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Lesley Hitch, Michael Shawn Starks, Brooke Rucidlo and Mike Sherman - we loved, loved, loved them last season in "Musical of Musicals: The Musical."
They're together again, this time joined by Danielle Muething and Joshua Steele in "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" at the Covedale Center, having a great, "shamma-lamma, ba-ba-ba-ba-da-doo-wop - a-down-downs" time to the songs of Neil Sedaka.
Can you say "hit"?
"Breaking Up" is set at a Catskills resort in 1960, wherein two girlfriends from Brooklyn are in search of good times and romance over one wild Labor Day weekend.
The cheery, breezy score showcases 18 Sedaka classics, including "Where the Boys Are," "Sweet Sixteen," "Calendar Girl," and, of course, the chart-topping title song.
We canvassed the "Breaking Up" gang for their Sedaka favorites:
Jen Perrino, Covedale Business Manager/Producer: I like "Oh Carol" ... it's got a great history. Sedaka wrote it for Carole King back when they were an item writing songs together in the Brill Building in the late '50s. She even wrote him an answer song called "Oh Neil."
Brian Hoffman, Music Director: My favorite is "Lonely Nights" because it's one of those well-written, catchy songs that works in almost any style. It can be played as a straight ballad, with a funk groove, or even with a gospel choir."
Lesley Hitch: "Laughter in the Rain" - my mom was, and still is, a BIG Sedaka fan. My mom is a great singer and harmonizer, and I have wonderful memories of riding around singing along to this particular song on the car radio.
Karie-Lee Sutherland, choreographer, agrees: When I heard it for the first time it was raining, and I was having my first big crush on this boy at church. My mom wondered why I went around singing it so constantly that summer.
Brooke Rucidlo: "Right Next Door to an Angel." This song reminds me of the stories I've heard of my grandmother and grandfather's relationship. They grew up next door to each other on Jersey Beach, and my grandfather was head over heels for my grandmother, so he waited patiently for her to love him, too. Their story is one of those perfect little love stories that makes me want to believe in happy ever after.
Joshua Steele votes for the title song: I came to love the song learning and performing it in an a cappella group in high school. And you know what? Breaking up is hard to do. Now I know, I know that it's true.
Mike Sherman: "Calendar Girl." It was the only song I really recognized going into this show. They use to play it at my elementary school dances, so I remember moving awkwardly to it as a fifth- and sixth-grader And no, my dancing skills have not improved since then.
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