Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Featuring the music of Neil Sedaka, and Rogers and Hammerstein’s A Grand Night For Singing.

HART’s next two shows are sure fire crowd pleasers. Coming first: Breaking Up is Hard to Do, a musical comedy set in the Catskills at Esther’s Paradise Resort on Labor Day weekend in 1960.

Marge and her best friend Lois arrive on a vacation that was intended to be Marge’s honeymoon – until the groom left her at the altar. They of course get swept up in the atmosphere and Lois begins matchmaking with the clubs lead singer, the ambitious Del Demonico.

Eighteen Neil Sedaka hits make up the score of this romp. The songs include: “Breaking Up is Hard to Do,” “Lonely Night,” “Where the Boys Are,” “Happy Birthday Sweet 16,” “The Diary,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Betty Grable,” “Oh,” “Carol,” “Calendar Girl,” “Next Door to an Angel,” “Solitaire,” “Laughter in the Rain,” “My Friend,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Little Angel,” and “Love Will Keep Us Together.”

The show is being directed by Mark Jones and the all-professional cast includes Kier Klepzig, Leslie Lang, Clara Burrus, Dominic Aquilino, Emily Warren and Brad Mercier. Brad is one of our Guest Artists this summer, and you will see him in this show, Grand Night for Singing, and Hello Dolly. He was last seen here in Ave. Q. Emily Warren has performed on our stage many times, most recently in Brigadoon, but also in the title role in Jane Eyre. Clara and Dominic appeared last summer in Ring of Fire and prior to that in Light in the Piazza. Kier and Leslie are making their first appearance on our stage.

Neil Sedaka has had a phenomenal career. He began as a songwriter in the 1950’s creating a series of hits for Connie Frances and continued to ride a wave of success until the British invasion in 1964 with The Beatles. He virtually disappeared for almost a decade, but in 1973, having been dropped by his label, RCA, he met Elton John at a party and John suggested he sign with his Rocket Records. Sedaka roared back with “Laughter in the Rain,” which went to number one on the charts.

From that point on he has never not been busy. He wrote for The Carpenters, The Monkees, The Captain and Tennille, Sinatra, Natalie Cole, and more hits for himself. He continues to tour and perform in concert continuing his fifty-five year career in the business.

In June, you get another series of favorites with Rogers and Hammersteins A Grand Night for Singing. This Tony nominated show features familiar songs with new arrangements. It was conceived by Tony winner Walter Bobbie, who decided to take the songs out of context and reinvent new situations to show how timeless and versatile the works of Rogers and Hammerstein are.

“I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out’a My Hair,” for example is done with Andrews Sisters style harmonies. “Honeybun” is given a Modernaires swing. “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria,” becomes a love song for a young man. The show received rave reviews when it opened Off-Broadway in 1993, followed by a successful run on Broadway. It has been a hit with regional theaters ever since.

HART’s production is directed by long time HART choreographer Cord Scott, who sees this as a great dance show as well. His cast includes Alison Young, Brad Mercier, Ricky Sanford, Calintha Briggs and Carson Funk. This is an all professional cast with many new faces to HART’s stage and promises to be an evening of great entertainment.

“Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” June 6, 7, 13, 14 at 7:30 and June 1, 8 and 15 at 3 p.m.

“Grand Night For Singing,” June 20, 21, 27, 28, July 5 at 7:30 p.m. and June 22, 29 and July 6 at 3 p.m.

Tickets; $24 for Adults, $20 for Seniors, Students $10. Special $8 discount tickets for Students for Thursdays and Sundays.

Performing Arts Center at the Shelton House, 250 Pigeon St. Waynesville. Box Office Hours Monday-Saturday 1-5 p.m. For reservations call (828) 456-6322 or visit www.harttheatre.org.