Dealing with a community choir of 110 people or so means everything is big.
Sno-King Chorale’s big crowd packs a rehearsal room at Edmonds Community College.
Jokes from director Frank DeMiero bring on big laughs from the singers.
During a big crescendo in the music, DeMiero belts out a big, “More, more, more.”
A big choir means you can perform a big piece such as the concert version of the musical “Mamma Mia!” — based on the music of the mid-1970s Swedish pop group, ABBA.
Sno-King will do just that at 3:30 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Edmonds Center for the Arts.
The big solos will be handled by Kelly Ajer as Donna (the role played by Meryl Streep in the movie version) and Allison Thomas as Donna’s daughter, Sophie.
Donna’s friends, Tanya and Rosie, are sung by Darla Kiste and Darci Larsen. The roles of Donna’s former boyfriends are sung by Ric Shallow as Sam, Kerry Johnsen as Harry and Mike Bell as Bill.
Sophie’s boyfriend, Sky, is played by Anthony Molinero and Sophie’s girlfriends, Ali and Lisa, are played by Ruth Baril and Lisa Glaros.
The chorale’s accompanist is DeMiero’s daughter-in-law, well-known pianist Debra DeMiero.
Say what you will about the music of ABBA, the songs are fun and well-suited for the chorale, whose membership ranges in ages from 20s through 70s.
ABBA’s catchy, stay-with-you hits in the musical include “Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “Take a Chance on Me” and “Waterloo.”
At a recent chorale rehearsal, DeMiero had the choir begin with the concert finale, “Thank You for the Music.”
He mixed up the soprano, tenor, alto, baritone and bass sections by having people stand with others wearing similar shirt colors, making sure everyone could successfully sing their own parts.
“Most people will never know if you make a mistake,” DeMiero said. “But let’s get this right for the 1 percent who will hear the difference.”
Robust harmonies filled the room.
The chorus of the song reveals a theme for this community chorale, DeMiero said.
“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.”
Gale Fiege: 5425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
Tickets
Sno-King Community Chorale will perform the concert version of the Broadway musical and movie “Mamma Mia!” at 3:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds. Tickets are available by calling 425-275-9595 or online at www.ec4arts.org.
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