Neil Sedaka Musical opens in Coral Gables

Brand New Neil Sedaka Musical Set for January Opening at Actors' Playhouse 
 

Coral Gables, FL (December 14, 2005) – It is hard to imagine the history of rock and roll without the many contributions of Neil Sedaka. For over four decades, Sedaka's timeless standards have helped change the face of popular music. With countless hit singles, and platinum and gold records, he is recognized as one of rock and pop music's legendary pioneers, and remains as vital a force today as he was when he first achieved his string of hits back in the late 1950's.  
 
Starting January 12, 2006, Actors' Playhouse will present the musical Breaking Up Is Hard to Do. This brand new book/musical is driven by the energetic songs of legendary artist Neil Sedaka. This ultra-friendly production is set at a Catskills resort in the summer of 1960. While of course there was that Cold War/fear-of-nuclear-annihilation thing in the air, there was also a real sense of innocence: Kindly old Ike was in the White House, American Bandstand was on every afternoon, and girls (and boys) just wanted to have fun.
 
Dirty Dancing meets Forever Plaid at Esther's Paradise Resort somewhere in the Catskill Mountains in the summer of '60. Relive the trials, tribulations and rewards of entertaining and serving guests, the emotional upheavals of teenage life caused by infatuations, break-ups and the incessant speculation about a loved one, and those special summers with songs from Sedaka's easily identifiable tunes like "Love Will Keep Us Together," "Where the Boys Are," "Stupid Cupid," Laughter in the Rain", "Calendar Girl", "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" and "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do." It will take you back to a time of youthful innocence. Baby boomers will have the time of their life remembering when! Not a bad soundtrack for a little nostalgic fun.
 
Director of Breaking Up Is Hard To Do Gordon Greenberg most recently directed the critically acclaimed production of The Baker's Wife by Stephen Schwartz and Joe Stein for Papermill Playhouse. Current projects include Slut (Off-Broadway, Fall 2005 – James Hammerstein Productions), Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Harbor Entertainment and Brown-Pinto Productions, Inc.), The Ben Folds Project (The Producing Office), Jacques Brel… Returns (Off-Broadway, Spring 2006), and Vanities, the musical.
 
Greenberg has assembled a very impressive New York cast all with Broadway and/or National Tour Credits. 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).
 
The choreography for Breaking Up Is Hard To Do is done by Lisa Schriver who is also currently working on the new Johnny Cash Musical, Ring of Fire. Design Team includes Scenic Designer Jesse Poleshak and Costume Designer Thom Heyer. The Lighting is done by Jeffery Croiter.
 
The original book of this new musical is by writers Ben H. Winters and Erik Jackson. Winters wrote the book and lyrics for the musical comedy Slut, which will have its Off Broadway debut in the fall of 2005. Other current projects include a children's show for TheatreworksUSA about the life of Paul Revere, with music by Stephen Sislen; and Fame Forever, a sequel to the stage musical Fame. Jackson is the author of the Off Broadway hits Tell-Tale, Doll and Charlie!, all produced by Theater Couture. Jackson's comic adaptation of Stephen King's horror classic Carrie will premiere Off Broadway in the spring of 2006
 
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do early previews are from January 12- January 18, Friday and Saturday 8pm, Sunday 2pm, Wednesday and Thursday 8pm. Tickets for early previews are $30. Previews continue with a chance to meet the New York creative team through January 26. The gala opening night performance is January 27. Breaking Up will have Wednesday through Saturday evening performances at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through February 12. Additional Performances are on Wednesday, January 25 at 2 p.m. & Wednesday, February 1 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 for early previews, $37.50 for weeknight shows and matinees, and $45 for Friday and Saturday evenings. The theatre offers a 10 percent senior discount rate the day of performance and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain, with identification. All discounts are based on availability and exclude Saturday performances and Sunday matinees. Group rates are available for 15 or more, and theatre/dinning packages are available with Coral Gables' select restaurants through our group sales department. Tickets may be purchased through the box office at 305-444-9293 or Ticketmaster at 305-358-5885 or any Ticketmaster outlet.
 
Actors' Playhouse continues its Best of Broadway 2005-2006 season, with the Broadway hit musical The Full Monty, March 8- April 9, 2006, the Florida premier of the musical Five Course Love, May 10- June 4, 2006, and the comedy The Mystery of Irma Vep, July 12- September 3, 20006. Subscribers see it all, with premium seating and best savings. A four show flexible/anytime subscription package is available for $170 with tickets good anytime and any performance, any way, excluding opening night. Subscribers receive generous membership benefits from nearly 30 Coral Gables' finest restaurants and establishments, including Christy's, JohnMartin's, Norman's, Ortanique on the Mile, The Cellar Club at the Biltmore Hotel, Ruth's Chris, and The Palm.    

Actors' Playhouse is affiliated with Actor's Equity Association and produces year round Mainstage musicals, plays, and comedies, a five-show Musical Theatre For Young Audiences season, and a Theatre Conservatory and summer camp offering a full range of classes for all experience levels. One of 20 major cultural institutions in Miami Dade County, Actors' Playhouse is renowned for its large-scale Broadway musical theatre productions and has received 48 Carbonell Awards for artistic excellence including "Best Production of a Musical". For further information call 305-444-9293 or visit the theatre's website at www.actorsplayhouse.org

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