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Bus Barn Stage Company announces open auditions for the West Coast premiere of BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO featuring the music of Neil Sedaka, book by Erik Jackson and Ben Winters, music by Neil Sedaka, and lyrics by Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield and Cody Philip. BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO will be directed by Artistic Director Barbara J. Cannon, with musical direction by Katie Coleman.
AUDITION DATE/TIME: June 7, 1-5PM by appointment. CALL 650-941-5070
Prepare a pop song from the 1950’s or 60’s. Accompanist provided, bring music in your key, headshot, resume. Non-AEA, stipend. Rehearsals begin mid-July, performances run Sep 4-Oct 4.
THE STORY: Set in a Catskills resort in 1960, BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO is the sweetly comic story of Lois and Marge, two friends in search of good times and romance over on crazy Labor Day weekend. The score showcases 18 Neil Sedaka classics, including “Where the Boys Are,” “Sweet Sixteen,” Calendar Girl,” and of course, the chart-topping title song.
THE CAST:
MARGE GELMAN (mid to late 20’s; mezzo soprano comfortable to an E and possibly beyond, 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. 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 expects it.
LOIS WARNER (mid to late 20’s, alto/mezzo comfortable to a C, pop singer) 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 recover from heartbreak, she inadvertently puts herself in the line of fire of Del, the hotel’s suave but manipulative band leader. Lois is a girl with more heart than brainpower.
ESTHER (50’s to 60’s) Alto, comfortable to a C, needs a rich low mid-register). The owner of the mid-size hotel named after her. 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 the guests happy. She is fiercely independent, refusing help or support from anyone, and she’s always there with a quip or smart remark.
DEL DELMONACO (late 20’s to 30’s, tenor, comfortable to an A) An Elvis wannabe, Del is not the brightest bulb on the tree. Del will do anything to get ahead, including misleading Marge into thinking he loves her and stealing his cousin Gabe’s songs for this own use.
GABE (mid to late 20’s, tenor) The clumsy, brainy and terribly shy Guy Friday at the hotel, Gabe’s on the fast track to joining his father’s orthodontia practice. Lacking the self-confidence to perform his own music, Gabe is secretly a 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 a true musician, performing his songs in front of the whole resort.
HARVEY (50’s to 60’s, baritone to an F# or G) The resident “tummler” 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 time cracking jokes but becomes inspired by Marge when he sees what lengths she goes to make love work for her again.
Plus four male singers to make up the back-up singers for the band, which is onstage the entire show. Think barbershop quartet.
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