Lake County >> “Usually we are My Divas but tonight we are your divas.” This seems to be a catchphrase of sorts for the all female A cappella performing group, My Divas. The women dress up in full Renaissance garb while singing authentic tunes from the era. When introducing themselves they open with the clever line to laughter throughout the crowd. Though it’s hardly the only time they ignite chuckles in the room.
“One of the pieces that people really love … is a drinking song of course,” said Claudia Listman, the director of the group. “We like to do songs that are fun.” My Divas perform at restaurants and wineries all over Lake County, which means a glass of wine is never far from hand, for both the audience and the singers. Goblets are a performing staple for the women.
In 2010, the group came together after performing at the annual Christmas Renaissance Pageant and Feast at the Methodist Church in Middletown. “One year after it was over a bunch of us decided that we wanted to keep singing,” Listman recalled. “At first we didn’t know what direction we wanted to take the group. One of the people that we really wanted to join us said, ‘You know, I really love Renaissance music. Can we just focus on that?’ So we kinda decided that that would be a fun direction to take it because there really aren’t too many people in that niche. There really aren’t a lot of people who really know Renaissance music.”
The group took off from there. The four founding members, Joanna Fay, Barbara Clark, Stephanie Ragula and Listman, decided they didn’t want more than eight members, so the group has fluctuated between four and eight women over the last five years.
But in those beginning stages finding the right people proved to be a challenge. “It’s difficult actually to find people who have the talent that we’re looking for to participate with our group,” Listman said. “We’ve been lucky to find some really good voices over the years.”
It may seem as though the group would have trouble finding people interested in joining them since they perform such a specific genre of music, but Listman said they didn’t have that problem, thanks to the Renaissance pageant. “The pageant is not just a local church event,” she said. “It attracts people from all over Lake County to participate.”
Today, the line up of My Divas consists of Listman, Laura Sammel, Barbara Clark, Susan Yeagan, Gail Albin, Joanne Fay, Kinene Barzin and Marie Schrader. They perform about once a month, but they get together for practice and catching up much more often. “We’re all really, really dedicated to being part of My Divas,” Listman said. “It’s kinda become a sisterhood and we really love each other. So we really like to carve out one day a week at least. Generally it includes food and wine and fellowship, not just singing. It’s become an important thing for all of us to get together and spend time together. The singing is just a wonderful thing that happens when we’re all together.”
The costumes and the acting are just as important as the music during My Divas performances. “We’re really a performance group, not just a group to stand and sing … All of us have a background in theater somewhat.” said Listman. “If you come to see My Divas, you’re gonna get a show. It’s not just the music you’re gonna hear, which is gonna be good, but it’s also a performance.”
Listman’s experience in the theater is extensive. She’s performed as the lead in a number of musicals including nabbing the part of Maria in The Sound of Music some years ago. She’s also directed the music for various plays and helped start New Vintage Productions, a production company here in Lake County. Barbara Clark, also a founder of New Vintage Productions, has an impressive theater resume as well, which includes a few years acting as the president of the Lake County Theater Company.
Listman is especially fond of My Divas because of the nature of their performances. “I would have to say that my favorite thing to do is sing in a choir,” she said. “Even though I’ve done a lot of solo work I love choral work, I love harmonizing and that’s what’s inspiring to me about My Divas. We’re really an ensemble, we don’t do much solo work at all … It is fun to dress up and just kind of have fun with the music but it really is all about the music itself for me.”
Further, Listman also finds that A cappella has an especially unique appeal. “There’s just something exciting about just taking the voice,” Listman said. “If you’re just right in the pocket, the vibrations, it’s just the most beautiful thing. Without accompaniment, it’s just an amazing feeling to be able to make music that way.”
Anyone interested in booking My Divas for a performance can contact Dennis Fay at 707-205-9790 or via email at dennisfay@mediacombb.net.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
