Castlepollard students go back to the ’80s
By Martin Boyhan
Following a three-year break, Castlepollard Community College are getting ready for what they hope will be another fantastic few nights of musical performances.
All students are involved in some capacity, and musical coordinator, Ms Joan Leonard, promised the audience that they “won’t be disappointed with our performance”.
The music department, who have won awards in the ‘Briery Gap Competition’ with ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘Big Maggie’, are back for their seventh major production with ‘Back to the ’80s’, and audience members young and old will be singing and dancing in their seats all evening when the students ditch the uniforms and dress up as 1980s high schoolers.
The musical transports audiences back in time as it follows the life of the main character, Corey Palmer, through his senior year at William Ocean High School with his closest friends, Alf and Kirk, the bully Michael and Tiffany, Corey’s longstanding crush.
The jukebox features numerous top hits, including ‘Kids In America’, ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’, ‘Footloose’, and ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’.
Rehearsals are well advanced now, and students have their input as they voice fresh suggestions for how to make the musical even better, and ways to engage the audience and take them back to the 1980s.
Huge credit is due to the instructing teachers for pushing students to do their best in every rehearsal, while still encouraging them to have a good time with friends.
Every practice begins with a dance routine, after which lead characters begin the scenes.
“There is great excitement and a buzz around the school,” student, Sean Sweeney, said.
Teacher Patrick Gilsenan said: “We have fantastic, active pupils up for the challenge.” Ms Leonard, musical coordinator, added: “We chose this musical because it features songs we all know and love, songs that will boost everyone following the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The musical will be performed on four nights at Mullingar Arts Centre from Tuesday November 15 to Thursday November 17.
Booking details are available from the Mullingar Arts Centre box office or website at mullingarartscentre.ie.