Story of Hope: Reliving the 1980s

The 80s are back ... at least on stage.

"Back to the Eighties -The Totally Awesome Musical" has stormed ashore from Australia and has taken over Lambert Hall.

"Musically the 80s was a happy time. The music of the decade was just dance, party and have fun," says director Sean Thompson.

The cast may be too young to remember the decade, but that does not mean even if audience members are too old to "fight for their right to party," they cannot still reminisce about why they miss the decade.

"Being in high school, not a care in the world, no responsibilities," says Melissa Page.

"Everything comes full circle," says Domingo Baragan. "Kids are starting to wear tight pants again, the same hair styles."

Which begs the question, why do Americans routinely resurrect past eras? It is part of the cycle of pop culture of American life, according to professor Betsy Gelb from Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston.

"People have evoked past decades forever because they take us back to our childhood, and for most of us childhood was good stuff."

Marketers know there is money in nostalgia.

"It brings us back to an era when were were about ten. We were young, we were safe and the world was orderly," says Gelb.

Chevrolet is going back to the future and is selling the Camaro model once again. Vinyl l records are making a comeback. What is old is new again ... again.

With all the problems facing us now, going back to our childhood sounds, well, totally awesome sometimes!