Back to the ?80s… the Totally Awesome Musical!

Though many of them saw no more than a year at most of the decade, theater students at Goodrich High School are clamoring to get back to the 1980s.
‘Back to the 80’s… the Totally Awesome Musical!? by Neil Gooding is making its way to the stage at the Raymond C. Green Center for Performing Arts at Goodrich High School at 7 p.m., March 29- April 1.
‘I wanted to pick something that not a lot of people know so they wouldn’t come in with preconceived ideas about the play,? said Steve Mitchell, GHS theater director.
Mitchell said the play struck a chord with him because of the resurgence of ?80s styles and fascination with the decade displayed by students in the school.
‘The ?80s are making a comeback,? said Mitchell.
And though a 17-year-old student wouldn’t have been born until 1990, Mitchell said those who never endured a decade of Rubik’s cubes, slap bracelets, jelly shoes, big hair and stone-washed everything are none the less riveted by the styles and the music.
‘The other reason I decided to do this is the parents of the kids that are in the show grew up in the 80s. The nostalgia that follows that point in time is history, it should be a draw,? said Mitchell. ‘People want to come and see the outrageous outfits, the huge hair… the decade of excess.?
Mitchell said the play centers around a man in the year 2000 flashing back on his days in high school.
‘He’s recalling many of those coming-of-age events like prom, the crush on the girl next door… getting that first car,? said Mitchell.
The music of the decade features heavily in the play, said Mitchell, with songs including ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go,? by Wham!, ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun,? by Cyndi Lauper, ‘Material Girl,? by Madonna and ‘Get Outta My Dreams (Get Into My Car),? by Billy Ocean, during which an actual car will be driven onto the stage.
With a cast of 30 and a crew so large students were recruited from other schools to help out, Mitchell said the all ages show is sure to entertain. The theater director said the play features everything from an intricate set to a seemingly unending number of ?80s references. Even character names are ?80s throwbacks, such as ‘Alf Bueller? ( ‘ALF? being an ?80s sitcom about a cat eating alien, and Bueller from the ?80s cult movie classic, ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?).
‘The kids are all excited. There’s already a big buzz in the community,? said Mitchell.
Because the show is already generating attention, Mitchell recommends buying tickets ahead of time. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for kids ages 10 and younger.
Tickets: (810) 591-2220.