My Top 5 Showtunes: Zoe Doano

Zoe Doano's theatre credits include Death Takes a Holiday (Charing Cross Theatre), Les Miserables (Queen's Theatre), Sweeney Todd (Tooting Arts Club and West End), The Grand Tour (Finborough) and Grease (Piccadilly).

She is currently starring as Ellen in the UK tour of Miss Saigon, click here for more information and tickets.

We caught up with Zoe and asked her: "If you were stranded on a desert island which five showtunes could you not live without?"

1. "Moments in the Woods" from Into the Woods

My favourite Stephen Sondheim piece. This song is absolute perfection in my eyes, the lyrics are so incredibly clever and honest. The way Sondheim writes songs about gaining mental clarity and thinking out loud is genius. The tempo changes and the metaphor of the woods reflecting the chapters in our lives we would rather not be read aloud is awesome.

"Let the moment go…
Don't forget it for a moment, though.
Just remembering you've had and "and",
When you're back to "or",
Makes the "or" mean more
Than it did before.
Now I understand-
And it's time to leave the woods."

GENIUS!

2. "Unusual Way" from Nine

I am the biggest fangirl of Maury Yeston and this is one of my favourites. My audition rep is full of Yeston songs. In my opinion he writes for sopranos and classical singers like no other modern composer. I've just had the pleasure of playing Grazia in Death Takes A Holiday, another of his pieces and was lucky enough to work alongside him. He is the most wonderful man too!

3. "The Beauty Is" from The Light in the Piazza

What I would give to play this role. It's an absolute dream of mine. Back in 2005 The Light in the Piazza won the Tony Award for Best Score and Drama Desk for Outstanding Music, I only need to listen to the overture and I'm covered in goosebumps. A gorgeous rare neo-romantic classical piece. Clara is a magical role and "The Beauty Is" epitomises her character. Bring it back!

.4 "Falling Slowly" from Once

I love this show and the whole score. It's rare that I find myself listening to musicals just to relax. This is the exception… I saw it six times and loved every second.

5. "The Second Attack/Final Battle" from Les Miserables

The section of music after the final battle when the revolve turns and Enjolras is seen defeated always gives me the biggest lump in my throat. It is the most beautiful piece of music and epitomises the story in my eyes. I felt extremely lucky to listen to this every night.