They had to watch Back to the Future for homework. Not one of them complained.
Holy Rosary Catholic School’s drama club opens its spring production April 30, and for 32 students who were born decades after leg warmers and cassette tapes had their moment, the challenge has been as much cultural as theatrical.
Back to the ’80s – a spoof on the 1985 film classic – runs one night only at the school. Admission is free, with donations accepted at the door to support next year’s production.
A cast that had to do the research
Drama club director Chay White has led the program for two of its five years. Even she leaned on her students to get this one right.
“One of my stage managers, Lisa Crease, has filled me in on all of our ’80s references as well and helped teach me about how to really appreciate and bring this play to life,” said White.
The production features nods to The Breakfast Club, The Goonies, Gremlins and more – a greatest-hits reel of a decade most of the cast knows only from streaming queues and their parents’ nostalgia.
White said the cast had a team bonding night built around the source material.
“We all had to watch Back to the Future so they can kind of get an idea of what’s going on,” she said.
A Marty McFly for a new generation
Grade nine student Jayden Baria leads the cast as Mary – a gender-swapped take on the iconic Marty McFly role. She’s been in the club for two years and is candid about how she first connected with the era.
“I love it. It’s so fun to learn about,” Baria said. “There are so many TV shows where you can watch and learn.”
She credited Boy Meets World – which straddled the late ’80s and early ’90s – as one of her reference points, and was quick to name her favourite character.
“I love Topanga. She’s honestly a role model,” Baria said.
Asked what she hopes audiences take home, Baria kept it simple.
“I hope they’re proud of us. There’s a lot of work being put into this, and I can see how much effort everybody’s putting in,” she said.
32 students, one stage
The production features about 22 actors and roughly 10 students working backstage on lighting, sound and set. White also teaches theatre arts, and students in that class built props and set pieces for the club as part of their coursework.
Technical support comes from Maz Entertainment, which brings in equipment and helps train students to run their own lighting and audio boards.
“It’s all student driven pretty much once the night gets going,” White said.
More than memorizing lines
White said drama gives students something they won’t find in most classrooms.
“It’s a really safe place for students to express themselves,” she said. “We all have to learn how to speak in public. We have to learn how to work with other people, people we might not know or be friends with.”
Because the club spans Grades 8 through 12, students often meet for the first time at auditions. White said those connections outlast the final curtain – one student who graduated last year has already been offering advice to current cast members on memorization.
For Baria, the mix of people has been one of the highlights.
“Team building with them has been absolutely awesome. They were just such fun people to be around,” she said. “It’s nice to be around people that have the same passion that you do.”
Baria said the arts are more than a hobby – they are a direction.
“I love the arts. I do video production, photography, acting – I just can’t imagine myself ever working an office job,” she said.
Show details
Back to the ’80s runs April 30th at 6:30, at Holy Rosary Catholic School in Lloydminster. Doors open before showtime. Admission is free. Donations at the door go directly toward costumes, props and next year’s production.
A musical theatre group opens the evening with a musical number before the main play begins.
White summed up what audiences can expect.
“It’s going to be two hours of fun and laughs and a blast to the past,” she said.
Read more: St. Mary’s Students Use the past as inspiration
