DIVORCE PARTY THE MUSICAL Makes West Coast Debut at El Portal Theatre, Feb. 26

"Don't get mad - get everything!" is the mantra for DIVORCE PARTY THE MUSICAL-The Hilarious Journey to Hell…and Back! from the producer of the Off-Broadway hit, MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL.

DIVORCE PARTY THE MUSICAL-The Hilarious Journey to Hell…and Back! will have its West Coast premiere at the El Portal Theatre, where it will play a limited engagement from February 26 to April 7, 2013. Tickets starting at $25 are on sale for the premiere at the El Portal Theatre at elportal.theatre.com, or by calling 1-866-811-4111. For groups of 10 or more please call 818-508-0281.

Whether you are newly divorced, on the brink, or happily remarried, DIVORCE PARTY THE MUSICAL-The Hilarious Journey to Hell…and Back! promises a night of laughter and solidarity for all. The story centers on Linda, who is still reeling from the collapse of her marriage. When all she wants to do is have another bowl of Chubby Hubby ice cream, Linda's three friends (along with a massage therapist/pizza delivery boy/make-over guru and others) decide to help her move on to a new beginning by throwing her the mother of all divorce parties. Using familiar songs with clever new lyrics, and coupled with a good dose of comic mayhem (and a touch of "naughty") the girls cut loose on the realities of divorce, long term relationships and moving on.

DIVORCE PARTY THE MUSICAL-The Hilarious Journey to Hell…and Back! is currently performing at The Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. The production coming to Los Angeles will perform at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida November 27 to December 9. A separate, Canadian company will perform September 20 to November 25 at Stage West in Mississauga, Ontario.

Broadway and professional theater producer Mark Schwartz (MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL) teamed up with Dr. Amy Botwinick, author of Congratulations on Your Divorce -The Road to Finding Your Happily Ever After to create this riotous new production, which features direction, lyrics and choreography by Jay Falzone (SHOUT! THE MOD MUSICAL, COOKING WITH THE CALAMARI SISTERS).

"Divorce parties are a growing, global trend," says Dr. Botwinick, who uses her own divorce experience as a way to help empower other women. "They are an important ritual that helps people move powerfully forward with their lives.

"Over the last few decades our views on many social issues have changed – and for me, right now DIVORCE is center stage and proud to show her face. Divorce used to be the evil stepchild who needed to be locked up in their room. Our parents and grandparents would whisper the big bad "D" word.

"Now, entertainment banks on the latest and greatest marital break-up. Major newspapers and magazines write cover stories to chronicle how millions of families each year are adjusting to their divorce transition and beyond. And I think most married couples, if they are honest, think about divorce at least once during their relationship.

"This situation creates the perfect platform to tell the real life stories of women, warts and all, and create some great comedy. Mix in fun songs and lively dancing and you've got the perfect Divorce Party on stage. Not only will women leave dancing and laughing their way up the aisle, more importantly, they will feel connected and supported by a sisterhood of women sharing the same experience. Together they will learn how to powerfully move on."

Co-conceiver/author and producer of DIVORCE PARTY THE MUSICAL-The Hilarious Journey to Hell…and Back!, Mark Schwartz saw the theme as a perfect follow-up to the successful MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL, "Finally, another Girls' Night Out," says Schwartz. "DIVORCE PARTY THE MUSICAL-The Hilarious Journey to Hell…and Back! is the perfect opportunity for friends and adult family members to get together and laugh at a subject that affects nearly everyone."

Schwartz said, "A decade ago, a similar but different subject was the motivating factor for me to work on and produce a show. The subject was MENOPAUSE – and it was coming out of the closet. What Grandma called "the silent passage," was becoming the topic of the day -- much like the subject of divorce is today. The realization that half the population is either pre- or post-menopausal at some point in their life, and was not alone in this, was a fact. It does not matter where you come from, or what language you speak, you are part of the sisterhood.

"Today 50 percent of first marriages end in divorce, and 60 percent of second marriages end in divorce. So, half of everyone who has ever been married has gone through a divorce – and the other half experiences it indirectly through friends or family. We have ceremonies and celebrations for many things: weddings, bar mitzvahs, funerals, etc. Why not a divorce? Divorce can now be seen as a new beginning, a future, a positive moving on for all involved and finding the happily ever after."

DIVORCE PARTY THE MUSICAL-The Hilarious Journey to Hell…and Back! is intended for adults only. The show plays Tuesday, February 26 through Sunday April 7, 2013 at the El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, Calif. Performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday evenings at 8 pm; Saturdays at 2 pm and 8 pm; and Sundays at 1 pm and 6:30 pm. Tickets starting at $25 are available at elportal.theatre.com, or by calling 1-866-811-4111.

Photo credit: Jason Gillman

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