Back to the 80's
Encyclopedia
Back to the 80's is a musical
written by Neil Gooding with original musical adaption by Scott Copeman. 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 contains pop
songs from the 1980s as well as songs written by Neil Gooding.
The then 17-year-old Corey is madly in love with his next-door neighbor, 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 CDs will replace cassette tapes.
The school year kicks off with the election of the senior class president. Just before elections, Michael steals Corey's election idea, which ends up in Michael winning. (Of course the promise to kiss any girl that votes him helps.) Later in the year, a new girl joins the school, Eileen Reagan. She becomes friends with Laura Wilde and Debbie Fox who's boyfriends are in Miami on "business". (Let's Hear It for the Boy) Meanwhile, math teacher Steven Cocker (Mr. Cocker), finally gets Sheena Brannigan (Ms. Brannigan) to go out on a date with him.
As the year progresses, Corey finally racks up the courage to ask Tiffany to be his girlfriend. Unfortunately Michael also decides to ask Tiffany. Both compete for her in I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
. In the end, Tiffany chooses Michael. As the weeks passed, Corey to bring-up his forgotten idea of a school concert that Michael stole and convinces Mr. Cocker to out it on. Shortly after, Mr. Cocker finds out the Ms. Brannigan was a centerfold for a swimsuit magazine and is upset that she "lied" to him. The act ends with both Mr. Cocker and Ms. Brannigan convincing the class to put on the concert. (Man in the Mirror
)
Act 2 opens up with the senior class putting on their concert for their parents. Corey, looking to gain status, puts on a party at his house, the Love Shack as he calls it. (Love Shack
) However, his parents arrive home early from their trip and Corey gets caught. Later in the year, Eileen finds who has been putting love letters in her locker, Michael. (Walking on Sunshine
) Mr. Cocker, who still thinks about the centerfold, goes completely mad. (Centerfold
)
Prom is approaching, and Billy ask Cyndi Gibson to the prom, Never Gonna Give You Up
, but is turned down since she is a Material Girl
. As another letter from Michael and the gang goes into Eileen's locker, they get caught by Eileen. Michael tells her that it was all a joke and it wasn't that big of a deal. Tiffany, who watched the whole thing, decides to breakup with him. Fergal finally intervenes after Eileen runs off the stage crying and fights with Michael. Nearly beaten though, he asks Mr. Myagi for advice and beats Michael with a kick to the face. Tiffany later catches Corey cheering-up Eileen and admits she wants to go to the prom with him, but it is too bad he is taken. Corey admits that he turned down all requests only because he would only go to the prom with her.
During prom, the older Corey tells where everybody is now. (See: "Life for the characters after school") The act concludes with the conclusion of everybody singing (I've Had) The Time of My Life
.
Alf Bueller-One of Corey Junior's two best friends. At one point in the play Alf insists that he has a day off, an 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.
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 80s 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.
Billy Arnold-One of Michael Feldman's posse. Another popular, good-looking, athletic 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 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 an 80s 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!
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. 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.
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.
Pete The Pirate (mascot) - the school's mascot. No lines are really included for this part.
Yoda - as seen one time in Corey Jr's dreams as a Star Wars Dream Sequence. Yoda shows up teaching Luke (Corey)the ways of the Force.
Mr Myagi - the famous karate teacher from "The Karate Kid" is the grounds keeper 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 NEVER seen (unless a director decides to show a train scene with Feargal and Myagi [Which is not in the official script]).
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 a fortnight - they managed 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 democrat 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. Their company became bankrupt and now live in a ditch somewhere is Zimbabwe.
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. C and Miss B were married and still teach at Williams Ocean High School. Mr Cocker has become the school principal. They had a child together and called her Angelina.
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.
Act One
Act Two
, an electric bass guitar
, an electric guitar
, a drum kit
, an alto saxophone
or a tenor saxophone
, a trombone
and a trumpet
.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
written by Neil Gooding with original musical adaption by Scott Copeman. 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 contains pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
songs from the 1980s as well as songs written by Neil Gooding.
Plot
Back to the 80's tells the story of the 1989 graduating class of William Ocean high as seen through the narrator, Corey Palmer who is now living in the year 2001. Throughout the story, Corey Sr introduces and provides insight for various characters.The then 17-year-old Corey is madly in love with his next-door neighbor, 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 CDs will replace cassette tapes.
The school year kicks off with the election of the senior class president. Just before elections, Michael steals Corey's election idea, which ends up in Michael winning. (Of course the promise to kiss any girl that votes him helps.) Later in the year, a new girl joins the school, Eileen Reagan. She becomes friends with Laura Wilde and Debbie Fox who's boyfriends are in Miami on "business". (Let's Hear It for the Boy) Meanwhile, math teacher Steven Cocker (Mr. Cocker), finally gets Sheena Brannigan (Ms. Brannigan) to go out on a date with him.
As the year progresses, Corey finally racks up the courage to ask Tiffany to be his girlfriend. Unfortunately Michael also decides to ask Tiffany. Both compete for her in I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
"I'm Gonna Be " is a song written and performed by The Proclaimers. It was released on their 1988 Sunshine on Leith album, and subsequently as a single. It has become one of their most popular songs, reaching No. 11 in the UK charts and No. 1 on the Australian ARIA Charts in 1989, plus, five years...
. In the end, Tiffany chooses Michael. As the weeks passed, Corey to bring-up his forgotten idea of a school concert that Michael stole and convinces Mr. Cocker to out it on. Shortly after, Mr. Cocker finds out the Ms. Brannigan was a centerfold for a swimsuit magazine and is upset that she "lied" to him. The act ends with both Mr. Cocker and Ms. Brannigan convincing the class to put on the concert. (Man in the Mirror
Man in the Mirror
"Man in the Mirror" is a song recorded by Michael Jackson and written and composed by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett. It peaked at number one in the United States when released as a single in January 1988 off his seventh solo album, Bad. It is one of Jackson's most critically acclaimed songs and...
)
Act 2 opens up with the senior class putting on their concert for their parents. Corey, looking to gain status, puts on a party at his house, the Love Shack as he calls it. (Love Shack
Love Shack
"Love Shack" is a single by rock band The B-52's. Originally released in 1989 from their album Cosmic Thing, the single was the band's biggest hit song and first million-copy seller...
) However, his parents arrive home early from their trip and Corey gets caught. Later in the year, Eileen finds who has been putting love letters in her locker, Michael. (Walking on Sunshine
Walking on Sunshine (song)
"Walking on Sunshine" is a song written by Kimberley Rew for Katrina and the Waves' 1983 eponymous debut full-length album. The re-recorded version was at first released on the band's 1985 self-titled album as the album's second single and reached No. 4 in Australia, No. 9 in the United States,...
) Mr. Cocker, who still thinks about the centerfold, goes completely mad. (Centerfold
Centerfold
The centerfold of a magazine refers to a gatefolded spread, usually a portrait such as a pin-up or a nude, inserted in the middle of the publication, or to the model featured in the portrait...
)
Prom is approaching, and Billy ask Cyndi Gibson to the prom, Never Gonna Give You Up
Never Gonna Give You Up
A group of London dance producers, called The Rickrollerz made a house music cover version of "Never Gonna Give You Up" on that day, and in honor of that event....
, but is turned down since she is a Material Girl
Material Girl
"Material Girl" is a song performed by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released on January 30, 1985, by Sire Records, as the second single from her second album Like a Virgin. It also appears slightly remixed on the 1990 greatest hits compilation, The Immaculate Collection, and in its...
. As another letter from Michael and the gang goes into Eileen's locker, they get caught by Eileen. Michael tells her that it was all a joke and it wasn't that big of a deal. Tiffany, who watched the whole thing, decides to breakup with him. Fergal finally intervenes after Eileen runs off the stage crying and fights with Michael. Nearly beaten though, he asks Mr. Myagi for advice and beats Michael with a kick to the face. Tiffany later catches Corey cheering-up Eileen and admits she wants to go to the prom with him, but it is too bad he is taken. Corey admits that he turned down all requests only because he would only go to the prom with her.
During prom, the older Corey tells where everybody is now. (See: "Life for the characters after school") The act concludes with the conclusion of everybody singing (I've Had) The Time of My Life
(I've Had) The Time of My Life
" The Time of My Life" is a song composed by Franke Previte, John DeNicola, and Donald Markowitz. It was recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, after having been selected to be the finale song for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, by choreographer Kenny Ortega and his assistant Miranda Garrison...
.
Narrator
Corey Palmer Sr.- The narrator of the show. Corey Sr is pushing 30, living in the year 2001, and reminiscing about the 80s (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 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 throughout the 1980s. He is 17 during his senior year.Alf Bueller-One of Corey Junior's two best friends. At one point in the play Alf insists that he has a day off, an 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 80s - 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 80s 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. The girls never seem to see this side of him though. 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, athletic 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 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 an 80s 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, wear glasses...and still a virgin! As a side note, pretty much everyone in the show are virgins, but at least it is conceivable that the others may not stay that way until they are 30. With Feargal, this is a definite possibility! Feargal is supremely intelligent, but his visions of life in the new millennium are always laughed at. He also has a thing going on 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. 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.
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. "Stevie" 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 (mascot) - the school's mascot. No lines are really included for this part.
Yoda - as seen one time in Corey Jr's dreams as a Star Wars Dream Sequence. Yoda shows up teaching Luke (Corey)the ways of the Force.
Mr Myagi - the famous karate teacher from "The Karate Kid" is the grounds keeper 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 NEVER seen (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 his life is fine as a single. 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 a fortnight - they managed 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 democrat politician.
Mel and Kim married two identical twins and had two sets of triplets
Multiple birth
A multiple birth occurs when more than one fetus is carried to term in a single pregnancy. Different names for multiple births are used, depending on the number of offspring. Common multiples are two and three, known as twins and 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. Their company became bankrupt and now live in a ditch somewhere is Zimbabwe.
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. C and Miss B were married and still teach at Williams 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: AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
; Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. 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.
Act One
- One of the following songs:
- }
"Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is a song by English pop duo Wham! which was released in 1984 and became their first UK number one hit. It was written and produced by George Michael, one half of the duo...
" - Male Singer and Three Backing Singers - }"Kids in AmericaKids in America (Kim Wilde song)"Kids in America" is a New Wave song by British singer Kim Wilde, released in the United Kingdom as her debut single in January 1981, and in the US in 1982. It has famously been covered by many artists from different genres.-Background:...
" - Featured Female Singer with Full Student Ensemble - One of the following songs:
- } "Kids in America" - Featured Female Singer with Full Student Ensemble
- }"Kids in America (Reprise)" - Full Student Ensemble
- "Girls Just Want to Have FunGirls Just Want to Have FunGirls Just Want to Have Fun may refer to:In music:* "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", the first major single released by singer Cyndi Lauper on She's So UnusualIn film:...
" - Tiffany, Cyndi, Mel and Kim with Female Student Ensemble - "FootlooseFootloose (song)"Footloose" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. It was released in January 1984 as the first of two single by Loggins from the 1984 film of the same name. The song spent three weeks at number one, March 31—April 14, 1984 on the U.S. Billboard...
" - Michael, Billy, and Huey with Male Student Ensemble - "MickeyMickey (song)"Mickey" is a 1982 U.S. new wave song recorded by singer and choreographer Toni Basil. Written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn as "Kitty", it was first recorded by UK popular music group Racey during 1979...
" - Tiffany, Cyndi, Mel and Kim - "Michael's Election Rap" - Michael
- "Video Killed the Radio StarVideo Killed the Radio Star"Video Killed the Radio Star" is a song by the British synthpop/New Wave group The Buggles, released as their debut single on 7 September 1979, on Island Records from their debut album The Age of Plastic. It celebrates the golden days of radio, describing a singer whose career is cut short by...
" - Feargal with Laura and Debbie - One of the following songs:
- "Believe It Or Not" (Theme Song from The Greatest American HeroThe Greatest American HeroThe Greatest American Hero is an American comedy-drama television series that aired for three seasons from 1981 to 1983 on ABC. Created by producer Stephen J. Cannell, it premiered as a two-hour movie pilot on March 18, 1981...
) - Corey, Jr. with Featured Singer
- }
"Glory of LoveGlory of Love"Glory of Love" is a 1986 Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit song written by Peter Cetera, David Foster and Cetera's wife at the time, Diane Nini, and recorded by Cetera shortly after he left the band Chicago to pursue a solo career. The song was Cetera's first hit single and was included on his 1986 album,...
" - Corey, Jr. with Featured Male Singers such as Fergal - "Let's Hear It for the Boy" - Laura, Debbie and Eileen
- "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"I'm Gonna Be " is a song written and performed by The Proclaimers. It was released on their 1988 Sunshine on Leith album, and subsequently as a single. It has become one of their most popular songs, reaching No. 11 in the UK charts and No. 1 on the Australian ARIA Charts in 1989, plus, five years...
" - Corey, Jr. and Michael - "You Give Love a Bad NameYou Give Love a Bad Name (song)"You Give Love a Bad Name" is a song written by Jon Bon Jovi, Desmond Child, and Richie Sambora about a woman who has jilted her lover. Although originally written for the band Loverboy, the song was recorded by Bon Jovi...
" - Corey, Sr. - "You Give Love a Bad Name (Reprise)" - Mr. Cocker
- "Man in the MirrorMan in the Mirror"Man in the Mirror" is a song recorded by Michael Jackson and written and composed by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett. It peaked at number one in the United States when released as a single in January 1988 off his seventh solo album, Bad. It is one of Jackson's most critically acclaimed songs and...
" - Mr. Cocker and Miss Brannigan with Full Student Ensemble
Act Two
- One of the following songs:
- "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us NowNothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" is a #1 hit song co-written by Albert Hammond and Diane Warren, recorded by Starship. Featured as the theme to the romantic comedy film Mannequin, it hit #1 in the Billboard Hot 100 on April 4, 1987 and reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks the following...
" - Full Student Ensemble
- } "We Are the WorldWe Are the World"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World...
" - Full Student Ensemble - "Dancing on the CeilingDancing on the CeilingDancing on the Ceiling is Lionel Richie's third album, which was released on July 15, 1986. The title cut was the second biggest single from the album, reaching #1 in the U.S. and #7 in the UK...
" - Corey, Jr., Featured Female Singer and Lionel with Full Student Ensemble - "Love ShackLove Shack"Love Shack" is a single by rock band The B-52's. Originally released in 1989 from their album Cosmic Thing, the single was the band's biggest hit song and first million-copy seller...
" - Corey, Jr., Featured Female Singer and Lionel with Full Student Ensemble 
"Love Shack (Reprise)" - Full Student Ensemble and Lionel- "Total Eclipse of the HeartTotal Eclipse of the Heart"Total Eclipse of the Heart" is a song written and produced by Jim Steinman and recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler for her fifth studio album, Faster Than the Speed of Night...
" - Corey, Jr. with Miss Brannigan - "Nine to FiveNine to Five9 to 5 is a 1980 American comedy film starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Dabney Coleman. The film concerns three working women living out their fantasy of getting even with, and their successful overthrow of, the company's autocratic, "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical...
" - Kim, Mel, Cyndi and Tiffany - "Walking on SunshineWalking on Sunshine (song)"Walking on Sunshine" is a song written by Kimberley Rew for Katrina and the Waves' 1983 eponymous debut full-length album. The re-recorded version was at first released on the band's 1985 self-titled album as the album's second single and reached No. 4 in Australia, No. 9 in the United States,...
" - Eileen with Laura and Debbie - "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My CarGet Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car"Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" is a number one single by singer Billy Ocean. Part of its popularity lay in its cutting-edge video, which featured cartoon mixed with live-action sequences. The song went to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Black Singles chart. It also...
" - Michael and Tiffany with Ensemble - "CenterfoldCenterfold (song)Centerfold is a single released by The J. Geils Band from their album Freeze Frame. The song is about a man who is shocked to discover that his high school crush appeared in a centerfold spread for a men's magazine...
" - Mr. Cocker with Full Student Ensemble - "Lost in Your EyesLost in Your Eyes"Lost in Your Eyes" is the sixth single from American singer-songwriter, Debbie Gibson, and the first from her second album, Electric Youth. Released in October 1988, the power ballad climbed to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and remained there for three weeks, becoming her...
" - Eileen and Tiffany - "Never Gonna Give You UpNever Gonna Give You UpA group of London dance producers, called The Rickrollerz made a house music cover version of "Never Gonna Give You Up" on that day, and in honor of that event....
" - Billy with Three Female Backup Singers - "Material GirlMaterial Girl"Material Girl" is a song performed by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released on January 30, 1985, by Sire Records, as the second single from her second album Like a Virgin. It also appears slightly remixed on the 1990 greatest hits compilation, The Immaculate Collection, and in its...
" - Cyndi with Male Ensemble - "Don't Worry, Be HappyDon't Worry, Be Happy"Don't Worry, Be Happy" is a song by musician Bobby McFerrin. Released in September 1988, it became the first a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a position it held for two weeks. On the UK Singles Chart, the song reached number 2 during its fifth week on the chart...
" / "Come On EileenCome on Eileen"Come On Eileen" was a single released by Dexys Midnight Runners in 1982. The song was written by Kevin Rowland, "Big" Jim Paterson, and Billy Adams; it was produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. It also appeared on the album Too-Rye-Ay...
" - Corey, Jr, Kirk and Alf - One of the following songs:
- } "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go (Reprise)" - Featured Male Singer
- }"The Final CountdownThe Final Countdown (song)"The Final Countdown" is a rock song by the Swedish band Europe released in 1986. Written by Joey Tempest, it was the first single from the band's third studio album which was also named The Final Countdown. It is considered by some to be the band's most recognizable and popular song. The song...
" - Featured Singer - "(I've Had) The Time of My Life(I've Had) The Time of My Life" The Time of My Life" is a song composed by Franke Previte, John DeNicola, and Donald Markowitz. It was recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, after having been selected to be the finale song for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, by choreographer Kenny Ortega and his assistant Miranda Garrison...
" - Corey, Jr. with Tiffany, Miss Brannigan with Mr. Cocker, and Fergal with Eileen - "Back to the 80's Megamix!" - Full Ensemble
Instrumentation
Back To The 80's requires only a small band of musicians to perform. Instruments needed are: two keyboardsElectronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
, an electric bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, an electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, a drum kit
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, an alto saxophone
Alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
or a tenor saxophone
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, a trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
and a trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
.