PHS music department revisits the '80s

Musical to be performed The Purdy R-2 High School music department will present "Back to the 80s...The Totally Awesome Musical" at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9 in the elementary gymnasium. Pictured above, from left, are: Tyler Jones as Corey Palmer, Jr., Dana Cunningham as Eileen Reagan, Kaitlyn Carpenter as Tiffany Houston and Phillip Roller as Michael Feldman.

Admission to the performances is free, but donations to the music program will be accepted.

The musical, written by Neil Gooding and adapted by Scott Copeman, follows the senior class of Purdy High School as they experience the fun, the heartbreak, the loves and the loneliness of growing up in the 1980s, all set to the music of the decade.

Purdy High School students Kaitlyn Carpenter, Phillip Roller, Dana Cunningham and Tyler Jones play the main characters in the production.

All four student actors are excited to perform several musical hits from the '80s, with revised arrangements by Brett Foster, including "Footloose," "Man in the Mirror," "Let's Hear it for the Boy," and "Girls Just Wanna have Fun."

"The music is incredible," said Cunningham and Carpenter.

The complete cast of 25 high school students promises a fun-filled evening for all who attend the performances.

The musical, which is directed by vocal music instructor Lauren Lee, will transport audience members "Back to the '80s," the era of big hair, legwarmers, Atari and cassette tapes. The music, script and costuming will bring back fond memories for the parents of the actors.