Dreamgirl, Divinely Inspired Victoriously Aware Sheryl Lee Ralph , is hosting the 25th Annual DIVA Foundation’s Divas Simply Singing to benefit HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness. DIVA once stood for Driving Infectious Viruses Away, this year’s concert will take place in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, Philadelphia, and include Philly’s own Carol Riddick and Matthew Schuler , contestant on season 5 of The Voice .
The all-star line-up features Faith Evans , Angela Winbush, Meli’sa Morgan , Monifah , Candace Benson, runner-up on season 7 of BET Sunday Best and Urban Guerilla Orchestra. Perhaps best known as the original “Deena Jones” in Dreamgirls on Broadway, Ms. Ralph earned a Tony nomination and won a Drama Desk award for her star-making effort. In 1990, the actor turned activist and chartered the 501c3 Driving Infectious Viruses Away or DIVA Foundation.
The actress, producer and singer, turned best-selling author with her 2012 book, Redefining Diva, which took on a additional meaning as DIVA has become known as Divinely Inspired Victoriously Anointed. The foundation appears to evolve in the same dynamic way its founder can reinvent herself.
Reinvention is one of several talents that come easy for a woman of equal parts style and substance. Ms. Ralph graduated college while still in her teens and has earned a doctorate in connection with the work she’s done in honor of those she has lost to AIDS. Divas Simply Singing, the longest consecutive running musical AIDS benefit in the nation, will feature HIV screenings and testimonies from those impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Ms. Ralph also performs the one-woman play she wrote and directed, Sometimes I Cry, to tell the story of women impacted by the virus and disease. Ralph is the AIDS Ambassador for Jamaica and the recipient of the United Nations first-ever Red Ribbon award which recognized her unique utilization of the arts as part of her AIDS activism. Tickets for Divas Simply Singing on Saturday, August 22 at the Dell Music Center at 7pm can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.
On May 25, Broadway Black met with Sheryl Lee Ralph backstage at Washington DC’s Howard Theatre before the one night only performance of Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical, that is being presented in collaboration with Ms. Ralph and her D.I.V.A. Foundation.
