The Teen Theatre of Bellevue Society for the Arts is open to all area teenagers in grades nine through 12 and through the age of 19.
Bellevue Society for the Arts’ Teen Theatre announces open auditions for the totally awesome musical, Back to the 80’s, Monday and Tuesday, June 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. at 205 Maple Street.
Hey teens, remember when actors became American Presidents? When bubble skirts and blue eye shadow were cool? When Atari was cutting-edge technology? Of course you don’t. Back to the 80’s tells the story of the senior class of William Ocean High School that graduated in the 1980s, as remembered and seen through the eyes of Corey Palmer, who is now 30-something. Throw in a “Star Wars” dream sequence, high-energy dance routines, the obligatory ’80s party scene, copious amounts of blue eye-shadow, twenty cans of hairspray, as well as some of the most popular songs ever written, and the result is a musical that will delight and amuse audiences of any age. Yes, even you!
Available roles include:
Alf Bueller — One of Corey Jr.’s two best friends. A likeable teenager, only just coming out of childhood. Whereas the ‘cool’ group of guys (Michael, Billy, Lionel and Huey) are into adult things like girls, cars and sports, Corey and his mates (particularly Alf) are only just coming out of the phase of racing bikes and burning ants with magnifying glasses. Maybe this is because they are still young at heart — or maybe it’s just because they are immature, and don’t get much female attention.
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.
Corey Palmer (Junior) — The hero of the musical. Although it does not focus soley on him, the story is largely about his life, and the people and events surrounding him throughout the ’80s. He is 17 during his senior year. A very likeable, very ordinary American teenager, experiencing the events that every young male goes through. Unfortunately for him he is doing it in a time of hypercolour t-shirts, big hairdos and flourescent white pants.
Corey Palmer (Senior) — The narrator of the show. Corey Sr. is pushing 30, living in the year 2000, and reminiscing about the ’80s (his school days), and his love for Tiffany Houston. He is similar to the older voice-over of Kevin Arnold from The Wonder Years. 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.
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, naïve, 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.
Debbie Fox — Laura’s best friend. Both girls have trouble distinguishing between reality (i.e. that they have had no boyfriends) and fantasy (that they are married to Neil Patrick Harris). 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 numberous boyfriends the other has had.
Eileen Reagan — The new arrival, charming, full of life and vitality. A dreamer who lovingly longs for the day when she has a boyfriend. She is rejected by the popular girls upon her arrival to the school. Consequently, the boys are rather cold to her, and some of them make fun of her behind her back.
Ensemble Boys/Girls/Back-Up Vocalists:
Feargal McFerrin — 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! Feargal is supremely intelligent, but his visions of life in the new millenium are always laughed at. He is taking self-defense classes with Mr. Miyagi, which proves very fortunate towards the end of the show!
Featured Female Singer
Featured Male Singer
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 color. 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!
Kim Easton — Mel’s sister. Mel and Kim are new to the school, but 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. For her, the options of parties, boys and cheerleading, are far more tempting than school work.
Kirk Keaton — Corey’s other best friend. Corey, Alf and Kirk are very tight, but they are rather naïve, particularly about women. All three of them come from excellent family homes and are probably considered to be the ‘nice’ boys of their class. Unfortunately for them, ‘nice’ does not lead to lots of babes, hard parties or cool status among the rest of their classmates.
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 Corey Haim, Corey Feldman and Anthony Michael Hall.
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. Lionel is not quite as cool as the others, but because he is in the group, the girls put up with him anyway.
Mel Easton — Another one of the inner clicque of ‘The Cool Girls.’ 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 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.
Michael Feldman — The coolest guy in the school. The girls all fall at his feet. A car-driving, Fonzie-styled football star. 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 colors — 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.’
Mr. Stevie Crocker — The Deputy Principal and math teacher at William Ocean High School. One of only two teachers who will appear in the show. Stevie 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.) Stevie has problems with erasing the image of Sheena’s prior modeling from his mind.
Ms. Sheena Brannigan — The only female teacher at the school to be seen. Around 30, and the Senior Student Coordinator. Outwardly reserved, very friendly and slightly conservative. What no one knows is that at 18 she posed for Hustler. She has an on-again/off-again relationship with Mr. Cocker.
Tiffany Houston — One of the group of girls that ‘Just Wanna Have Fun.’ A cute, bubbly teenage female from the ’80s, innocent, naïve and doe-eyed about boys and love — aspiring to be Cyndi Lauper and Madonna rolled into one. This brings with the the burdens aspiring to be a Material Girl — big hair and lots 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-seeded love for her, probably because she is too busy mooning over Michael Feldman — and applying more blue eye shadow!
Those wishing to audition are asked to bring their favorite ’80s pop song on a CD to sing along to, or you may be asked to sing a song from the show. There will be no accompanist.
Production dates are August 16, 17 and 18, 2013.
Back to the 80’s is written by Neil Gooding, with additional material by Stuart Smith. Revised orchestrations and arrangements are by Brett Foster, and the original musical adaptation is by Scott Copeman.
Back to the 80’s is directed by Jennifer Gilbert, and presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). It is sponsored by Mike, Donna, Sandy and Matt Allen.
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