Back to the 80's (musical)

Back To The 80's
... The Totally Awesome Musical!
Music	Various Artists - Originally adapted by Scott Copeman. Revised orchestrations and arrangements by Brett Foster.
Lyrics	Neil Gooding
Book	Neil Gooding. Additional material by Stuart Smith

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. It is a popular show for school productions in the English speaking world.

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

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").

...
Wikipedia