You might be a diva if you can apply your lipstick without
glancing in a mirror. You might be a diva if you can walk in
hip-high leather boots as comfortably as if you were strolling
along in old tennis shoes. You might also be a diva if you look as
good in sequined eyelashes as Sandra Marlowe did at the Divas May
10 concert.
You might be a diva if you can apply your lipstick without glancing in a mirror. You might be a diva if you can walk in hip-high leather boots as comfortably as if you were strolling along in old tennis shoes. You might also be a diva if you look as good in sequined eyelashes as Sandra Marlowe did at the Divas May 10 concert.
Webster’s defines “diva” as a distinguished female operatic singer, but in Latin and Italian, diva is the word for “goddess.” In a night of stars who bedazzled and bewitched, Gilroy’s most talented women performed everything from Latin to smoky jazz to Beverly Blount’s show stopping number, “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” a decidedly misbehavin’ rendition that brought the house down and revealed the true Diva side of South Valley Symphony’s Concertmaster.
“A Voice for the Arts – Divas! In Concert,” was presented by the Gilroy Arts Alliance and featured Marlowe and Blount, as well as Patti Lemon, Rosalind Farotte (Sister Mary Amnesia), Sylvia Gonzales, Audrey Kavanaugh and Ruth E. Stein – with accompaniment by the Martan Mann Trio. The evening raised funds for community arts, outreach and support for arts projects, including Gilroy’s future Arts Center.
The Portuguese Lodge overflowed with delectable desserts of ladyfingers and edible fruit bouquets, while the table centerpieces were cleverly created from hats and shoes and other necessary diva accoutrement. Best heels of the evening went to Diva Sylvia Gonzalez, who brought diversity to the Divas with her beautifully expressive versions of “Veinte Anos” and “Tres Regalos.”
Karen LaCorte and Whitney McClelland emceed their way through the night with wit and more costume changes than Cher can squeeze into her current Las Vegas show.
One of our hosts confessed that when she applied her spray-on tan before going out, she hadn’t realized it takes four hours for the complete tanning process to take effect. So, you might be a diva if your tan keeps growing darker as the evening wears on.
Rosalind Farotte was a surprise Diva, performing in full nun’s habit, proving divas can come from all walks of life. She is currently performing in South Valley Civic Theater’s production of the musical “Nunsense,” which includes such classics as “Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goal Posts of Life (www.svct.org/).
During the fundraising part of the evening, guys wanted in on the Diva action as well – bidding was fiercest over one of the manly donated items, auctioned by the lightning-tongued Addie Bakich: “A South Valley Disposal dumpster, both delivered and picked up, and four hours of help from two handsome, strapping young men!” The mayor bid on and won eight hours on the Garlic City Limo Party Bus for 23 of his friends. When Ted Sanchez won half of the pot in the fundraising heads and tails game, he had his own diva moment in the spotlight when he ran up on stage to generously donate his share back to the Arts Alliance.
The celebration proved what DIVA stands for in Gilroy: Delicious (highly pleasing to the senses, delightful), Inspiring (to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence), Vivacious (full of animation and spirit), and Audacious (extremely bold or daring, original, highly inventive). Feeling diva’ish? Let’s hope for more chances to see these local gals perform as we keep supporting the arts in Gilroy. Viva la Diva!
To become a supporter of the arts through the Gilroy Arts Alliance, go to www.gilroyartsalliance.org or contact GAA at P.O. Box 2533, Gilroy, CA, 95021-2533.
