Rev Gals Friday Five on Saturday

Whether it was on Broadway or at your neighborhood elementary school, name five experiences of the performing arts that have touched or tickled you.

Ok, there are WAY MORE THAN FIVE in my life, but here are the first five to come to mind.

1. Summerfolk - One-day folk music concerts outdoors in St. Paul MN in the late 80's and early 90's. Sponsored by Red House records, where I later worked. Claudia Schmidt, John Gorka, The Chenille Sisters, Greg Brown....

2. Sweet Honey in the Rock Feb 1, 2004 in Seattle. Turned out to be Bernice Johnson-Reagan's last concert with the group and they were ON FIRE. They had us laughing, crying, clapping, and praying - often all once.

3. The Music Man Summer theater program in Duluth MN in 1984. I was in middle school and worked backstage (Friends, that show has a ridiculous number of scene changes. And all of it sturdy for the dancing. Those library tables weighed like 7000 pounds), I knew every word by heart and was dating the leading man! It pretty much never got that good again. I still go to see a high school production of it whenever I get a chance.

4. The Importance of Being Earnest as a one act (prepared for the state competitions), East High School, Duluth MN, 1987. I was the assistant director of this one, and my brother was Jack, I think. We worked so hard and had such a great time. Then, my brother was in a terrible accident right before we were on our way to the one-act competitions. He came out fine, after a couple of scary weeks. The play went 2 minutes over and was cut from the regional competitions.

5. Cowboy Junkies with Leo Kotke opening at the Pier in Seattle, spring 1998. I actually had to go off in the middle of the concert and have a little weep by myself, it was so overwhelmingly incredible.