Saturday, October 14, 2006

Cocoa Lounge Review: Divas Simply Singing

Divas Simply Singing: Benefitting the American Aids Foundation

This past weekend a number of notable divas got together and used their incredible diva powers for good: They simply sang--for a fabulous cause...of course.

Divas Simply Singing, held at the Wilshire E Bell Theater in Los Angeles, marked the 16th year that great women of song, stage and screen donated their time and voices to raise money to benefit Aids healthcare. The event was established by actress Sheryl Lee Ralph (star of the original Broadway hit Dreamgirls. Younger audiences may remember her as Moesha's mother). Ralph initially began the Divas show sixteen years ago to honor those friends who lost their lives in the early 80's to a then mysterious disease.

The sixteenth annual event saw divas like Stephanie Mills, Regina Bell, Loretta Devine, Jennifer Lewis, Karen Clark Sheard, Tremaine Hawkins, Shanice, American Idol Alums:Jennifer Hudson, Frenchie Davis, Paris Bennett, and Rahsaan Patterson (an "honorary diva" who's soul stirring rendition of Sade's Love is Stronger than Pride transcended the realm of performance--it was an experience). Even divas that didn't sing found a way to shine: Karen Briggs--a Diva "Simply Stringing"--played a compelling violin solo of Amazing Grace that brought the audience to it's feet, while hilarious comedian Niecy Nash was a Diva "Simply Speaking."

Divas Simply Singing: Dreamgirls
Original Dreamgirls cast members Sheryl Lee Ralph (l) and Loretta Devine (r) with actress Jenifer Lewis (center).

The night was one full of laughter, beautiful music and the antics of Sheryl Lee Ralph, 'oh diva divine' who during many fabulous wardrobe changes sang, laughed, joked and cried.

Frenchie (American Idol, Rent) who received a standing ovation for her rendition of "I am Telling You," blogged about the show:

"I have such a tremendous amount of respect for every woman who was on that stage....and to be considered amongst them was just....wow! I am so thankful."


Divas Simply Singing was Simply Amazing! For more information about Divas Simply Singing visit: http://www.divassimplysinging.com

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Loretta divine is going to be in the movie dreamgirls. does anybody know why sheryl lee isn't going to be in it, i would've liked to see her in it too.

Anonymous said...

It would have been good to see Sheryl Lee Ralph in the new dreamgirls. Maybe they didn't want her upstaging Beyonce or something, lol

But I'm gld to hear she's raising money for a good cause. I haven't really seen her since Moesha

P said...

Aww man!

I just hate that I missed this. . .I am a half an hours, at best, away from the Ebell. .