Last year’s Who’s Your Diva winner Robin Thomas smiles in the aftermath of her win. This year’s contest starts 7 p.m. Saturday at Centennial Hall and includes seven contestants. (Courtesy photo | Ron Gile for Who’s Your Diva)

Last year’s Who’s Your Diva winner Robin Thomas smiles in the aftermath of her win. This year’s contest starts 7 p.m. Saturday at Centennial Hall and includes seven contestants. (Courtesy photo | Ron Gile for Who’s Your Diva)

It’s Who’s Your Diva? time

Annual contest comes Saturday to Centennial Hall; will feature Aretha Franklin tribute, first-ever divo

In its seventh year, Who’s Your Diva will feature seven contestants.

And for the first time ever, one of the folks gunning Saturday evening for the title of Top Diva will be male.

“I think our biggest twist, frankly is that we’re debuting a divo for the first time,” said Sara Radke Brown, Executive Director for Juneau Lyric Opera.

Richard Carter is the first male diva or divo to participate in the annual contest.

The opera presents the event and all proceeds go toward Juneau Lyric Opera programming.

Also new this year is a people’s choice award, Radke Brown said.

In past years, divas have raised a ton of money during the night of their performance but missed out on the top fundraising prize because other divas had insurmountable head starts.

“We’ll give a top fundraising prize as well as one to the diva or divo who raises the most the night of, and Top Diva,” Radke Brown said.

The event, which will be emceed by Margeaux Ljungberg, will also include multiple tributes to the legendary diva Aretha Franklin, who passed away in August.

There will also be a no-host bar, and the show is suggested for ages 18 and older, Radke Brown said.

Tickets are still available and cost $35 per person or $315 for a 10-person table. They can be purchased at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center, Hearthside Books and online at JuneauOpera.org.

Tickets will also be available at the door, but Radke Brown said people who would like to choose their seats should buy ahead of time.

“We usually encoruage people to by tickets beforehand,” she said.

This year’s divas and divo are Alyssa Fischer, Andria Budbill, Aria Moore, Briannah Letter, Lydia Rail, Myra Kalbaugh and Richard Carter.

Know & Go

What: Who’s Your Diva

Where: Centennial Hall, 101 Egan Drive

When: 7 p.m. and doors open at 6 p.m.

Admission: $35 or $315 for a table of 10

They can be purchased at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center, Hearthside Books and online at JuneauOpera.org. Tickets will also be available at the door.


• Contact arts and culture reporter Ben Hohenstatt at 523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @capweekly.


More in Home

About 20 youths dance in Ravenstail robes during a ceremony at Centennial Hall on Tuesday evening featuring the history of the ceremonial regalia. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Weavers, dancers and teachers celebrate revival of a traditional crafting of robes from the fringes

“You have just witnessed the largest gathering of Ravenstail regalia in history.”

Deputy Attorney General Cori Mills explains the administration’s understanding of a ruling that struck down key components of the state’s correspondence school program, in the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Gov. Dunleavy says homeschool changes must wait until appeal ruling as lawmakers eye fixes

“Something of this magnitude warrants a special session,” Dunleavy says.

From left to right, Sens. Loki Tobin, D-Anchorage; Bert Stedman, R-Sitka; and David Wilson, R-Wasilla, discuss a proposed budget amendment on Wednesday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Senate passes draft budget, confirming $175 million in bonus public-school funding

Gov. Mike Dunleavy told reporters that he’s ‘open to the increase’ proposed by lawmakers.

Charles VanKirk expresses his opposition to a proposed increase in the mill rate during a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mill rate, land-use code rewrite, elevator at indoor field house among few public comments on proposed CBJ budget

Assembly begins in-depth amendment process Wednesday to draft plan for fiscal year starting July 1.

X’unei Lance Twitchell teaches an advanced Tlingít course at University of Alaska Southeast on Monday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Native languages at crucial juncture, biennial report says

Call to action urges systemic reforms to the state’s support and integration of Native languages.

Reps. Jesse Sumner, R-Wasilla, and Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, talk to Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, during a break in the Alaska House of Representatives floor session on Monday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Entering their final two regular weeks, Alaska legislators are narrowing their focus

Dozens of firefighters protested outside the Alaska Capitol last week, waving signs… Continue reading

Juneau residents calling for a ceasefire in Gaza put on t-shirts with slogans declaring their cause before testifying on a resolution calling for “a bilateral peace agreement in Israel and Palestine” considered by the Juneau Assembly on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Assembly fails by 2-5 vote to pass resolution seeking ‘bilateral peace’ between Israel and Palestine

Members question if declaration is appropriate at local level, angering residents favoring ceasefire

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys soccer team takes on Palmer High School on Friday in Anchorage. (Photo by Tory Bennetsen)
All four Juneau high school soccer teams notch winning records during road trip north

JDHS girls remain undefeated; both TMHS teams get first victories of season.

Nils Andreassen and his sons Amos, 7, and Axel, 11, pick up trash in the Lemon Creek area during the annual Litter Free community cleanup on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Annual community cleanup is its own reward — and then some

Nearly 800 people pick up tons of trash, recyclables and perhaps treasures

Most Read