5 on Friday - Set 25

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

Tonight I'm heading out for a Girls' Night with two of my high school choir friends, since Dawn is in town from Seattle, Washington. For a bit of a trip down memory lane, here are five pieces we performed together when we were in the Prince Andrew Chorus, from 1979 to 1982.

1 - Thank You For the Music - Riverport Chorus of Wisconsin in rehearsal

This was something we did in our end-of-the-year variety show. At the time, there were no arrangements available for choirs for this one or for One Voice, so our friend and even-though-he-was-a-student-himself-he-was-our-musical-director Mark Morash whipped up his own arrangements.

Thank you for the music
The songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it?
I ask in all honesty
What would life be

Without a song
Or a dance
What are we?

So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me

- Andersson / Ulvaeus



2 - One Voice - Cantabile Youth Choir of Warwickshire, England

For our performance of this one, Mark detached himself from the piano bench and entered the stage alone, beginning the song as one voice. As it went along, the entire chorus joined him so that we completed the song as a choir.

Just one voice
Singing in the darkness
All it takes is one voice
Shout it out and let it ring

Just one voice
It takes that one voice
And everyone will sing

- Barry Manilow



3 - Potiphar - Donny Osmond and cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 1999

Joseph was the first musical I was in, and it will have a special place in my heart forever.

Not only did it give me the rush of performing without any of the stress of carrying a featured role, it introduced me to the whole thrill of falling for my first boyfriend, who played Joseph. This was the part I waited for, during every rehearsal and finally during every performance. I was obviously drawn to the men-in-chains scenario early on.

Letting out a mighty roar
Potiphar burst through the door

"Joseph, I'll see you
Rot in jail!
The things you've done
Are beyond the pale"

Poor, poor Joseph
Locked up in a cell
Things aren't going well, hey
Locked up in a cell

- Lloyd Webber / Rice



4 - Hernando's Hideaway - Briana Gantsweg and Mark Peterson, Interlochen Arts Camp production of The Pajama Game

In grade 11 we did The Pajama Game, where I played Mabel, the secretary of the main love interest. This song-and-dance number was my favorite. I was part of the choir for this one and could relax and have fun.

Just knock three times
And whisper low
That you and I
Were sent by Joe

Then strike a match
And you will know
You're in
Hernando's Hideaway! Olé!

- Adler / Ross



5 - Dream Ballet - Josefina Gabrielle and Hugh Jackman, 1999 London West End production of Oklahoma!

For my graduating year, we did Oklahoma! Dawn was off to university by then, but Shelley and I were in this one. I played Ado Annie, the overly-flirtatious girl caught between two beaux.

I also choreographed the musical numbers along with fellow student Heather. Being young and unaware that we shouldn't tackle something as daunting as a 15-minute dream ballet sequence, we worked out the steps and held our own rehearsals. And I'm very proud to say it wasn't half bad. We even included the fight between Curly and Jud - but of course Hugh Jackman wasn't available at the time, so our Curly didn't do any complicated lifts.