Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

MUSICAL COMEDY | PRODUCED NATIONALLY & INTERNATIONALLY

Stuart Zagnit, Jenny Fellner, Jamie LaVerdier, Ed Staudenmayer, Laura Woyasz and Renée Taylor onstage at the Actors Playhouse.

Book by Erik Forrest Jackson & Ben H. Winters
Music by Neil Sedaka
Lyrics by Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield & Philip Cody
Orchestrations and Vocal Arrangements by Tom Kitt

First produced at Capital Repertory Theatre, Breaking Up Is Hard to Do went on to productions across the United States and internationally, including London and Seoul. The musical was previously licensed by Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

Set at a Catskills resort over Labor Day weekend in 1960, the musical follows recently jilted Marge and her irrepressible best friend Lois as they arrive at Esther’s Paradise in search of distraction, romance and a fresh start. Their plans collide with ambitious resort crooner Del Delmonaco, lovelorn handyman Gabe and the rest of Esther’s eccentric summer crowd.

The score weaves 19 Neil Sedaka songs into the story, including “Calendar Girl,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Laughter in the Rain,” “Love Will Keep Us Together” and the title song.

“Hits all the right notes! Sedaka’s songs … are deftly woven into the book … and feel right at home on the stage.” 
— The Times Union (New York)

“A burst of gee-whiz enjoyment. Turns the songbook into an emotional journey.”
— The Florida Sun-Sentinel