WaterTower Theatre Mounts Incandescent 'Happy Holi-Divas!'

Start with a huge amount of well performed holiday songs.  Throw in a large dose of comedy, and a jigger of charm, and you have Happy Holi-Divas! currently on stage at the WaterTower Theatre.  This holiday concert features lively music and dancing from five local Dallas female entertainers.  The slight but charming plot which holds the evening together concerns a box office assistant who would like to become a diva, and the four experienced divas who mentor her into this transformation.

Most of the comedy was delivered by Arianna Movassagh as the International Diva.  Her facial expressions were priceless, especially when she rendered "O Tannenbaum."  Dara Whitehead-Allen as the Classical Diva revealed a rich and deep voice.  She commanded the stage with solos such as "Ave Maria."

As the Country Diva, Jenny Thurman used her sweeping voice to excellent advantage throughout the evening.  Miss Thurman channeled Judy Garland to prime effect in "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," after receiving only twenty minutes' notice that she was going to perform the song.

As the box office assistant who wanted to leap into Diva-dom, Stacey Orisanto showed a superior singing voice when she lead the other divas in "Do You Hear What I Hear?"  Sally Soldo made a snazzy Big Band Diva and enchanted the audience with the flirtatious "Come Onna My House."

James Paul Lemons' direction kept the show moving from one pleasurable moment to the next.  Mr. Lemons used some admirable touches to keep the concert fresh, such as having Miss Oristano make many of her entrances from the audience.  Michael Serrecchia's choreography for the ladies was agreeable, especially in such numbers as the high-stepping "Christmas Conga."  Michael A. Robinson produced dazzling costumes for the divas, including Miss Movassagh's varied international garb—everything from a Latin diva with fruity head-dress to a Japanese lady with kimono!

Happy Holi-Divas! will put a smile on the face of you and everyone in your family.  Fabulous voices, high energy, and a surprise or two make for an agreeable evening of entertainment.

Happy Holi-Divas! will run through December 23^rd at WaterTower Theatre.  For more information, please visit their website.

Photo 1:  Dara Whitehead-Allen, Jenny Thurman, Stacey Orisanto, Arianna Movassagh, Sally Soldo

Photo 2:  Stacey Orisanto, Sally Soldo, Arianna Movassagh, Jenny Thurman, Dara Whitehead-Allen

Photo Credit:  Mark Oristano 

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