“Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” at Cabrillo Playhouse
- OC Theatre Guild
- Apr 9
- 4 min read
A jukebox musical of joy and heartbreak featuring the sweet sounds of Neil Sedaka opens at Cabrillo Playhouse.
By MaryAnn DiPietro
This spring, the Cabrillo Playhouse is bringing the Catskills to California with “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do”, a lively jukebox musical that pays tribute to the songwriting of Neil Sedaka. Directed by veteran theatre artist Dan Blackley, the production promises audiences a feel-good ride through romance, friendship, and twenty of Sedaka’s most beloved songs.
Set in the summer of 1960 at the fictional Esther’s Paradise Resort-- an affectionate nod to the iconic Catskills vacation spots seen in “Dirty Dancing” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”-- the musical follows best friends Marge and Lois as they escape heartbreak in Brooklyn in search of fun, flirting, and maybe even love. They end up caught in a tangle of romantic twists, showbiz surprises, and the kind of emotional moments only a great pop song can underscore.
The show is the work of Erik Jackson and Ben H. Winters, who crafted the script around Sedaka’s hit parade, with lyrics by Sedaka, Howard Greenfield, and Philip Cody. Since its debut at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, New York, in 2005, “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” has charmed audiences nationwide, including a 2009 West Coast premiere in Thousand Oaks. Now, the Cabrillo Playhouse offers its own take.
Dan Blackley is a seasoned director whose roots in Southern California theatre run deep. “I worked at the Cabrillo many years ago,” Blackley shares. “And I’m glad to be back with this musical. Most recently, I directed ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ at the Camino Real Playhouse. And for the past 25 years, I’ve taught theatre at El Toro High School.”
Though Blackley stepped in as director on short notice, he was immediately taken with the show’s concept. “This show was chosen by the theatre,” he explains, “but once I read the script and saw how Sedaka’s music was used, I knew it would be something special.”
That “something special” lies in the show’s structure. Unlike traditional musicals where songs are written to support a plot, this jukebox musical flips the formula. “It’s what we call a jukebox musical,” Blackley says. “The songs came first, and the story was crafted around them. That gives it a really fun, freewheeling energy. You already know and love the music, and now you get to experience it in a whole new way.”
“Calendar Girl,” “Laughter in the Rain,” “Where the Boys Are,” “Solitaire,” and of course, the unforgettable title track are just a few of the recognizable songs. “I really enjoy the title song and ‘Calendar Girl,’” Blackley says. “They’re classics, but when you hear them in the context of this story, they take on new meaning. There’s something beautiful about reinterpreting familiar music.”
The production leans into the 1960s, complete with vintage fashion, timely choreography, and a particular innocence-meets-rebellion vibe that defined the era. “There’s something visually rich and emotionally resonant about that time,” Blackley notes. “That Catskills backdrop became a character in itself.”
“I’m so glad to be working with Joanna Tsang, our choreographer, and Bill Wolfe, our music director,” Blackley says. “Joanna brings such energy to the movement-- it’s playful, era-specific, and engaging. And Bill’s musical leadership brings out the best in both the singers and the band. I couldn’t ask for a better team.”
One of the production’s standout features is its use of a live orchestra, which is something Blackley is especially thrilled about. “It’s been some time since I’ve worked with live musicians, and I’m very excited about that,” he says. “There’s an immediacy and energy that comes from live music that you just can’t replicate. It raises the energy in the room tenfold.”
Staging the show came with its own set of creative challenges. “The biggest hurdle was staging scenes that happen both on and off stage at the same time,” Blackley explains. “We had to be clever with lighting and movement so the audience can follow the action seamlessly. It took a lot of coordination, but the result is dynamic and immersive.”
Unlike more elaborate musicals that rely on extensive set changes, this production keeps things simple. “We don’t have multiple sets,” Blackley says. “It’s all centered around a single setting, which actually helps focus the production. It really runs on the strength of the characters and the music.”
“The music will be what they remember and enjoy the most,” he says. “These songs are timeless, and the way they’re used here is fresh and fun. But beyond the music, I hope people walk away saying that it was an enjoyable piece of theatre. That they had fun. That they felt something.”
MaryAnn DiPietro is an actor, singer, pianist, music director, and writer.
“Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” Cabrillo Playhouse 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, CA April 18 – May 11, 2025 (949) 492-0465, www.cabrilloplayhouse.org
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