Healesville High School students are loving their musical trip Back to the ’80s.
OH Mickey, you’re so fine … you’re so fine you blow my mind … OH MICKEY!
Oh yessss, Healesville High School is going ‘Back to the ’80s.
In what is the school’s first major musical for years, musical director Chris Shute has tapped into three generations of ’80s music fans – the 45 student performers from Year 7 to Year 12, their parents and the legions of grandparents who bopped along to the explosions of sound coming from bedrooms of those now 30-something parents.
“It’s very much like a Grease or High School Musical with an older guy (that would be a guy in his early 30s) reminiscing about the ’80s,” Chris said.
The setting is the fictitious William Ocean High School and the story is told to the tunes of songs including The Love Shack, Material Girl, Working 9 to 5, The Jitterbug … and lots more.
“It was a fun time, the songs were fun, the clothes were bright, it was the Rubik’s cube era … a vibrant, fluorescent sort of time,” Chris enthuses.
“The interesting thing is the parents know all the songs and love them and the kids know them and love them as well.
“The kids really relate to them.”
Another surprise for Chris was that many of the parents have held on to much of their ’80s gear.
“When we called for costumes, we found we had a ready made costume supply out of the wardrobes of our parents,” he said.
Chris said the audience would not only have a great time at Back to the 80s, but would be treated to some wonderful young talent.
“The kids really come out shining in this show,” he said.
Back to the ’80s is being staged at Healesville High School, with a matinee performance on Wednesday, 25 August for school children, followed by evening shows on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
To book, phone the school on 5962 4088.
