I bring this up because Sunday night (June 7^th) the 63^rd Annual Tony Awards will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall. The Tony Awards is actually short for the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre which recognize achievement in American theater including the Best Musical award. This year there are a couple 80s connections in the Musical categories.

9 to 5: The Musical is based on the 1980 movie 9 to 5 which starred Dolly Parton, Lilly Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dabney Coleman. Dolly Parton won an Old Schooly in my 2^nd Annual Old School 80s Movie Awards for Best Performance by a Musician turned Actor and there is a video link there which highlights some of her finer moments from this movie. Parton wrote the music and lyrics for the stage musical and is nominated for the Tony for Best Original Score.

Here is a video which includes the cast rehearsing the title song with interviews with Dolly Parton and some of the cast mixed in:

Even more directly connected to the 80s is the musical Rock of Ages which is nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Musical. It is built around 80s rock music and stars former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis. Here is a video trailer for the musical which gives you a good idea of what it is about:

Here is a list of the great 80s classics that are included in this show:
"We Built This City" by Starship
"Nothin' but a Good Time" by Poison
"Keep on Loving You" by REO Speedwagon
"Just Like Paradise" by David Lee Roth
"I Wanna Rock" by Twisted Sister
"Too Much Time on My Hands" by Styx
"Renegade" by Styx
"I Hate Myself for Loving You" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
"Oh Sherrie" by Steve Perry
"Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner
"Shadows of the Night" by Pat Benatar
"Don't Stop Believing" by Journey
"Heaven" by Warrant
"The Search is Over" by Survivor
"We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister
"High Enough" by Damn Yankees
"The Final Countdown" by Europe
"I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner
"Harden My Heart" by Quarterflash
"Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake
"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison
"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar
"Can't Fight This Feeling" by REO Speedwagon
"Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi
"Cum on Feel the Noize" by Quiet Riot
"Any Way You Want It" by Journey
"Heat of the Moment" by Asia
"Sister Christian" by Night Ranger

Here is a video from Late Night with Conan O'Brien (before he moved to the Tonight Show) where the cast performs "Here I Go Again":

I find musicals to be much more fun and entertaining when I am familiar with the music before seeing the show. That is a big reason why shows like Jersey Boys and Mamma Mia! were particularly enjoyable for me. I am disappointed to say that I have not been able to see Rock of Ages yet, but I really want to. I hope to get the opportunity at some point and I will be cheering for it to win the Tony Award simply for its use of all those 80s rock songs. One of my upcoming issues is going to be a Top 10 list of my favorite 80s songs featured in Rock of Ages (from the 28 songs listed above). Keep an eye out for that issue.

That's all for another issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks as always for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on "Become a Fan". Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.

Check this out: I have featured "literal version videos" from 80s songs here a couple times in the past. This is where the words of the song are changed to reflect literally what is happening in the video. I find these very creative and usually pretty funny. I just came across another one for Bonnie Tyler's 1983 hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and I hope you enjoy it:

Quote of the day: "Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better." -Pat Riley