Back to the 80s (musical)

Back to the 80's [sic] is a musical written by Neil Gooding with the original musical adaption made by Scott Copeman. It was later re-orchestrated and arranged by Brett Foster in 2003, just prior to the Australian Production. It was originally staged by Neil Gooding Productions Pty Ltd in Sydney, Australia in 2004.^[1] It is a popular show for school productions in the English speaking world.^[2]

The musical is a jukebox musical featuring pop songs from the 1980s, as well as a rap song written by Neil Gooding.

Plot

Act I

Back to the 80's tells the story of the 1989 graduating class of William Ocean High as seen through the eyes of the narrator, Corey Palmer Sr., who is now living in the year 2001. Throughout the story, Corey Sr. introduces and provides insight into various characters ("Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"). He tells the audience of the cool kids, the nerds, the regular kids, and the faculty of WOHS ("Kids In America").

On the first day of senior year, the math teacher, Mr. Cocker, and the senior student co-ordinator, Ms. Brannigan, welcome the students to the school with an assembly. They announce that elections for senior school president will be held the next Friday. Young Corey Palmer is running, with his best friends Alf Bueller and Kirk Keaton running as his VPs. Running alongside them are Micheal Feldman, the hottest, most popular boy at school, his VPs being his best friend Billy Arnold and Cyndi Gibson, a cheerleader who is very popular with the boys. Also in the running is Feargal McFerrin III, the school nerd, backed by his VPs Laura Wilde and Debbie Fox. From the attention he garners from the female student population, it is clear the Michael is in the lead to win.

After the assembly, Corey seeks out Tiffany Houston, his lifelong neighbor whom he has been in love with since they were children. Tiffany is nice and friendly towards Corey, but is oblivious to his feelings for her. Instead, Tiffany admits to Corey that she likes Michael. Cyndi enters and introduces her friends Melanie and Kimberly Easton, or Mel & Kim as they prefer to be called. They are twins who are Cyndi's friends from dance class. They immediately fit in with the popular kids, unlike Corey, who slinks away dejected. The popular kids, led by Tiffany, talk about their summer vacation, the girls talking about how they got home late from many parties, irritating their parents ("Girls Just Wanna Have Fun") while the guys, led by Michael, talk about how they spent all summer working, Michael saving up to buy a car ("Footloose").

After school, Corey, Alf and Kirk begin work on an election campaign. Tiffany tells Corey that her team is having trouble with getting Michael to actually focus on creating a campaign. As they're working, Feargal enters, dictating that in the 1990s, technology will advance. He is thoroughly mocked. Corey then reveals his election plan to Alf and Kirk - a concert, similar to that of the Live Aid concerts, to help fund the school prom. However, after a small scuffle, Michael and Billy, together with Lionel Astley and Huey Jackson, end up stealing Corey's concert idea without his knowledge.

On election day, Michael recruits the cheerleaders to help make his presentation extra flashy ("Mickey"). He takes the stand and pitches the concert idea to the student body. Everyone reacts positively to the idea ("Michael's Election Rap"). Corey is next up to pitch his campaign, but with his only idea stolen, he bombs his presentation. Feargal, Laura and Debbie are next up, and Feargal's pitch includes the advance of technology, informing the students (to their horror) that CDs will replace cassette tapes ("Video Killed the Radio Star"). The election commences and Michael wins by a landslide.

Corey Snr. takes the stage again to tell the audience about how, after election day, he started having nightmares. Corey Jnr., Kirk and Alf are all hanging out at Corey's place, and strike up conversation about Feargal's presentation. They all agree that the things they love from the 1980s, like Star Wars and the Atari, will be around forever. Kirk and Alf leave when Corey starts getting ready for bed. He falls asleep, and dreams of a world in which he is a Luke Skywalker character, and Tiffany is his Princess Leia. They dance together, madly in love, before Darth Vader enters, stealing Tiffany away. Darth Vader reveals himself as Michael. Corey wakes in a cold sweat ("Believe It Or Not").

Halfway through the school year, a new girl by the name of Eileen Reagan comes to the school. She is taunted by Cyndi for liking the band Air Supply, but is fast friends with Laura and Debbie, who lie about their multiple boyfriends, telling Eileen that they are on 'business' in Miami ("Let's Hear It For The Boy").

After class, Mr. Cocker surprises Ms. Brannigan with flowers for their one-year anniversary. Mr. Cocker wants to be more open about their relationship, but Ms. Brannigan wants to stay professional at school. Just as they are about to kiss, Laura and Debbie run in, alerting Mr. Cocker that Feargal is being beat up by two junior girls. Before leaving to go help, Mr. Cocker sets a date with Ms. Brannigan.

At lunch, Corey is preparing himself to ask Tiffany out. Unbeknownst to him, Michael is preparing to do the same. They compete for her affection ("I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"). Tiffany chooses Michael, telling Corey that she sees him as a brother. Corey Snr. enters the stage, reminiscing on how hurt he was ("You Give Love A Bad Name").

After lunch, Michael, Huey, Lionel and Billy slip a fake love letter into Eileen's locker. In another part of the school, Mr. Cocker has confiscated a dirty magazine from Huey. Huey tells his friends that he found the magazine in his dad's cupboard, and it's from the 1970s. While looking through it, Mr. Cocker recognizes one of the models as Ms. Brannigan. He confronts her about it, and she admits that she did pose for the magazine when she was 18. Mr. Cocker is angry that she never told him, and refuses to see her ("You Give Love A Bad Name (Reprise)").

Michael has forgotten about the concert idea that helped get him elected,and so Corey steps up, asking Mr. Cocker if he can put on the concert. Mr. Cocker agrees, and calls an assembly where he announces the concert will commence, under Corey's direction. At first, the students are unenthused, but with some urging from the faculty, they eventually come around ("Man In The Mirror").

Act II

The concert is a huge success, with the cast lined up in full 1980s garb to sing to their parents ("Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"). Corey's parents in Indianapolis , so he throws a huge party at his house ("Love Shack"). It is there that Mr. Cocker officially ends things with Ms. Brannigan. The whole party is ruined when Corey's parents come home early.

After the student body scatters from the scene, Corey begins cleaning up. Outside his house, he accidentally interrupts Michael and Tiffany kissing. Ms. Brannigan returns to fetch her sweater. She and Corey share a moment of shared disappointment at having lost their loves ("Total Eclipse Of The Heart").

Back at school, Michael and his gang continue sending Eileen fake love letters. Feargal has taken up Karate from the unseen groundskeeper, Mr. Miyagi. Prom is fast approaching, and everyone is anxious to find a date. Eileen finds another letter in her locker, this one actually signed by Michael, which states that he's in love with her. The girls, overjoyed, celebrate ("Walking On Sunshine"). The boys continue placing letters in her locker.

Tiffany, Cyndi, Mel and Kim are gossiping about the boys. They are all getting cars, but Kim tells the girls that Michael's car is nothing to be seen. Corey tries to compete with Michael's new car with his two-seater bike, but to no avail ("Get Outta My Dreams (Get Into My Car)").

Before class, Ms. Brannigan attempts to talk to Mr. Cocker because she misses him, but Mr. Cocker can't get over the magazine incident. He goes to teach his class but becomes distracted by the memory of the picture, and in his head, the class starts to taunt him ("Centerfold").

After school, Eileen reads from one of Michael's letters what Michael is really saying to Tiffany ("Lost In Your Eyes"). Billy has recruited some girls to help him ask Cyndi to the prom ("Never Gonna Give You Up"), but Cyndi coldly rejects him, telling the story to her friends later on ("Material Girl").

As Michael and his gang are putting another letter into Eileen's locker, Eileen, Laura and Debbie stumble upon them. The girls mistakenly believe that Michael has come to ask Eileen to prom, but Michael tells them the truth in the most cruel way possible. Laura and Debbie take a sobbing Eileen away. Tiffany, having seen the whole thing, angrily breaks up with Michael in front of the whole school. Michael and his gang tries to leave the scene, but Feargal stops them, demanding they go apologize to Eileen immediately. They refuse, and Michael engages Feargal in a fight. Mr. Miyagi, in Feargal's head, guides him through what to do, and he beats Michael to the ground.

In the schoolyard, Eileen is sobbing by herself. Corey enters and starts trying to comfort her. She confesses that she feels that she doesn't fit in. She thought that she had found her place, but now she knows that everyone has been laughing at her behind the back. Corey calls over Alf and Kirk, and together the three of them assure Eileen that she is well-liked, and that Michael and his gang are the only jerks ("Come On Eileen/Don't Worry, Be Happy"). Kirk and Alf reveal that Feargal defended Eileen from Michael, and Eileen happily runs off to thank him, followed by Alf and Kirk. Tiffany enters, praising Corey for being supportive of Eileen. She confesses that she wants to go to prom with him, but thinks he's going with Eileen. Corey tells her that he turned down every invitation he got because he didn't want to go with anyone but her.

Before the prom, Mr. Cocker and Ms. Brannigan make up and resolve their differences. At the prom, the students enjoy the band ("Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Reprise)"). The students begin to dance together, Corey and Tiffany together at last ("{I've Had} The Time Of My Life"). Corey Snr. comes back out to tell the audience where everyone in his class ended up (see below). He recalls his high school memories fondly, and leaves the stage, telling his younger self to have fun.

Characters

Narrator

• Corey Palmer Sr. - The narrator of the show. Living in the year 2001, Corey Sr is pushing 30. He reminisces about the 1980s, his school days, and his love for Tiffany Houston. He is able to move the story along, comment on action as it is happening, and even provide the internal thoughts of his younger version (Corey Palmer Jr) in the midst of the action.

The Regular Kids

• Corey Palmer - The hero of the musical. Although it does not focus solely on him, the story is largely about his life, and the people and events surrounding him. He is 17 during his senior year.
• Alf Bueller - One of Corey Jr's two best friends. At one point in the play, Alf insists that he has a day off, a homage to 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'
• Kirk Keaton - Corey's other best friend. He and his two best friends come from excellent homes and are probably considered to be the "nice" boys of their year.

The Popular Girls

• Tiffany Houston - Tiffany is one of the group of girls that "Just Wanna Have Fun". She is a cute, bubbly teenage female from the 1980s - aspiring to be Cyndi Lauper and Madonna rolled into one. This brings with it the burdens aspiring to be a material girl - big hair and copious amounts of make-up. She has been Corey Jr's neighbor since they were born, and they are good friends. She seems oblivious to his deep-seated love for her, probably because she is too busy mooning over Michael Feldman - and applying more blue eye shadow.
• Cyndi Gibson - One of Tiffany's best friends. Rather than having a best friend, all these kids seem to have groups of best friends. Whereas Tiffany is fairly innocent, naive and doe-eyed about boys and love, Cyndi is more street-smart. Cyndi knows that boyfriends are a passport to attention and presents. As with every other female, she would love to have a fling with Michael Feldman, but she settles from time to time for Billy Arnold, or Lionel Astley, or Huey Jackson - or anyone else from the football team who is around.
• Mel Easton - Another one of the inner clique of "the cool girls". She is an all-singing, all-dancing party girl who seems to be happy to be taken along with the group of girls, and burst into song whenever the opportunity arises. With her twin sister Kim, she seems to have a natural affinity for harmonizing, and for backing up solo singers, which is very lucky because Cyndi and Tiffany both continually break into show-stopping 1980s tunes.
• Kim Easton - The twin sister of Mel. Mel and Kim are new to the school, however they have been friends with Cyndi for a long time, so they are automatically accepted into her group. Kim does not do well at school, and makes the decision halfway through their senior year to leave. However, she is talked out of this by her friends. The option of parties, boys and a little bit of studying is far more tempting than working nine to five.

The Cool Guys

• Michael Feldman - The coolest guy in the school. The girls all fall at his feet. He is a car-driving, Fonzie-styled football star. He has the romantic attention of all the girls, but particularly Tiffany Houston, (who Corey just happens to be in love with). Michael is very suave in the presence of any females. However, when they are not around he shows his true colours - he is a mean, manipulative oaf who picks on smaller kids. Though, the girls never seem to see this side of him. To them, he is a God. Fortunately, by pure coincidence, his name can be shortened to "Mickey".
• Billy Arnold - One of Michael Feldman's posse. Another popular, good-looking, guy. The kind of person that every 17-year-old wants to be (particularly if they are not popular, good-looking or athletic). When Billy is around Michael and his group, they all assume coolness. But, like the others, when he is by himself, Billy is a little lost, particularly without Michael's advice. He makes the misguided decision to dress up like Rick Astley and hire backup singers in an attempt to serenade his way into the heart of Cyndi.
• Lionel Astley - Lionel is fairly similar to Billy. All of the cool guys walk and talk the same way, but they all have slightly individual personalities. The group together is stronger than the individuals. In Lionel's case, he is not quite as cool as the others, but because he is in the group, the girls put up with him anyway.
• Huey Jackson - The final guy to round out the group of Michael Feldman's friends. Not much else to be said - big hair, wears clothes that were cool at the time, but now just look like fluorescent mismatches of colour. Huey is a 1980s tragic - he is the only member of the cool group to go as far as wearing a white Michael Jackson glove - as was the fashion of the day.

The Nerds and Outcasts

• Feargal McFerrin III - The school nerd. Feargal is a nice, sensitive young male - but that doesn't count for much when you are 17, get good marks at school and wear glasses. Feargal is supremely intelligent, but his visions of life in the new millennium are always laughed at. He also falls in love with Eileen. He is taking self-defense classes with Mr Miyagi, which proves very fortunate towards the end of the show.
• Eileen Reagan - Eileen arrives at William Ocean High School during the middle of the year. She is a charming girl - full of life and vitality. She is also a dreamer who lovingly longs for the day when she has a boyfriend. However, she is rejected by the popular girls upon her arrival to the school, so she is destined to hang around some of the less popular girls at the school (namely Laura and Debbie). Consequently, the boys are rather cold to her, and some of them make fun of her behind her back.
• Laura Wilde - One of the girls that adopts Eileen into their group when she arrives at the school. Laura and Debbie have been best friends for years and they open a dating website. This is not necessarily by choice, but more by the fact that neither of them fitted in anywhere else, so they found each other. They are basically nice girls, but they have no luck with boyfriends. However, this does not stop them from spending hours ogling at posters and dreaming about various singers.
• Debbie Fox - As with Laura, Debbie is happy to accept Eileen into their group of two people - because there is safety in numbers when you are not accepted as being cool. She also has a tendency to spend too much time looking at posters of all the movie hunks of the time. Both girls have trouble distinguishing between reality and fantasy. They make up imaginary boyfriends to impress each other, and these boyfriends always seem to take on the features of the pinup of the month. Strangely, neither girl has ever met any of the numerous boyfriends that the other has had. Despite her outcast appearance for the majority of the show Debbie ends up highly attractive and successful.

The Teachers

• Sheena Brannigan - One of two teachers at the school to be seen. She is around 30, and is the Senior Students Co-ordinator and an English teacher. On the surface in front of classes of children she seems very reserved, very friendly and slightly conservative. What they don't know is that at 18 she posed nude for Hustler. She has an on again, off again relationship with Mr. Cocker. That is to say, it was on while he did not know of her history, and off when he discovers that she stripped for a magazine shoot for $100. She is terribly embarrassed because of this, and tries to hide it from Cocker, but he inevitably finds out. She realizes by the end that she needs him in her life to be happy. They get married in the end.
• Steven "Stevie" Cocker - The Deputy Principal and Math (Calculus) teacher at William Ocean High School. He is one of only two teachers who will appear in the show. Steven sees a future together with Sheena, but has major issues when he discovers he is dating a former centerfold (even though she is now a respectable, conservative English teacher.) Steven has problems with erasing the images of Sheena's prior modeling from his mind. He is surprised that his "homeroom angel is a centerfold." He also realizes that he needs to go back to her or move on, which is absolutely impossible for him. He awkwardly asks her to prom, and they get back together. He marries her and becomes principal later.

Background characters

• Gemstones - spunky, upbeat girls who love to sing and dance. No lines are really included for these parts.
• Pete The Pirate - the school's mascot. No lines are really included for this part.
• Yoda - the Jedi Master from the Star Wars franchise appears in a dream sequence in Corey Jr.'s dreams, teaching him the ways of the Force.
• Mr. Miyagi - the famous karate teacher from The Karate Kid is the groundskeeper in this play. Although never seen, his voice appears at least once during the fight scene when Feargal is nearly beaten and pleads for help. This character is unseen (unless a director decides to show a train scene with Feargal and Myagi, which is not in the official script).

Life for the characters after school

Corey was never married to Tiffany, however he is fine with life as a single man. He is dating a fashion designer, and he says he'll 'see how it goes'. Feargal married Eileen after he stuck up for her when he heard Michael put fake love letters in her locker. They stay married for the rest of their lives. He also became a billionaire along with his good friend Bill Gates, when they created the World Wide Web. Later he created a hit number one single Hit Me Baby One More Time selling millions of copies, which made him millions more. Kirk married a woman he met in Disneyland in 1998. Alf has not yet been married, and is destined to remain a bachelor to the grave; all three men try to play golf once every couple weeks, managing to keep in touch after graduation. Tiffany eventually married someone in Chicago and had two children. Cyndi never got together with Billy and instead became a Democratic politician. Mel and Kim married two identical twins and had two sets of triplets and were actually featured in Guinness Book of World Records. Billy, Lionel and Huey started their own chain of skating rinks but when skating went out of fashion, they were turned into car parks. Laura and Debbie became millionaires when they created the biggest dating agency in the USA. Michael tried out for the NFL, but was forced into early retirement after a groin injury. He has had two wives and four kids. He is also a Baptist minister in New Orleans. Mr. Cocker and Miss Brannigan were married and still teach at William Ocean High School. Mr. Cocker has become the school principal. They had a child together and called her Angelina.

Musical numbers

The song lists are different for: Australia and New Zealand; Canada and the United States; and the United Kingdom. Songs have been taken out and/or removed in each case. The full song list is below with country flags indicated for discrepancies between song list.

Instrumentation

Back To The 80's requires only a small band of musicians to perform. Instruments needed are two keyboards, an electric bass guitar, an electric guitar, a drum kit, an alto saxophone or a tenor saxophone, a trombone and a trumpet.^[3]

References

1. ↑ "Show website". Backtothe80smusical.com. Retrieved 2012-06-11. 
2. ↑ "Back To The 80's...THE TOTALLY AWESOME MUSICAL!". Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-12. 
3. ↑ "Back to the 80's on Music Theatre International". Music Theatre International. Archived from the original on 19 December 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-01. 

External links

• Home page of Back to the 80s