1960s production comes to Brevard
Auditions for "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do," a musical based on the hit songs of 1960s pop rock artist Neil Sedaka, have been scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Jan. 6 and 7.
There has been a director change in Surfside Players spring musical.
Needed are three women and three men of all ages, plus live musicians (drum, bass, keyboard, guitar) to play soft rock and occasionally sing backup.
Rehearsals will be fast-paced, and performance dates are Feb. 8-24, 2013.
This production will be directed by Nicholas Henn, with Mario Davis as musical director and Danielle Horak as choreographer.
Mr. Henn recently directed Surfside's successful "Rocky Horror Picture Show" in October, as well as "Wizard of Oz" and "Meet Me in St. Louis" at Quincy Music Theatre and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at First United Methodist Church in Titusville.
"Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" is a sweetly comic story about blossoming romances at a Catskills resort in 1960, with characters including recently jilted bride-to-be "Marge" and her friend "Lois," self-obsessed singer "Del Delmonaco," geekish cabana boy and aspiring songwriter "Gabe," Borscht Belt comic "Harvey" and resort owner "Esther."
This touching romantic musical was built around 18 songs from the repertoire of 1960s pop singer Neil Sedaka, including "Where the Boys Are," "Calendar Girl," "Sweet Sixteen," "Love Will Keep Us Together" and his signature hit "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do."
The music is by Neil Sedaka, with the book by Ben H. Winters and Erik Jackson and lyrics by Howard Greenfield and Philip Cody.
Surfside Players is located at 300 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach.
For more information, call (321) 783-3127, email surfside_info@yahoo.com or visit www.surfsideplayers.com or Facebook group "Surfside Players."
Arts and crafts at the beach library
Local artist Alex Stankiewicz will teach a series of pastels classes for beginners on Fridays from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 through Friday, Feb. 1.
Professional calligrapher to the Historic Charleston Foundation and instructor at the Charleston Museum, Natasha Lawrence, will teach a calligraphy workshop on Saturday, Jan. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Professional calligrapher to the Historic Charleston Foundation and instructor at the Charleston Museum Natasha Lawrence will teach the practical art of calligraphy ("beautiful writing") to address wedding invitations or greeting cards, write in journals and make gift tags and personal correspondence.
The class takes place Saturday, Jan. 19, from 9 a.m. until noon. Cost for this workshop is $10 and pre-registration is required.
The Cocoa Beach Library continues to present its patrons and members of the community with an array of stimulating and engaging classes. This season's art class offerings have expanded to include new instructors and some new opportunities to learn new skills.
In addition to these classes, the library offers watercolor classes with local artist Helen Wheatley, a social watercolor painting group, and many arts and crafts workshops throughout the year.
The library is located at 550 N. Brevard Ave., Cocoa Beach.
For more information, call (321) 868-1104, email emorton@brev.org or visit www.cocoabeachpubliclibrary.org.
Art show at gallery
"Go Figure," a figurative art show, will be at the Art Gallery of Viera, 2261 Town Center Ave., Viera, Saturday, Jan. 12, from 6-9 p.m.
"Go Figure" is a tongue-in-cheek look at the figure (and figures) in art, with the opening Saturday, Jan. 12.
Artists will be on hand, drawing figures with a live model and will offer tips.
Come in and try your hand at figure drawing or at modeling for the artists!
Artisans of many mediums will also be there to discuss the figures in their art.
Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, contact Art Gallery of Viera at (321) 504-4343 or visit www.artgalleryofviera.com.
Auditions for comedy-farce
Auditions for "Love, Sex and the IRS," a comedy-farce about taxes and refunds, have been schedule for Jan. 13 and 14 at the Surfside Playhouse, 301 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach.
The play, presented by special arrangement with Samuel French and directed by Troy Jones, is about out-of-work, male musicians, who have been claiming a "married" (to each other) status on their tax forms to save money.
When the Internal Revenue Service investigates them, one has to masquerade as a housewife, aided by one of the character's fiancée.
The character's mom drops by to meet the fiancée, and an ex-girlfriend shows up to find out why the other character hasn't called her.
Show dates for the play are March 8-24.
For more information, call (321) 783-3127.
Local actress becomes writer, producer and director
A local actress becomes a writer, producer and director with the premier of her original play, "Last Call," at the Henegar Center for the Arts in Downtown Melbourne.
Jessica Taylor, member of the improv troupe Not Quite Right and long-time Brevard County thespian, wrote the play with many of her friends and fellow actors in mind.
"Last Call" is set in a hotel bar, with a bartender (Hank) having to deal with his eccentric customers and their problems, while trying to shake his own past.
Using her improv background, Ms. Taylor wanted to make the show somewhat interactive, replacing the normal upstairs seating with cocktail tables, creating the feeling that the audience members are also bar patrons. The audience will actually be able to order drinks from Hank's bar.
"Although the storyline revolves around Hank, the play has an ensemble cast made up of some of Brevard's most talented actors.
The cast includes Not Quite Right members Joe Boasci, Jon Emmerich, Adam Lucker and Michelle McElvaine, as well as Donna Furfaro, Taylor Kopman, Rob Landers, Michelle Lee, Diana Taylor, Doug Taylor, Tori Smith and Ms. Taylor herself.
Tickets cost $15 and are on sale now through the Henegar Center box office at or online at www.henegar.org.
The show runs Feb. 8-10 and 15-17 at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays.
The Henegar Center is at 625 E, New Haven Ave., No. 119, Melbourne.
For more information, call (321) 723-8698.