Back to the 80's has now been staged 300 times in Australia, England, USA,
Canada, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales.
Order Your Perusal Now
Songs Include * Material Girl * Walking On Sunshine * Centrefold Kiss * Kids In America *500 Miles *Love Shack * Total Eclipse Of The Heart. * Wake Me Up Before You Go Go *Don't Worry Be Happy * Video Killed The Radio Star * Footloose And Lots Lots More
Remember when actors became American Presidents? When Bubble skirts and blue eye shadow were cool? When Atari was cutting edge technology ? From the era that brought the world The Rubik's Cube, Max Headroom and The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comes this "totally awesome" musical in the style of movies such as Back To The Future, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Karate Kid and The Wedding Singer.
THE PLOT:
Join the graduating class of William Ocean High School as they live through their final senior year – as they experience the fun, the heartbreak, the loves and the loneliness of growing up.. all set to the biggest hits of the 80's.
Back To The 80's tells the story of the senior class of William Ocean High School that graduated in the 1980's, as remembered and seen through the eyes of Corey Palmer, who is now 30-something.
The then 17-year-old Corey is madly in love with his next-door neighbour, Tiffany Houston, one of the coolest girls in the school. However, she barely notices this, as she is too busy mooning over Michael Feldman, the hottest guy around. Michael and his friends are athletic and good-looking - the kind of guys that Corey and his two best friends dream of being. However, while they may not be the coolest guys in school, they are still one up on Feargal McFerrin III, whose best friend is his computer, and who believes the crazy notion that one day CD's will replace cassette tapes.
The year commences with Class President Elections: Michael steals Corey's election speech, and when he uses his ideas and promises the girls a kiss for a vote, he becomes President, with Tiffany as his Vice-President.
Meanwhile the teachers are having issues of their own. Mr Cocker, after being in a relationship for two years with the apparently conservative English teacher, Miss Sheena Brannigan, confiscates an old edition of Penthouse from a student, only to discover that his girlfriend is the centerfold. How will he cope? Will their relationship be able to survive this hurdle?
Throw in a Star Wars dream sequence, high-energy dance routines, the obligatory 80's party scene, copious amounts of blue eye-shadow, twenty cans of hairspray, a well as some of the most popular songs ever written, and the result is a musical that will not only delight and amuse an audience of any age, but will also inspire any young cast.
CAST: 11 male, 9 female, unlimited chorus.
ORCHESTRATION: keyboards 1 and 2, trombone, bass, tenor saxaphone, guitar, and drums
ROYALTY: Code A.
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THE TEAM BEHIND BACK TO THE 80's:
Neil Gooding is a writer, actor, singer, lawyer, and an accountant! he is the corporate accountant at Kevin Jacobsen Productions. Back in the 80's neil attended AYR High School in north Queensland.
David Spicer - his agent was elected school president of Sydney's Carlingford High School in 1985. He did not promise any kisses to get elected - that would have caused him to lose - but instead used his gift of the gab which later helped get him a job at the ABC.
WHAT THEATRES AND SCHOOLS HAVE SAID:
Back to the 80’s was a fantastic success. The students and audiences had a “Blast”
Cathedral College Rockhampton Queensland - July 2006
David, just had to drop you a quick message.
Had our final night of 'Back to the 80's' last night. What an awesome show. The kids absolutely loved it and had so much fun performing it. The whole community is abuzz about it. A number of people have contacted the school to say it is the best show they have ever seen.
Dave Ellena, Director, Opihi College, New Zealand - July 2006
We celebrated with Back to the Eighties last weekend and it was the best performance we have done in my eighteen years of directing musicals at Nanango State High School. The audiences loved it and got dressed up for the occasion, and then joined in with some of the songs…the whole thing rocked from Wake Me Up Before You Go-go to the finale. They all had a ball! Thanks for all the fun.
Ian Fraser, Director, Nanango State High School, Qld, Australia - May 2005
I have been at Seven Kings for 25 years so the parents ofthe cast were our pupils of the 1980’s. It has been a tremendous success, and we sold out every night.
Tony Lord, Director, Seven Kings High School, Essex, England - December 2004
The show was a big hit here at York Mills. We enjoyed putting it on and the students had a great time with it.
Robert Culham, Producer, York Mills C.I., Toronto, Canada - December 2004
Many thanks for providing us with a fantastic show. The kids and audience thoroughly enjoyed it, and we now have the extremely difficult task of trying to find something to follow it up with next year!
Simon Adams, Director, Higham Lane Business College, Nuneaton, England - July 2004
The show was a roaring success, everyone loved it…most of all the kids! You’ve made our school musical cool.
Erica Howard, Director, St Clement Danes School, Herts, England - July 2004
The production was a resounding success – the kids loved the script and the music. Everyone agreed that it was the best we’ve ever done – the most challenging for such a young cast, but the most exciting and the most rewarding.
Lynwen Payne, Director, Argoed High School, Mold, Wales - May 2004
Everyone has been raving about it! We sold out for three weeks every night, so that can’t be a bad thing. So thank you for writing such a great piece, it was fun and certainly took me back to the 80’s.
Kate Ghent, Director, Porirua Little Theatre, New Zealand (NZ Amateur Premiere)
"We found the musical to be brilliant! Its suitability to a school was perfect. Great music, heaps of roles, a lively script and classic references to the 80's era. The students are still bouncing off the walls a week after the performance. With record crowds the anticipation was fulfilled to the max. The show flows well scene to scene and the audience are never left flat. Hit song after hit song, sung by "realistic" characters allows for top quality entertainment. The variety of the scenes and songs are also part of this show's magic.
Andrew Higgins, Producer, Kirwan High School (QLD), May 2002.
"I was in the World Premiere of Back To The '80s at Kirwan High School and I would just like to say that it was the time of my life. It was sooo much fun! Thanks for a fantastic play!"
Shannon Becker, Cast Member, Kirwan High School (QLD), May 2002
"Just like to say the play went off over the weekend. All three shows were sold out, and for Saturday's show we had to put extra seats out. I think everybody related to it as the 80's can be cherished by those in their forties now as well as the young ones. Truly awesome script.
Matt Yau, Teacher, Dimboola Memorial Secondary School (VIC), August 2002.
"Back to the 80's" was a smash hit here in Alexandra – the cast had a ball and the audiences have been effusive in their praises… These were characters they could really breathe some life into, and it was great to have such an even spread of roles for them rather than just a couple of main stars. I keep getting fantastic comments about the show…"the best one yet!"
Keith Fletcher, Producer/Director, Alexandra Secondary College (VIC), August 2002.
"The Cast involved in the Musical had a wonderful time. We have heaps of students saying that they want to be involved in Musicals in the next few years. From a teacher's perspective the real achievement is not just seeing the talented students perform, but after four months work seeing the unco-ordinated, shy, self-conscious kids have a good go at it.
Maria Heenan, Producer, St. Edmunds College (QLD), July 2002.
"The show was fantastic, and all involved had an absolute ball. The reaction from the audience was tremendous with many claiming it was the best musical that the school has put on.
Kevin Murphy, Producer, Kooweerup Secondary College (VIC), September 2002.
"Back To The 80's was such a great show! Not only did the students have an excellent time, but so did the all the teachers and audience members. It's amazing how little the students knew about such an awesome era. This show educated them at the same time as giving them "the time of their lives".
Katrina Mann, Choreographer, Gilroy College (NSW), May 2002.