DIVA by DIVA: A Celebration of Women!
to perform in New York City

O’Connell & Company’s original, DIVA by DIVA: A Celebration of Women!, takes the stage on February 17th for a special performance at The Players, 16 Gramercy Park in New York City.

Described as ... “Eclectic! Exciting! Entertaining!”, “DIVA by DIVA...” is Western New York’s longest running theatrical production. Mary Kate O’Connell, Artistic/Executive Director of O’Connell & Company, has created a fast paced cabaret-style format of songs, readings, poetry, humor and quotes by, for, and about women. “DIVA by DIVA...” was originally scheduled to run for two weeks at O’Connell’s Cabaret in the Square Theatre and now, four years later, audiences still flock to share in the “DIVA experience.”

The ever-changing “DIVA by DIVA...” cast is drawn from the theatre community, the business and corporate arenas as well as the private and philanthropic sector - making this an extraordinary network of remarkable women. At any given performance the cast of “DIVA by DIVA...” might include the mayor's wife, a singer, a high school music teacher, an actress, the cultural affairs director of an international bank, a cancer survivor ... a sister, a daughter, a mother, a friend. All of these women join together, giving their voice and talent to, as O'Connell puts it, “redefining the DIVA ... it’s a happening, really. ”

Over the years, more than 75 women have been a part of the DIVA by DIVA...” cast. No two shows have ever had exactly the same cast or the same script. Performers arrive an hour before the show, dressed in “DIVA” black and sparkly jewelry, they gather, chatter, get their scripts, a few directors notes and on with the show.

This special Players performance features DIVAs from the ongoing O'Connell & Company Production along with special guests NY actresses, Sloane Shelton, Cady McClain and Deborah Thomas Schull. The WNY DIVA cast includes Stephanie Bax, Mary Craig, Lisa Hayes, Terry Kazmierczak, Mary Ann Kresse, Pamela Rose Mangus, Arlinda Marrano, Mary Moebius, Ann Mosner, Mary Kate O’Connell, Loraine O'Donnell, Ginny Purcell, Sharon Rozbicki, Sharon Scheur, Liz Schulman, Tess Spangler, Monica Stankewicz and Susy Warren

The Players (www.theplayersnyc.org) was founded in 1888 by actor Edwin Booth and has been and is considered "home" by many of the "greats" of American and British theatre. Though club membership was only opened to women in 1988 (Helen Hayes was the first woman member), the Players has a long history of welcoming “DIVAs” of the theatre, from the great Sarah Bernhardt, Lynn Fontanne and Katharine Hepburn, to Julie Harris, Carol Burnett and Marian Seldes.