Many of the Broadway or Hollywood stars will say that they started out on their local stage, basking in the limelight for the first time at their own school musical and judging by the talent in Scoil Pól, Kilfinane, there are certainly some stars in the making.
‘Back to the 80s’ is Scoil Pol’s eight production and is a must see for any theatre fans, as many of these young singers and actors are bright young stars waiting for their chance to shine on the world stage. Staged in Scoil Pól’s school hall, the show will run for 4 nights – Thursday 28th, Friday 29th, Saturday, 30th November and Sunday, 1st December – with curtain up at 8pm.
‘Back to the 80s’ is a nostalgic musical that transports audiences to the vibrant decade of the 1980s, filled with iconic pop culture, fashion and music. The story revolves around a high school senior, Corey Palmer, who navigates the ups and downs of teenage life, including love, friendship and the challenges of growing up.
FRAMEWORK
The cast features Transition Year students. The casting process began in May and practice began straight away for the chorus, dancers and lead actors.
The high levels of dedication and commitment is evident by the attendance and work rate throughout, with rehearsals taking place after school and at weekends. Rehearsals of acting and dance routines were held each Thursday and Friday under the expert tutelage of choreographers Ms Niamh Masterson, Ms Orla Shiel, Ms Moya Downey and Ms Anna Leonard. Musical director Ms Edel Hayes leads all aspects of the production along with co-musical director Mr Paul O’Riordan.
Local businesses were fulsome in their support of the venture and the school would like to take this opportunity to thank all the businesses who have supported this year’s production. The show itself would not have been possible without the support of these businesses.
GREAT TALENT
While going up on stage and singing can be daunting, the students are taking it in their stride, guaranteeing audiences a great nights entertainment. There are many new faces to watch out for in ‘Back to the 80s’ including Billy O’Sullivan, Amy McCarthy, Ellie O’Brien, Padraig Irwin and Mikey Hennessy who will wow audiences with their voices.
The show has now become not only the highlight of the year for the school, but is fast becoming another musical that the people of Kilfinane and surrounding areas will be flocking to see, with amazing plans already in motion for the 2025/2026 show.
