Dinner Theatre

Call 608-346-3577 for reservations or more information.

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Auditions

Auditions will be held on the following days:

2/23/2009
2/24/2009

Wisconsin Theatreworks will be holding open auditions for the musical comedy “BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO” featuring the hit songs of legendary musician Neil Sedaka, This high energy musical begins on Labor Day weekend in 1960, when two friends from Brooklyn seek romance and good times at a Catskills resort. The score showcases 18 Neil Sedaka classics including , Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, Laughter In The Rain, Calendar Girl, Where The Boys Are, Oh Carol!, and Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. The production, directed by Jim Tropp, will be auditioning men and women ages 18- 50. Auditions will be held at 6:30 pm on Monday, February 23, & Tuesday, February 24 at The American Industrial Art Gallery located in the Beloit Ironworks Building, 655 Third Street, Suite 302, Beloit, Wisconsin, 53511 Those auditioning please prepare 32 bars of a song from a Broadway Show or a Classic Pop song from the 1950’s or 60”s . An accompanist will be provided. Please provide your own sheet music.
Bring a current photo and a resume stapled together. Photo will not be returned.
Rehearsals will begin March 15, 2009. Performances will run May 1 -May 17, 2009.
For further information please visit www.wisconsintheatreworks.com or email questions to info@wisconsintheatreworks.com or call 608.346.3577.

Character Description:
MARGE GELMAN (early to late 20's; mezzo soprano, comfortable to an E and possibly beyond, preferably a legit sound): Abandoned at the altar, Marge is an aspiring dentist from Brooklyn who finds herself in the Catskills on what would have been her honeymoon weekend. (Think Jennifer Grey in DIRTY DANCING) Duped into falling for the suave band leader, she ultimately finds self-esteem, learns the value of honesty and friendship and finds love where she least expected it.
LOIS WARNER (early to late 20's; alto with some mezzo soprano ability, comfortable to a C and possibly beyond, preferably a pop sound): An aspiring nightclub singer, Lois lives her life as if in a Betty Grable movie. She brings her best friend Marge up from Brooklyn to the Catskills for Labor Day Weekend. In trying to help her friend Marge recovers from heartbreak, she inadvertently puts her in the line of fire with Del, the hotel's suave but manipulative bandleader. With Marilyn Monroe simplicity, Lois is a sweet young girl with more heart than brainpower.
DEL DELMONACO ( 20's to 30's; tenor, comfortable to an A—the higher the better): An Elvis wannabe, Del is not the brightest bulb on the tree. (Think Conrad Birdie or Joey from FRIENDS). Del will do anything to get ahead, including misleading Marge into thinking he loves her and stealing his cousin Gabe's songs for his own use.
GABE (20's to 30’s; tenor, Bb-C range): The clumsy, brainy and terribly shy Guy Friday at the hotel, Gabe is on a fast track to joining his father's orthodontia practice. Lacking the self-confidence to perform his own music, Gabe he is secretly the songwriting genius behind the music Del claims as his own. When Gabe meets Marge, he is compelled to take action to win her heart and, ultimately, to reveal himself as the true musician, performing his own songs in front of the whole resort.
ESTHER (30's to 50's; alto, comfortable to a C, or at least a Bb, but should really be rich in her low to mid register): The owner of the mid-size hotel named after her (Esther's Paradise), Esther is a survivor. Since the death of her husband, she has single-handedly kept the hotel afloat using crafty solutions, boundless energy and creativity to keep guests happy. She is fiercely independent, refusing help or support from anyone, and she's always there with a quip or smart remark.
HARVEY (30's to 50's; baritone, should have range to an F# or a G): The resident "tummler" (comedian/social director) at Esther's Paradise, Harvey is old-school Catskills. He is all about the punch line (and the set-up). A confirmed bachelor, Harvey spends most of his life cracking wise and avoiding any show if genuine emotion or vulnerability. When he witnesses the extreme lengths to which Marge will go to make love work for her again, he is inspired to take a leap of faith with Esther, the one person who truly appreciates the man behind the jokes.