YEAR BOOK

CLASS OF

BACK TO THE 80’S - THE TOTALLY AWESOME MUSICAL

Gold Coast Little Theatre - February 4th to March 4th 2017

By Arrangement with David Spicer Productions Pty Ltd and APRA. Written by Neil Gooding.

Additional Material by Stuart Smith. Directed and Choreographed by Andrew Ross-Graham.

Vocal Direction by Steffanie Kriz.

DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: ANDREW ROSS-GRAHAM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: CASSIA ROSENSTRAUS-KROJS ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER: JESSICA REILLY VOCAL DIRECTOR: STEFFANIE KRIZ PRODUCTION MANAGER: JULIE CARROLL WARDROBE COORDINATOR/PROPS: GENINE GRAHAM REHEARSAL ACCOMPANIST: MORGAN GOULDING SET: NATHAN SCHMIDT LIGHTING DESIGNER: CHRIS KING SOUND DESIGNER: LIAM KRIZ + JOSH CATHCART RIGGING: PHIL STARK SOUND OPERATOR: JOSH CATHCART MUSIC OPERATOR: TAYLOR ALTERATOR LIGHTING OPERATOR: TINA EASTLEY BACKSTAGE HELPER: JERRY SCHMIDT WILLIAM OCEAN HIGH LOGO: RORY SCHIELE OCEAN AID 4 AFRICA LOGO: REECE JONES PROGRAM: WERDNA DESIGN REHEARSAL SPACE: SHOWBIZ EXPRESS + GOLD COAST QUADS PHOTOGRAPHY: BELINDA CAMPBELL UNIFORM PRINTING: THREAD KARTEL LOCKERS CONSTRUCTED BY: TERRY DOCKER CAR DONATED BY: TRACEY KRIZ MR MIYAGI V/O: RYAN GRAHAM DJ LEXIS V/O: CASSIA ROSENSTRAUS-KROJS COSTUME ALTERATIONS: DAWN WARRINGTON + DENNIS WATKINS

GOLD COAST LITTLE THEATRE Patron: Cr Dawn Crichlow

GCLT Wishes to acknowledge the generous assistance provided by the Gold Coast City

Council in providing reduced council rates to non-profit organisations

www.gclt.com.au

21a Scarborough Street, Southport, Qld

Dear Students, Parents, Teachers, Supporters, Special Guests and Audience Members, Thank you for joining us at the Gold Coast Little Theatre and our journey Back to the 80’s! This musical has been a favourite of mine for many years and I am so excited to be able to bring it to life, live on stage with such a totally talented cast and amazingly awesome production team! Everybody has worked so hard to make this show the best it can be and I am excited to be able to share it with you all. This show would not be possible without the generous support of the community and the tireless effort of all involved! So we must commence with a few ‘Thank Yous’; Thank you, to Jo De Goldi of Showbiz Express for the generous use of the studio space to run rehearsals and also to Paul and Noreena from GC Quads for also loaning rehearsal space. To Nathan Schmidt for the incredible set construction and also John Beetham for coming all the way from Rockhampton to help out. Belinda Campbell for her incredible photography, Dave from Thread Kartel for the shirt printing, Tracey Kriz for the loan of the Car, Phil Stark for the Rigging, Reece Jones and Rory Schiele for the logo design, Chris King for the lighting design, Liam Kriz for the help with the sound set up and design, Terry and Kay Docker for the incredible construction of the Lockers and also helping with anything they could. A massive thank you to my Technical Team; Josh Cathcart, Taylor Alterator and Tina Eastley whos hard work makes the show look and sound fabulous. To Pat Pigdon and Dennis for helping with the transport of the car, Dawn Warrington and Dennis Watkins for the assistance in Costume Alterations, to my incredible cast and those who donated time to come in and help with painting and set, in particular; Michael, Jay, Steff, Lara, Sue, Darrian, Catherine, Charlotte, Nathan, John, Genine, Jess, Cass, Carter, Jackson, Jess, Becky, Ziggy, Teagan, Joey, Emma and the two homeless people from next door. A massive thank you to Laura’s family Trent, Jimmy and Olivia for their hardwork and helping hands, Teagan for coming in and helping out whenever she could and Jackson for going above and beyond in assisting with getting this production to fruition. I must thank the committee and team at GCLT for their support and help during this production, to all the supporter of live theatre for their support and keeping theatre alive and thriving on the Gold Coast! And finally I must save my biggest thank you for last, to my Incredibly Talented production team! To Steffi, Cass, Julie, Jess and Genine, THANK YOU! You have all made this experience that much greater and I am so appreciative of your tireless effort and dedication to this production! I could go on for days but you know how much I love you and your help! Truly could not have asked for a better team to work with. Finally my Family, Genine, Ryan, Emily, Ruby and Georgia, thank you for allowing me to go on this journey and for being there to support me the entire way! I love you all more than anything and could not do it without you. Thank you All, Enjoy your trip Back to the 80’s!

ANDREW ROSS-GRAHAM Director/Choreographer

Andrew Ross-Graham (Director/Choreographer) ANDREW ROSS-GRAHAM IS THE GOLD COAST’S VERY OWN SONG AND DANCE MAN, PERFORMING SINCE THE AGE OF 3, ANDREW HAS PERFORMED PROFESSIONALLY IN AUSTRALIA AND INTERNATIONALLY. HE TRAINED AT THE QUEENSLAND DANCE SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE AND HOLDS A DIPLOMA OF DANCE, BUSINESS AND FITNESS. ANDREW IS A FULLY QUALIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER AND GYM INSTRUCTOR AS WELL AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE GOLD COAST COMBINED DANCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AND EQUAL ENTERTAINMENT. ANDREW HAS CHOREOGRAPHED AND DIRECTED OVERSEAS AND RIGHT HERE AT HOME. HE IS ONE OF THE RESIDENT CHOREOGRAPHERS AT AUSTRALIAS LARGEST THEME PARK, DREAMWORLD. ANDREW PERFORMED FOR 3 YEARS WITH ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL AND PERFORMED IN THE CAST OF HAIRSPRAY ON THE 66TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS BROADCAST LIVE ON CBS INTERNATIONALLY. ANDREWS PASSION FOR THEATRE GOES BEYOND THE STAGE, HIS AIM IS TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN PERFORMERS IN THE TRUE CRAFT THAT IS LIVE THEATRE

Cassia Rosenstraus-Krojs (Assistant Director) CASSIA HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FOR OVER 10 YEARS. THROUGHOUT THIS TIME SHE HAS DIRECTED, CHOREOGRAPHED, BEEN A MAKEUP ARTIST AND PERFORMED IN A VARIETY OF PRODUCTIONS INCLUDING A ROLE IN THE FILM THE DARK LURKING AND MANY COMEDY SHOWS WITH THE 1703 THEATRE COMPANY. WITH A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN APPLIED THEATRE FROM GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, CASSIA HAS TAUGHT DRAMA TO CHILDREN AND DIRECTED THEATRE AND YOUTH THEATRE HERE AND IN ENGLAND AND WORKED AS THE SENIOR SHOW ANNOUNCER AT SEA WORLD AUSTRALIAN FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. MANY SMALL GIGS HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE, FROM CHARACTER WORK, MC DUTIES, STREET THEATRE, LIVE HOSTING, TOUR GUIDE, DIRECTING AND ASSISTANT DIRECTING THEATRE, SPORT COMMENTATING AND RADIO ANNOUNCING, CASSIA CONTINUES TO SEEK OUT EXCITING ROLES AND NEW CHALLENGES WITHIN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

VICE - PRINCIPAL

Julie Carroll (Production Manager) JULIE CARROLL IS KNOWN TO MANY ON THE GOLD COAST THEATRE SCENE AS NOT ONLY AN AVID THEATRE SUPPORTER BUT ALSO HELPER AND CONTRIBUTER TO PERFORMERS, DIRECTORS, CHOREOGRAPHERS, COMPANIES AND SUPPORTERS. JULIE IS AN INCREDIBLE STAGE MOTHER WITHOUT THE DRAMA AND IS ABSOLUTLY THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE HER PASSION FOR THEATRE BEYOND HER SON AND ONTO OTHER CASTS. BACK TO THE 80’S IS EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE JULIE INVOLVED AND JULIE HAS TRULY ENJOYED HER TIME REMINISCING THROUGH THE MUSIC, COSTUME AND STORY LINE OF BACK TO THE 80’S. JULIE WISHES YOU ALL A FANTASTIC TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE AND IS SO EXCITED TO ONCE AGAIN BE ABLE TO HELP THEATRE ON THE GOLD COAST AND SHARE WITH EVERYONE HER LOVE FOR THE ERA THAT WE ALL REMEMBER AND LOVE SO MUCH.

PRINCIPAL

ADMINISTRATION

Steffani Kriz (Vocal Director) STARTING EARLY, STEFFANIE BEGAN SINGING ON STAGE AT AGE 4 AND HAS BEEN HOOKED EVER SINCE. SHE STUDIED SINGING THROUGHOUT HER SCHOOLING YEARS AND COMPLETED HER AMEB EXAMS AS WELL AS PERFORMING ACROSS A VARIETY OF GENRES IN SCHOOL, LOCAL AND SEMI-PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS. STEFFANIE HAS BEEN TEACHING SINGING FOR OVER 10 YEARS AT A NUMBER OF INSTITUTION ACROSS THE GOLD COAST. SHE JOINED THE NAPA TEAM IN 2015 AND HAS ASSISTED IN THEIR PRODUCTIONS OF SEUSSICAL AND THE WIZ, WHICH WERE BOTH RECOGNISED AT THE GOLD COAST AREA THEATRE AWARDS. STEFFANIE HAS A BACHELOR OF EDUCATION WITH A SPECIALISATION IN MUSIC AND IS CURRENTLY A PRIMARY YEARS TEACHER AT QUEENSLAND INDEPENDENT COLLEGE.

HEAD OF MUSIC

Jessica Reilly (Assistant Choreographer) JESSICA REILLY STARTED HER PERFORMING CAREER AT THE HELENSVALE CALISTHENICS DANCE ACADEMY AND CONTINUED HER STUDIES AT HELENSVALE STATE HIGH WHERE SHE RECEIVED NUMEROUS PERFORMING ARTS AWARDS. JESS IS A NATIONAL CHAMPION IN CALISTHENICS AND NOW COACHES THE CRAFT TO A YOUNGER GENERATION. JESSICA MOVED TO MELBOURNE TO PURSUE HER DANCE TRAINING AND UPON RETURNING HOME TO QUEENSLAND SHE RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM Q.U.T WITH A BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN DANCE. JESS IS A LOVING WIFE AND PROUD MOTHER, THIS MUSICAL HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR JESS TO NOT ONLY WORK ALONGSIDE HER BEST FRIEND IN THE PRODUCTION TEAM BUT ALSO TO PASS ON HER YEARS OF KNOWLEDGE TO THE TALENTED CAST. JESS WOULD LOVE TO DEDICATE THIS SHOW TO HER LOVING FAMILY! HEAD OF PERFORMANCE

Genine Graham (Wardrobe Coordinator) GENINE’S LOVE OF DANCE & THEATRE BEGAN AT A VERY EARLY AGE - AS A PERFORMER & THEN AS AN AVID & VERY PROUD SUPPORTER OF BOTH OF HER SONS, CELEBRATING THEIR SUCCESS IN ALL THINGS THEATRICAL. SHE IS THRILLED TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PRODUCTION, A WANDER DOWN MEMORY LANE WHERE BIG HAIR, CHUNKY JEWELS & COLOR CO-ORDINATED OUTFITS WERE VERY FASHIONABLE. SCOURING THE OP SHOPS OF THE GOLD COAST SOURCING ‘TREASURES’ HAS BEEN FUN -A BLAST FROM THE PAST SHE HOPES THIS BRINGS BACK SOME FABULOUS MEMORIES FOR YOU AS YOU SIT BACK, SING ALONG, RELAX & ENJOY!

‘WEARING NEXT TO NOTHING, CAUSE ITS HOT AS AN OVEN’ HEAD OF UNIFORMS

Ms. Sheena Brannigan (Jo De Goldi) JO BEGAN ENTERTAINING AT THE AGE OF 3. SHE MADE HER FIRST TELEVISION APPEARANCE AT 5YRS AND HER PROFESSIONAL THEATRE DEBUT AT 10 IN THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR OF EVITA. SHE JOINED THE CIRCUS AT 18 WHERE SHE TRAVELLED AS AN AERIALIST AND DANCER THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA & ASIA. JO HAS WORKED AT DREAMWORLD & PERFORMED IN NUMEROUS THEATRE RESTAURANTS. SHE IS PRINCIPAL AT SHOWBIZ EXPRESS CIRCUS & DANCE SCHOOL. IN 2015 SHE WAS ON ‘TEAM DELTA’ DURING THE 4 TH SEASON OF THE VOICE. JO IS HAPPIEST WHEN PERFORMING ON STAGE AND IS DELIGHTED TO BE DOING HER FIRST MUSICAL SINCE THE 80’S! SENIOR SCHOOL COORDINATOR

Mr. Steven Cocker (Reece Jones) REECE HAS PERFORMED OVERSEAS IN JAPAN, MALAYSIA NEW ZEALAND AND NEW CALEDONIA. THE BULK OF HIS CAREER HAS BEEN IN THEME PARK ENTERTAINMENT CURRENTLY BEING EMPLOYED BY DREAMWORLD. SUIT CHARACTERS, STREET THEATRE, FACE CHARACTER SHOWS, BALLOON ART AND DANCE ARE SOME OF THE VARIOUS ROLES THAT HAVE SPANNED A CAREER OF OVER 15+ YEARS.

‘I’M GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE… FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE’ HEAD OF MATHMATICS

Mrs. Stephens (Laura Baker) FROM WHAT LAURA CAN REMEMBER, THE 80’S WERE RAD! THE MUSIC IN THIS SHOW HAS BROUGHT MANY FOND, BUT SOMEWHAT HAZY MEMORIES BACK, AND SHE HAS HAD SUCH A BRILLIANT TIME RELIVING THOSE DODGY 80’S DANCE MOVES. LAURA HAS LOVED BRINGING THE SLIGHTLY INSANE CHARACTER OF MRS STEPHENS TO LIFE. LAURA HAS ALSO LOVED WORKING WITH THE INCREDIBLY TALENTED ANDREW, STEF, CASSIA AND JESS, AND CAN’T THANK THE REST OF THE CAST ENOUGH FOR BEING SO WELCOMING TO THIS OLD LADY. AS ALWAYS, LAURA CANNOT THANK TRENT, JIMMY AND OLIVIA ENOUGH FOR SUPPORTING HER EVEN WHEN HER OTHER LOVE (THEATRE) TAKES HER AWAY FROM THEM SUCH A LOT. ROCK ON! HEAD OF DANCE AND DRAMA

Corey Palmer (Liam Chapman) LIAM IS 16 AND A PASSIONATE PERFORMER. CURRENTLY TRAINING WITH THE PERFORMERS STUDIO, MATT WARD VOCAL STUDIOS AND IS PART OF THE DRAMA EXCELLENCE PROGRAM AT HELENSVALE STATE HIGH SCHOOL. LIAM’S PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES INCLUDE; TACKABERRY/ENSEMBLE - HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS - GCLT, RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE - INTO THE WOODS – TPS/ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST, THE ARTFUL DODGER - OLIVER – HSHS. LIAM IS CURRENTLY REHEARSING FOR BOYBAND AT SPOTLIGHT THEATRE. LIAM ERFORMED AT CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND EASTER EVENTS AROUND THE GOLD COAST, COOLY ROCKS ON, CORPORATE FUNCTIONS, WEDDINGS, CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT SHOWS AND MORE. LIAM’S PASSION FOR THE ARTS, DRIVES HIM TO CONSTANTLY PUSH HIMSELF TO IMPROVE HIS SKILLS AND IS ALWAYS LOOKING TO HIS NEXT PERFORMANCE.

Alf Bueller (Jackson Kook) JACKSON KOOK IS A DANCE AND DRAMA TEACHER ON THE GOLD COAST WHO HAS SPENT HIS CAREER TRAINING HIS STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE ARTS. WITH MOST OF HIS TIME BEING HIDDEN BEHIND THE SCENES, JACKSON HAS DECIDED TO EXPAND ON HIS THEATRE EXPERIENCE AND SURROUND HIMSELF WITH BUDDING ARTISTS TO PERFORM ONCE AGAIN. WITH A STRONG UPBRINGING IN DANCE AND DRAMA, JACKSON HAS PERFORMED AT MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT THEATRE COMPANIES IN BRISBANE, AND DIRECTED SUCCESSFUL SHOWS HIMSELF.

Kirsty Keaton (Charlotte Schmidt) 18 YEAR OLD CHARLOTTE SCHMIDT IS AN ENTHUSIASTIC PERFORMER WHO IS READY FOR ANY CHANCE TO JUMP ONSTAGE. TRAINING IN DANCE AT HINTERLAND DANCE ACADEMY FROM THE AGE OF 3 AND STUDYING AN ALL ARTS CURRICULUM THROUGHOUT SENIOR SCHOOL, SHE HAS DEVELOPED A LOVE FOR THEATRE. SHE IS CURRENTLY STUDYING A BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS- DANCE AT QUT. CHARLOTTE HAS ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS COMMUNITY THEATRE PRODUCTIONS OVER THE YEARS INCLUDING FAME THE MUSICAL, FOOTLOOSE, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL AND HOW TO SUCCEED. SHE IS SUPER EXCITED TO NOW BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE SUCH A TALENTED CAST IN BACK TO THE 80S.

Tiffany Houston (Becky Morgan) THIS IS BECKY'S THIRD SHOW AT GCLT AFTER PERFORMING IN JERRYS GIRLS AND PLAYING GLADYS IN THE PAJAMA GAME. AFTER A BRIEF STINT AT THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF MUSIC IN SYDNEY STUDYING MUSICAL THEATRE, SHE HAS BEEN BACK ON THE COAST FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS PERFORMING IN ROLES IN SHOWS SUCH AS INGA IN YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, DOWNTOWN, ANNIE, HAIR, HAIRSPRAY, AND SEUSSICAL AT SPOTLIGHT THEATRE, AND REEFER MADNESS AT PHOENIX ENSEMBLE. WHILST HIGH SCHOOL IS UNFORTUNATELY A DISTANT MEMORY FOR HER NOW, SHE IS LOVING BEING A PART OF THIS FUN AND AWESOMELY TALENTED CAST.

‘GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!’

Cyndi Gibson (Jessica NG) JESS NG HAS BEEN PERFORMING SINCE SHE WAS SIX YEARS OLD, AND SINCE THEN HAS GRABBED ANY OPPORTUNITY TO BE ONSTAGE, WHETHER IN A CHOIR, ORCHESTRA, DANCE TROUPE OR MUSICAL. JESS HAS PERFORMED AS THE NAVIGATION OFFICER IN BENOWA HIGH’S RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET, AND IN TWEED THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF FAME. SHE COMPLETED HER CERT IV IN COMMERCIAL DANCE AND MUSICAL THEATRE AT BRENT STREET IN 2013. SINCE THEN, IN BETWEEN STUDYING PRIMARY EDUCATION AT GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, SHE HAS TAUGHT JAZZ, MUSICAL THEATRE AND FLUTE. SHE HAS ONLY EASED BACK INTO PERFORMING THIS YEAR, AND IS VERY EXCITED TO PLAY A LEAD ROLE IN SUCH A FUN PRODUCTION!

‘I AM A MATERIAL GIRL!’

Michael Feldman (Rory Schiele) RORY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ARTS FOR QUITE SOME TIME IN VARIOUS FORMS. WHETHER IT'S ACTING, CIRCUS, CLOWNING OR SUIT CHARACTER WORK, RORY LOVES BRINGING CHARACTERS TO LIFE AND SEEING THE JOY ON THE AUDIENCES' FACES. MOST OF THE TIME HE'S AN ENTERTAINER AT THE GOLD COAST'S BIGGEST THEME PARK, DREAMWORLD. THE REST OF THE TIME RORY'S BUSY WITH A NUMBER OF MUSICALS AT SPOTLIGHT THEATRE, CORPORATE CIRCUS WORK AND BEING ONE OF THE FOUNDING PERFORMERS OF THE KIDS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP ANIMALS ROCK. HE'S VERY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING TO PERFORM THIS MUSICAL WITH SUCH A GROUP OF FUN AND TALENTED PERFORMERS.

‘EVERYBODY CUT FOOTLOOSE!’

Billy Arnold (Michael Redfern) MICHAEL HAS SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE IN THEATRE THROUGH SEVERAL YOUTH PRODUCTIONS, SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS, SMALL ACTING PERFORMANCES IN PLAYS AND CO-DIRECTING A PLAY IN HIS FINAL YEAR OF SCHOOL. BACK TO THE 80'S IS MICHAELS FIRST COMMUNITY THEATRE PRODUCTION AND HE COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE WONDERFUL, FRIENDLY AND TALENTED CAST AND DIRECTORS HE IS WORKING WITH.

‘NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP…’

Huey Jackson (Darrian Douty) DARRIANS EXPERIENCE WITH THE THEATRE HAS BEEN PRODUCTIVE, EDUCATIONAL AND JUST PLAIN AMAZING. THIS BEING HIS FIRST MUSICAL, HE HAS LEARNT SO MUCH IN SUCH A SHORT TIME AND IS VERY THANKFUL TO BE APART OF SUCH A TALENTED BUNCH OF PEOPLE. THROUGH SHOWBIZ EXPRESS CIRCUS AND DANCE DARRIAN HAS PERFORMED AT THE EKKA AND THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST. HE HAS PLAYED ROLLS INCLUDING A RUSSIAN ACROBAT AND A NINJA AS WELL AS CHARACTERS SUCH AS THE GRINCH, BEETLEGUESE AND CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW. DARRIAN IS OVERJOYED TO GO ON THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU ALL........ BACK TO THE 80'S

Lionel Astley (Daniel Newberry) DANIEL FOUND HIS LOVE FOR THEATRE BACK IN 2010 WHEN HE BEGAN MUSIC THEATRE CLASSES AT SPOTLIGHT. ONCE FINISHING HIS YOUTH THEATRE CLASSES, DANIEL JOINED THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS (N.A.P.A) WHERE HE SPENT TIME DEVELOPING AND LEARNING ABOUT PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS AND WHAT IT TOOK TO BE INVOLVED. SINCE THEN HE HAS PERFORMED IN AN ARRAY OF SHOWS INCLUDING FOOTLOOSE, ANNIE, OLIVER TWIST AND PETER PAN. AFTER 2 YEARS OFF THE STAGE HE'S BACK AND READY TO ROCK LIKE IT'S 1989! SPECIAL THANKS GOES OUT TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR JOINING HIM ON THE WILD RIDE THE LAST TWO YEARS - THIS ONES FOR YOU GUYS!

Mel Easton (Stephanie Stephens) STEPHANIE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ARTS FROM AS LITTLE AS THE AGE OF 3. SPORTING A WIDE BACKGROUND OF EXPERIENCE IN DANCE, ACTING, SINGING, ANIMATION AND MOVEMENT, STEPHANIE'S PASSION TO PERFORM SHINES THROUGH WHEN SHE IS ON STAGE. SHE HAS WORKED IN VARIOUS PROJECTS AT LOCATIONS INCLUDING THE ART CENTRE, SPOTLIGHT THEATRE, AND IS EXCITED TO MAKE HER DEBUT APPEARANCE AT GOLD COAST LITTLE THEATRE AS MEL EASTON. BEING IN BACK TO THE 80S HAS GIVEN STEPHANIE THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND HER PERFORMING EXPERIENCE, AS WELL AS GROW IN THE AREAS OF CHARACTER BUILDING, DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY AND VOCAL TRAINING. SHE IS VERY FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH A GREAT DIRECTOR ALONGSIDE A VERY TALENTED AND FUN CAST.

Kim Easton (Mandy Vugler) BRISBANE BORN AND RAISED, MANDY BEGAN HER PERFORMING ARTS JOURNEY AT AGE 3 STUDYING AT THE DANCE WORKS. SHE WENT ON TO COMPLETE HER ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF ART (MUSIC THEATRE) AT THE AUSTRALIAN DANCE PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE. AFTER MOVING TO MELBOURNE IN 2011, MANDY BEGAN WORKING AS A COMMERCIAL DANCER AND SINGER AT VARIOUS CORPORATE EVENTS. SHE HAS TOURED INTERNATIONALLY WITH CHILDREN'S SHOWS SUCH AS DORA THE EXPLORER, SESAME STREET, AND OCTONAUTS (LIFELIKE TOURING). AN UNDENIABLE HIGHLIGHT OF HER CAREER WAS BEING ASKED TO CHOREOGRAPH OCPAC'S PRODUCTION OF THE ADDAMS FAMILY, FOR WHICH SHE WAS NOMINATED FOR BEST CHOREOGRAPHY. MANDY IS THRILLED TO BE BACK IN QLD AND JOINING THE CAST OF GCLT'S BACK TO THE 80'S!

Eileen Reagan (Montana Nuvoli) MONTANA GRADUATED FROM AQUINAS COLLEGE IN 2012 WHERE SHE WAS NOMINATED ARTS PREFECT AND RECEIVED THE PERPETUAL FRYER DRAMATIC EXCELLENCE AWARD. SHE THEN WENT ON TO COMPLETE A “DIPLOMA OF MUSICAL THEATRE” AT GOLD COAST TRIPLE THEATRE IN 2013. SHE HAS PERFORMED IN NUMEROUS MUSICALS AND WAS NOMINATED FOR A GCATA FOR HER PORTRAYAL OF BELLE IN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. MONTANA NOW WORKS AS AN ENTERTAINER AT DREAMWORLD WHILE COMPLETING HER FOURTH AND FINAL YEAR OF UNIVERSITY WHERE SHE IS STUDYING HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION SPECIALISING IN DRAMA AND MUSIC. SHE IS EXTREMELY THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING SHE HAS LEARNT THROUGHOUT THIS PRODUCTION, AND LOOKS FORWARD TO LEARNING AND ACHIEVING MORE IN THE INDUSTRY.

Feargal McFerrin III (David Austin) DAVID WAS BORN IN SYDNEY ON THE 11.09.1996 & MOVED TO THE GOLD COAST AT AGE 2. DURING SENIOR SCHOOL HE DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR ACTING AND PERFORMING THROUGH DRAMA CLASSES & IN 2014 DAVID COMPLETED THE SENIOR ACTOR PROGRAM AT KATZ ACADEMY WHERE HE FEATURED AS A POW EXTRA IN ANGELINA JOLIE’S MOTION PICTURE “UNBROKEN”. END OF 2015 DAVID COMPLETED AN ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF ACTING FOR FILM AT NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY, GOLD COAST CAMPUS. IN 2016 HE COMMENCED HIS ACTING STUDIES AT GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, COMPLETING THE FIRST SEMESTER OF A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN CONTEMPORARY & APPLIED THEATRE AND PERFORMED IN 3 PLAYS “BONNIE & CLYDE: THE MUSICAL”, “ALLEN” A DARK COMEDY AND “LNESTAR” COMEDY. CURRENTLY DAVID IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO PLAY “FEARGAL MCFERRIN III” IN “BACK TO THE 80S” AT THE GOLD COAST LITTLE THEATRE.

Debbie Fox (Lara Salamacha) THIS IS LARA'S FIRST ROLE IN A COMMUNITY THEATRE PRODUCTION AND, AT 14 YEARS OLD, SHE IS THRILLED TO BE PART OF THIS FABULOUS SHOW AND AMAZING CAST! HER JOURNEY TO MUSICAL THEATRE BEGAN WITH AN OUTSTANDING ACTOR AWARD IN THE GOLD COAST DRAMA FESTIVAL IN 2015, THEN A LEAD ROLE IN HER SCHOOL MUSICAL IN 2016 AND A ROLE IN INTO THE WOODS AT THE GOLD COAST ARTS CENTRE IN DECEMBER 2016. SHE ATTENDS THE PERFORMERS STUDIO AND HAS BEEN A FEATURED ARTIST IN THE GREENROOM PROJECT JUNIOR AND PERFORMED HER OWN SOLO SHOW FOR STARS OF TOMORROW AT TWIN TOWNS.

Laura Wilde (Catherine Gerrard) CATHERINE IS 17 YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN A PASSIONATE PERFORMER SINCE SHE WAS THREE. SHE STARTED HER DANCE TRAINING AT HINTERLAND DANCE ACADEMY, COMPLETING ALL RAD BALLET EXAMS INCLUDING ADVANCED TWO. CATHERINE HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF VARIOUS CHOIRS, AND WAS PART OF THE SOMERSET COLLEGE SHOW CHOIR, WHICH WON THE SHOWCASE SECTION OF THE GOLD COAST EISTEDDFOD 2016. CATHERINE IS VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE CAST, AS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE IS COMBINING HER LOVE OF SINGING AND DANCING IN A MUSICAL. SHE IS STUDYING ENGINEERING IN BRISBANE AT UQ THIS YEAR AND HOPES TO CONTINUE HER INVOLVEMENT IN THE THEATRE.

Jenny Abdul (Teagan Beetham) WITH AN EXPLOSION OF GLITTER, FEATHERS AND HAIRSPRAY A YOUNG GIRL WITH A DREAM HAPPENED UPON THE WORLD. A GIRL OF MANY TALENTS; TEAGAN HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PERFORMING INDUSTRY HER ENTIRE LIFE. SHE HAS DABBLED IN MANY FORMS OF THE ARTS INDUSTRY, FROM MUSICAL THEATRE TO CIRCUS ARTS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. THIS WILL BE TEAGANS SECOND SHOW AT GCLT AND LOOKS FOWARD TO A TOTALLY TUBULAR SEASON OF BACK TO THE 80S. TEAGAN IS THE FEATURED AERIALIST IN ‘WE ARE THE WORLD’.

‘WE ARE THE WORLD…WE ARE THE CHILDREN’

Molly Turner (Tianna Campbell) TIANNA HAS BEEN DANCING SINCE THE YOUNG AGE OF 2 AND HAS BEEN IN LOVE WITH PERFORMING ARTS EVER SINCE. TIANNA HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY DIFFERENT PRODUCTIONS SUCH AS "LET'S MISBEHAVE", "FOOTLOOSE", "THE WIZARD OF OZ", "GCLT'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOW" AND MANY MORE. TIANNA HAS GREAT EXPERIENCE IN PERFORMING AND COMPETING IN DANCE, IN FACT SHE HAS PERFORMED IN VARIOUS EVENTS OVER THE PAST 8 YEARS INCLUDING THE "BRISBANE EKKA", "SURFERS PARADISE CAROLS ON THE BEACH", "GOLD COAST AREA THEATRE AWARDS". TIANNA ALSO HAS GREAT KNOWLEDGE IN CIRCUS AND ALL OF THE ARTS INVOLVED SUCH AS AERIAL ARTS INCLUDING THE LYRA, TRAPEZE, SILKS AND WEB ROPE. TIANNA IS SUPER EXCITED TO BE APART OF THE CAST OF "BACK TO THE 80'S" AT GCLT AND CAN'T WAIT FOR A FANTASTIC SEASON OF SHOWS!

Whitney Ringwald (Molly Fogarty) MOLLY FOGARTY HAS BEEN DANCING SINCE THE AGE OF 5. STARTING IN 2009 AT HER CURRENT DANCE SCHOOL, SHOWBIZ EXPRESS, SHE RANGES FROM TAP, BALLET (RAD), JAZZ AND CIRCUS. MOLLY HAS PERFORMED AT MANY GOLD COAST SHOWS, THE EKKA AND MANY EISTEDDFODS. IN 2014 SHE WAS IN SPOTLIGHT THEATRES "LET'S MISBEHAVE" AS ONE OF THEIR LEAD DANCERS. SHE HAS ALSO PERFORMED IN MANY SCHOOL MUSICALS AS LEAD DANCER AND CHOREOGRAPHER.

‘’WE’RE NO STRANGERS TO LOVE’

Janet Joplin (Lucy Hourn) LUCY HAS BEEN PERFORMING SINCE SHE COULD WALK – FIRST ENTERING THE ARTS FROM AGE 3, WHEN SHE TOOK HER FIRST DANCE LESSON. SINCE THOSE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, SHE WAS BASED AT THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS (NAPA) WHERE SHE HAS TRAINED IN DANCING, SINGING AND ACTING, AMONG OTHER FACETS OF THE PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY AND RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM. RECENT STAGE CREDITS INCLUDE LEGALLY BLONDE (NAPA), THE LITTLE MERMAID (ST. ANDREWS), ANNIE (SPOTLIGHT) AND HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (GCLT). LUCY HOPES TO PURSUE A CAREER IN PERFORMING AS SHE ENJOYS EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

Claudia Lauper (Brianna Lanigan) BRIANNA IS 15 YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN IN THE PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY FROM A YOUNG AGE. SHE HAS BEEN DANCING FROM THE AGE OF 3 WHICH HAS BEEN STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY HELENSVALE CALISTHENICS DANCE ACADEMY UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN SHE MOVED TO DYNAMITE STUDIOS AND ACADEMY AUSTRALIA. HER CAREER IN DANCING LEAD BRIANNA TO THE OPPORTUNITIES IN THEATRE WHICH HAS TAUGHT HER MANY THINGS FROM SINGING TO ACTING. ALL HER EXPERIENCES FROM 'BACK TO THE 80'S' HAS ONLY BEEN POSITIVE AND SHE HAS LOVED WORKING WITH EVERYONE INVOLVED.

Dolly Jackson (Tegan Renzella) TEGAN RENZELLA IS 15 YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN DANCING AND PERFORMING SINCE SHE WAS THREE AND A HALF YEARS OLD AT KAY FLYNN DANCING ACADEMY. THIS IS TEGANS FIRST COMMUNITY THEATRE PRODUCTION AS SHE HAS ONLY EVER DONE SCHOOL MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS AND SOME EXPERIENCE FROM MUSICAL THEATRE ROUTINES IN THE END OF YEAR CONCERTS. BEING IN BACK TO THE 80'S TEGAN WAS ABLE TO LEARN AND EXPERIENCE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE WORKING IN COMMUNITY THEATRE AND HAS LEARNT A LOT FROM SINGING TO ACTING AND HAS ENJOYED WORKING WITH IT ALL. THROUGHOUT THIS EXPERIENCE TEGAN HAS MADE GREAT FRIENDS AND MOMENTS TO CHERISH FOREVER.

Corey Palmer (Jay Ahrens) JAY, HAS PERFORMED IN THEATRE SHOWS ALL OVER THE GOLD COAST , HIS RECENT SHOWS ARE DROWSY CHAPERONE , PHANTOM OF THE OPERA , PIPPIN , DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS , TWICE IN A LIFE TIME, CHICAGO , GUYS AND DOLLS , JUST TO NAME A FEW. JAY HAS ALSO PERFORMED AT WARNER BROS MOVIE WORLD , JAY IS ALSO A GRADUATE OF NIDA'S ACCLAIMED MUSICAL THEATRE COURSE. JAY LOVES TAKING EACH AND EVERY AUDIENCE ON A JOURNEY BACK TO THE 80S.

‘WE DID IT ALL FOR THE GLORY OF LOVE’

ACT 1 1. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go (Wham!) - Corey Palmer Senior 2. Kids In America (Kim Wilde) - Featured Female 3. Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper) - Tiffany/Cyndi/Mel/Kim/Female Ensemble 4. Footloose (Kenny Loggins) - Michael/Billy/Lionel/Huey/Male Ensemble 5. Mickey (Toni Basil) - Tiffany/Cindy/Mel/Kim/Dolphin Dancers 6. Michaels Election Rap (Neil Gooding) - Michael Feldman 7. Video Killed the Radio Star (The Buggles) - Feargal/Debbie/Laura 8. Glory of Love (Peter Cetera) - Corey Junior/Corey Senior 9. Let’s Hear it for the Boy (Deneice Williams) - Laura/Debbie/Eileen 10. I’m Gonne Be (500 Miles) (The Proclaimers) - Corey Junior/Michael 11. You Give Love a Bad Name (Bon Jovi) - Corey Senior 12. You Give Love a Bad Name - Reprise (Bon Jovi) - Mr. Cocker 13. Man in the Mirror (Michael Jackson) - Mr. Cocker/Ms. Brannigan/

Mrs. Stephens/Entire Cast

ACT 2 1. We Are The World (USA for Africa)

- Full Cast

2. Love Shack (The B-52’s) - Huey Jackson/Full Cast

3. Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler)

- Corey Junior/Ms. Brannigan

4. Nine to Five (Dolly Parton) - Kim/Mel/Cyndi/Tiffany

5. Walking on Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves)

- Eileen/Debbie/Laura

6. Get Outta My Dreams (Get Into My Car) (Billy Ocean) - Michael/Cool Guys and Girls/Dolphin Dancers

7. Centrefold (J. Geils Band)

- Mr. Cocker/Students

8. Lost in Your Eyes (Debbie Gibson) - Eileen/Tiffany

9. Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Astely)

- Billy/Dolphin Dancers

10. Material Girl (Madonna) - Cyndi/Males

11. Eye of the Tiger

- Instrumental

12. Don’t Worry Be Happy/Come On Eileen (Bobby McFerrin/Dexy’s Midnight Runners)

- Corey Junior/Kirsty/Alf

13. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - Reprise (Wham!) - Instrumental

14. (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life

(Billy Medley/Jennifer Warnes) - Corey Junior/Tiffany/Mr. Cocker/

Ms. Brannigan/Eileen/Feargal/Full Cast

15. Back to the 80’s Megamix! (Bows)

There comes a time when we heed a certain call When the world must come together as one

There are people dying And it's time to lend a hand to life

The greatest gift of all

We can't go on pretending day by day That someone, somewhere will soon make a change

We all are a part of God's great big family And the truth, you know,

Love is all we need

We are the world, we are the children We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day

Just you and me

Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares And their lives will be stronger and free

As God has shown us by turning stone to bread So we all must lend a helping hand

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day So let's start giving

There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me

When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all

But if you just believe there's no way we can fall Well...well...well

Let's realize that a change can only come When we stand together as one.

Repeat Chorus X3