Divas3 launched in Las Vegas in 2013. The show, presented by Miami Valley Community Concert Association at Centerville Performing Arts Center at Centerville High School on Monday, March 20, was such a success it couldnât be contained to the Vegas Strip, so producer Nancy Allen started taking the show on the road.
The program features three powerful singers performing solo, in duos and trio, revisiting some of the most beloved songs by Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Barbara Streisand and other female vocalists. While the performers have changed over the years, the quality has never diminished. The touring version of Divas3 coming to the Miami Valley features Dayton native Charity Farrell, memorably seen in productions at Dayton Playhouse and TheatreLab Dayton, along with Samantha Duval of California and Crystal Garrett of South Carolina.
Divas3 was on a recent tour stop in Iowa when the ladies logged on to Zoom to discuss the concert. While Duval has only been with the group a few months, the three singers have a genuine camaraderie and obvious affection for each other.
Great expectations
Garrett: âGetting into this group was big. Itâs been almost a year now, but I felt like I had a lot to uphold because itâs so well-known and itâs so well put together. Nancy Allen has done an amazing job creating the show and itâs well received everywhere the group performs, whether itâs on a ship or on land. I knew I had to step my game up and make sure I was adding and contributing to the group because I knew I had some big shoes to stand next to, not to fill.â
Farrell: âIâve been with the show for a year and weâre so aware that so much work was put into getting the group to where it is now. Weâre coming in at a place where weâre reaping the benefits of the extra work all the other girls before us put in. Honestly, Iâm just grateful we came in at this spot. Weâre playing big houses and people already know the show. All of the kinks have been worked out so itâs just us stepping in and doing our jobs.â
Duval: âYeah, I feel super grateful for the opportunity. Iâve known about this group for seven years. There were times I was available, but they werenât looking for divas. Finally, I got my chance. They were looking for divas, I was available, and everything fell into place. Itâs been super exciting. All the girls are so amazing. Theyâre all so talented and not divas at all.â
Fast friends
Garrett: âYes, everybody is so nice. I was pleasantly surprised by that.â
Duval: âEveryone is so sweet and so supportive. Weâre all each otherâs biggest fans, which is super cool.â
Farrell: âWe travel a lot together, 24/7, so weâve gotten pretty close.â
Garrett: Yeah, the divas comes from the fact the songs we sing are by divas and weâre embracing that side of the diva but not the stereotypical extra stuff.â
Farrell: âItâs definitely not a character weâre putting on. When you come see the show, itâs more concert-style so our actual personalities are what you see on stage. The diva theme means weâre singing songs of Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton and all these huge, beautiful divas.â
Garrett: âItâs not easy singing these songs night after night, I tell you that much. These divas are the best of the best, but we donât try to be them because we canât. These are divas that everyone knows, and everyone recognizes. We take our appreciation for the work they have given to us and given to the world and put our humility and respect on it by basically singing it the way God has blessed us individually to have voices. We donât try to become the divas because they are one and only divas in themselves. We just do what we do.â
Credit: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Credit: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Deep repertoire
Farrell: âThere are a couple of medleys in the show but often there is either one of us on stage or a duet happening and then weâll break those up with the medleys rather than doing a full show of just medleys. My favorite song we do is âYouâve Got a Friend.â Itâs a really good arrangement and all three of us sing it together. I genuinely enjoy singing with these two, I really do. Thatâs honestly my favorite song.â
Duval: âAh, thatâs very sweet.â
Garrett: âI agree but I donât know if I have a favorite.â
Farrell: âYou donât like the duets with me?â
Garrett: âYeah, we have so many, thatâs why I canât pick a favorite. We have so many great moments together, and thatâs the thing I enjoy the most. We normally perform and itâs individual but now weâre able to all perform with each other, whether weâre in duos or doing the three group pieces. Itâs really nice to look over and see a friendly face thatâs doing the same thing and is in the same moment as you. Thatâs really nice.â
Duval: âWe do have a lot of really good ones but if I had to pick a favorite group number, it would be âRiver Deep.â Itâs just so much fun. Iâm in a unique position where Iâm kind of in the back so I get to watch them and feed off their energy. Itâs really, really fun.â
Female empowerment
Garrett: âWe also have an amazing pianist for this leg of the tour. Grace Han is fabulous, and we really enjoy working with her and feeding off her energy.â
Duval: âItâs not every day you get to share the stage with only females. Thatâs super special so weâre really grateful we have Grace with us.â
Garrett: âGirl power.â
Duval: âItâs just going to be a really good time. Whatâs really funny is we actively encourage everyone to sing, dance and have fun and a lot of times theyâre still afraid. We got out into the audience at the end of the show to get them to dance and theyâre like, âShould I?â Yes, we mean what we say when we encourage people to get up and dance and have fun. You donât have to but if you feel inspired to do so, please do. That makes it more fun for everyone, not just for them but for us too.â
Garrett: âGet ready to have a good time because we are. Weâre so excited to see everyone and perform this show and watch everyone take it in. We feed off each other on stage but we also feed off the audience and how they received. Thatâs what makes the show.â
Contact this contributing writer at 937-287-6139 or donthrasher100@gmail.com.
HOW TO GO
What: Miami Valley Community Concert Association presents Divas3
Where: Centerville Performing Arts Center, Centerville High School, 500 E. Franklin St., Centerville
When: 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 20
Cost: Tickets per concert are $35 adults, $5 students
More info: mvcconcert.org
Artist info: www.divas3lasvegas.com
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