''Break Up'' is a musical comedy special which aired on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

in 1973. Directed by

Jerry Paris William Gerald Paris (July 25, 1925 – March 31, 1986) was an American actor and director best known for playing Jerry Helper, the dentist and next-door neighbor of Rob and Laura Petrie, on ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'', and for directing the majo ...

and produced by Charles W. Fries and

Alan Sacks Alan Sacks (1943 – October 22, 2024) was an American executive producer, most well known as producer and co-creator of the television series ''Welcome Back, Kotter''. He managed the band Unlocking the Truth. Disney Alan Sacks produced a stri ...

, the cast included

Carl Ballantine Carl Ballantine (born Meyer Kessler; September 27, 1917 – November 3, 2009) was an American magician, comedian and actor. Billing himself as "The Great Ballantine", "The Amazing Ballantine" or "Ballantine: The World's Greatest Magician", his v ...

, Jack Collins,

Bruce Davison Bruce Allen Davison (born June 28, 1946) is an American actor who has appeared in more than 270 films, television and stage productions since his debut in 1968. His breakthrough role was as Willard Stiles in the 1971 cult horror film '' Willard' ...

, Anthony Holland,

Bernadette Peters Bernadette Peters ( ''née'' Lazzara; born February 28, 1948) is an American actress and singer. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she has starred in musical theatre, television and film, performed in solo concerts and released reco ...

, Billy Sands, and

Barbara Sharma Barbara Sharma (born Barbara Anna Sharma Schirmer; September 14, 1938) is an American actress and dancer of the night clubs, stage, television, and film. She began dancing at age 4 and professionally at age 9, dancing in nightclubs in Miami and Hav ...

. The special consisted of three sketches which were written by

Dee Caruso Dee Caruso (April 7, 1929 – May 27, 2012) was an American television and film screenwriter and television producer, whose credits included '' Get Smart'', '' The Monkees'' and '' The Smothers Brothers Show''. Caruso and his longtime writing par ...

Gerald Gardner Gerald Brosseau Gardner (13 June 1884 – 12 February 1964), also known by the craft name Scire, was an English Wiccan, author, and amateur anthropology, anthropologist and archaeology, archaeologist. He was instrumental in bringing the Moder ...

, and Don Van Atta. The show ended with the entire cast singing " Together (Wherever We Go)" from the 1959 musical ''

Gypsy {{Infobox ethnic group , group = Romani people , image = , image_caption = , flag = Roma flag.svg , flag_caption = Romani flag created in 1933 and accepted at the 1971 World Romani Congress , po ...

'' with music by

Jule Styne Jule Styne ( ; born Julius Kerwin Stein; December 31, 1905 – September 20, 1994) was an English-American songwriter and composer widely known for a series of Broadway theatre, Broadway musical theatre, musicals, including several famous frequ ...

and lyrics by

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March22, 1930November26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received Lis ...

Sketches

*"Dressing Room Interruptions" The performing Hertz Brothers receive terrible news just before the show begins. *"Mr. Acropolis" A group of theater performers uses crazy devices to earn the sympathy of a jaded theater owner. *"Ginsberg" A Charlie Chan with a Yiddish accent rescues a damsel in distress as comedy ensues.

External links

*{{IMDb title, id=1526758, title=Break Up 1973 television specials Musical theatre television specials 1973 in American television