Divas! 2020

August 6, 2020

Virtual (General Admission)

CLICK HERE to donate on the BidPal site for the event and vote for your favorite Diva! You can also vote and donate here on the RLT site!

Who will be our 2020 Diva? Join us for a virtual cabaret performance full of glitz, glam, and giving! Divas! is a competition between some of the fabulous performers who grace the stage of Raleigh Little Theatre. Each performer competes to be the Diva of the Year by raising the most money. This year’s fundraiser will be hosted online only.

Thursday, August 6, 2020
7:30 p.m.
Streaming live on the RLT Divas Facebook page and RLT’s YouTube channel

Directed by Alison Lawrence
Musical Director: Michael Santangelo
Event Chair: Sejal Mehta

Access the program for Divas! 2020 by texting the word “Program” to 919-373-6060 or clicking here (program is optimized for viewing on your phone).

Introducing This Year’s Divas!

Click each Diva’s name to vote for them!

Photos by Elspeth McClanahan.

Peggy Hayes

Peggy is a recording and voice over artist, jazz singer and former acting/improv teacher. She co-founded and ran a performing arts center in VT for years before moving to Raleigh. At RLT, she was in Smokey Joe’s Cafe in 2004 and was in Divas in 2006. She is happy to be helping this indispensable organization during this critical time in its long and wonderful history. The show must go on!

Watch Peggy’s video!

Emily James

Vote for EMILY JAMES because Emily… 1. Served her country in the US Army 2. Is a lifesaving neonatal nurse 3. Has dachshunds; any dog lovers? 4. Has an adorable glasses-wearing baby boy 5. Is married to Superman!❤️ 6. Is a 3rd time Divas competitor 7. Was Divas! 2019 1st Runner Up! 8. Graduated from UNC & Duke; any fans? 9. Loves RLT and the arts! 10. Is old-fashioned so you’ll get a real thank you card!

Watch Emily’s video!

Kelsey Lyons

Kelsey Lyons is a native North Carolinian, fluent in sarcasm, and is delighted to be making her debut on stage with Raleigh Little Theatre. She’s really excited to get out there on stage and impress the audience in her first of hopefully many shows, and with your help, become the next Diva!

Watch Kelsey’s video!

Elena Montero Mulligan

Elena Montero Mulligan was last seen at RLT in West Side Story in Concert. She holds degrees in Theatre (MT Concentration) and Biology from Meredith College. She is a Research Technician at UNC and teaches at Bach 2 Rock Apex. Previous credits include Jo in Little Women (North Raleigh School of Music), Mrs. Draper in Strike up the Band (White Iris Light Opera), and Virginia Poe in Strange City of Edgar Allan Poe (Sonorous Road).

Watch Elena’s video!

Noah Sennert

Noah is really excited to make his RLT debut in Divas! 2020. He is an NC State graduate who participated in the theatre program during his time there and has taken several classes at RLT in many aspects of musical theatre such as acting, singing, and dancing. He thanks his friends and family for supporting his dream.

Watch Noah’s video!

LaToya Smith

LaToya Smith is a classically trained Opera singer. She received her training at UNC-Wilmington. She started working with Raleigh Little Theatre in 2013 when she performed in Cinderella. She was then in Crowns, Sister Act, and this is her second year participating in Divas! LaToya loves children and she loves to volunteer so the best part of Divas! is that she gets to help a child go to summer camp at RLT. During Divas! 2019 LaToya was pregnant with her first child…little Diva Alicia JoLeen. With that being said, she would like to dedicate this performance to all the mothers.

Watch LaToya’s video!

Allie Sullivan

Allie Sullivan is ready to raise some serious money for her second year of Divas! at RLT. She has a BA in Theatre from Meredith College. Her hobbies include spinning rifle, advocating for RLT, and being herself! She hopes you’ll enjoy laughing along with her and make donations to the fastest spinning gun in the Equally Wild East! (If you didn’t pick up on that last part, it’s her. She’s the fastest spinning gun!!)

Watch Allie’s video!

Karen Morgan Williams

Karen Morgan Williams is thrilled to be part of DIVAS! 2020 for Raleigh Little Theatre with this amazing cast and crew. Karen has performed with many theatres in the area, but always finds her way home. Past RLT credits include Cinderella XXXI and Measure for Measure. Karen would like to thank her daughters Tara (2018 Cantey Award winner – Don’t Dress for Dinner) and Brett (2017 Cantey Award nominee – Avenue Q) for their continued support.

Watch Karen’s video!

The Masked Diva

The Masked Diva is under the protection of the Raleigh Little Theatre Branch of the North Carolina DIVA Star Witness Protection Program (NCD-SWPP). The Masked Diva has witnessed and participated in many DIVA performances on community and regional theatre stages across the country as well as on Broadway. The MD considers RLT to be “the best DIVAS!” stage to see a show. In “real life,” the Masked Diva holds two PhDs and speaks six languages. The day job of the Masked Diva cannot be disclosed on this platform. It is against the protection rules of NCD-SWPP. The Masked Diva is setting a goal of $10,000 to be donated to RLT for DIVAS! If that goal is reached, the Masked Diva will UNMASK and reveal their true identity to the world! The Masked Diva does NOT wish to win the Crown, but instead, ALL donations will be divided equally among the 8 competing DIVAS! at the end of the show.

Watch the Masked Diva’s video!

Thanks to our incredible sponsors!

Adorn a Diva! ($1500 level)

Raleigh Brewing Company

Diamond ($1000 level)

Alec & Georgia Donaldson

Gold ($500 level)

48th Street Crew – John Newlin & Kevin Guess
Action Designs
Ameriprise – Dave Powell & Associates
Avance Care – Ritesh Patel
The Bason Family
Darleen Fennell in support of LaToya Smith
David & Judi Wilkinson
Green Alternative Cleaning
Janney Scott Montgomery, LLC
Medlin Davis Cleaners
The Morgan Family
Pool Professionals
Triangle Speech & Orofacial Myology
Walton & Maready Orthodontics

Silver ($250 level)

Ashworth Drugs – Ralph Ashworth
Christopher James in support of Emily James
Cleveland School Animal Hospital
Daryl Steinhoff in support of Emily James
Deloitte
Goulding Construction
Kathy Lagana & John Gerwin
Mike McGee in support of LaToya Smith
Over the Top Lawn Care
Sergio’s Pizza
Witherspoon Woodworks
Women’s Birth & Wellness Center