After a nervous three-year wait, one of Basin Theatre Works’ most popular shows returns just in time for Christmas with Divas and Desserts.
The event features entertainment from a talented group of women in the Permian Basin who will dazzle audience members and get them into the holiday spirit.
The show will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 16 at the MCM Grande Hotel.
Tickets can be purchased online at tinyurl.com/3csj4zc2.
Divas and Desserts Show Director Amanda Lopez couldn’t be happier for them to be bringing back the event, which also serves as a fundraiser for Basin Theatre Works.
The last Divas and Desserts was in 2019 and didn’t take place in 2020 or 2021 due to the pandemic.
“I’m beyond excited for us to be back doing Divas and Desserts, especially after having a break due to the pandemic,” Lopez said. “We couldn’t be more excited to get back on the stage with all the divas being together again, singing and dancing and just doing what we love with the community and putting on a good show.”
There’ll be plenty of singing and dancing as the evening will also include food, drinks and a live auction.
The local “divas” are women from different industries but are no strangers to the stage.
This year’s divas feature 11 women who will be performing.
Most of them have been involved with Divas and Desserts for all five editions.
The cast list this year includes Brittany Handlin, Cindy Ward, Dana Ritter, Dawn Weaks, Emily Baker, Kara Williams, Krista Escamilla, Nikki Windham, Sara Lillestol, Stephanie Rivas, Patsy Allen and Tina Mobley.
“We have local divas in the sense that they’ve been around the community forever and people know their names and want to come see them,” Lopez said. “So there’s that part about getting all the divas back on stage. Cindy Ward, one of our divas, used to have her own show, ‘Cindy Ward and Friends’ and some people would come to see her sing so there’s lots of different things that makes a lady a diva. Picking who gets to be on the stage each year is exciting because our divas don’t want to leave. The first year divas, so many of them are still here and want to come back every year and that’s a lot of fun to work with.”
There’s a strong friendship between all of the divas as many of them perform in other shows and plays with each other.
Each member agreed that the best part of coming back for Divas and Desserts is just being together.
“It’s the girls being with the girls,” Ward said. “We’re a very close-knit group and even though we’ve only practiced for a couple of months, we’re just so close. That’s my favorite. Of course, there’s also performing. I’ve been singing since I was a little kid so getting to sing anywhere is a big thrill for me.”
For Rivas, who is the general manager at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, being with the other divas is like family.
“I think that the most fun about Divas and Desserts is the divas themselves,” Rivas said. “We all enjoy performing and entertaining but truly we all do it because we love theater and we want to support it and bringing it to West Texas.”
Ward and Rivas have been a part of each Divas and Desserts since the inaugural installment.
They too said the excitement level was through the roof when learning about this year’s show.
“Our phones were blowing up asking each other if we were going to be in the show,” Ward said. “I’ve missed this show. I’ve missed it so much. I was thrilled and I hope to be doing this for five more years.”
Rivas echoed those thoughts.
“I can’t tell you how excited we were when we received the text message that we were having Divas and Desserts back this year,” Rivas said. “I think we were all screaming via text. … It truly is a fundraiser that I felt like it grew each year. Not just in the funds that we are able to raise but in the publicity that we are able to give Permian Playhouse and Basin Theatre Works.”
Over the years, Divas and Desserts have had different themes.
In 2019, the theme was “Greased Lightnin’” which brought audience members back to the 50s and 60s with music, dancing and an old-fashioned banana split bar.
This year’s theme is “Home for the Holidays,” which Lopez said is very appropriate given the show’s return.
“The exciting part is that this year’s theme for Divas and Desserts is Home for the Holidays,” Lopez said. “So that’s a really special sentiment for us this year. Our divas are coming back to the theater and back to the fun dome to get back together again and connect with the community so the theme of Home for the Holidays I feel is even more special following a pandemic. Getting to be together in community is huge.”
Theater Manager at Basin Theatre Works Tiffany Joyce talked about how much of a relief it is to bring back the signature fundraiser.
“We weren’t sure if we were going to bring this back,” Joyce said. “When COVID hit back in 2020, we had a big one planned and we weren’t sure if we were going to survive that like every other theater in the country. This is our biggest fundraiser that we do every year and we’re excited to bring it back. It’s such a fun time. If there’s anything that theater people know how to do, it’s throw a party.”
Lopez is encouraging everyone to come and have a fun time.
“It is going to be so much fun,” Lopez said. “I can’t wait. There’s a reason we all come back each year. This is my fifth year involved. We’d love to have people come to the show and see our divas.”
If you go
>> What: Divas and Desserts: Home for the Holidays.
>> When: 6 p.m. Dec. 16.
>> Where: MCM Grande Hotel.
>> Where to purchase tickets: tinyurl.com/3csj4zc2
Meet the Divas:
>> Brittany Handlin
>> Cindy Ward
>> Dana Ritter
>> Dawn Weaks
>> Emily Baker
>> Kara Williams
>> Krista Escamilla
>> Nikki Windham
>> Sara Lillestol
>> Stephanie Rivas
>> Tina Mobley
>> Patsy Allen
