Luck be a Lady: Broadway Divas takes on Las Vegas at Segerstrom Center
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The popular drag revue production Broadway Divas is poised to unleash a colorful Las Vegas-inspired production at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
The new show, “Viva Las Divas,” is presented by drag entertainer and Huntington Beach native Miss Clair Voyance and her company, Voyance Productions.
“This is the biggest show we have ever produced,” Voyance said. “The costumes are bigger and the stakes are higher.”
Voyance got her start at Segerstrom in 2020, performing before the Center’s annual Halloween season screening of the 1975 musical horror film, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The popularity of her performance inspired Voyance to create “Broadway Divas,” a full-length show at Segerstrom performed along with brunch.
The self-described “off off off off off Broadway” production was a hit and she established Voyance Productions LLC to invest in the show’s production and to support booking more drag spectacular shows across Southern California.
Broadway Divas has produced eight shows at Segertstrom, featuring songs from the Broadway songbook in full cabaret style. For the ninth show, Voyance said, the cast was ready to roll the dice on a new theme.
“It genuinely came from a place of wanting to try something new,” said Voyance.
“Viva Las Divas” premiers on Nov. 13 and 14 in the Samueli Theater at the Segerstrom Center, inspired by legendary Las Vegas performers, showgirls and the glamour of the Las Vegas strip. Voyance stars along with April Showers, Dolly Levi, Big Deelish, Mama St. Merman, Leeko Rae, Thai Teaze, Mariah Carey Carrie and Emmy Award-winner, Glen Alen.
“Glen Alen is the world’s best Bette Midler impersonator,” Voyance said.
The audience can also look forward to performances in the style of Lady Gaga, Cher, Celine Dion, Liza Minnelli and Judy Garland, she said.
“Michael Jackson is going to be in there too,” Voyance added.
While Voyance Productions is mainly focused on creating drag parody shows based on musicals or movies, “Via Las Divas” is an example of an expansion of the concept. This summer the company also performed “Haus of Mayhem” at the House of Blues in Anaheim, inspired by Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball, which turned out to be the ensemble’s highest grossing show yet.
While Voyance works in Los Angeles, San Diego and the Inland Empire, she is especially pleased with the response from audiences in Orange County, an area that is typically regarded as conservative.
“I am an Orange County-born kid and now my dreams are starting to come true and I am growing them in Orange County, which makes it even more special to me,” Voyance said.
Voyance attended the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts before earning a bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theater. She maintains the success of her drag productions accurately reflects the supportive community she recognizes in her hometown.
“I am the product of people around me in this city … my creativity and my theatricality was born here in Huntington Beach,” Voyance said.
Voyance is equally proud of the progress Voyance Productions has made and credits the encouragement of Segerstrom for being largely responsible for the success the company has found. At a time when drag culture continues to be demonized by conservative politicians, Voyance is grateful for the the power of the platform Segerstrom has given her and the support officials there continue to provide.
“I know when we do shows, especially at Segerstrom Center, that people’s minds are being changed about this art form,” she said. “And that doesn’t come from the people that bought the tickets, that comes from the plus ones, which I find even more important. People are being brought into our space, having a moment of connection with us and then leaving with a different thought.”
Following “Viva Las Divas,” the next Broadway Divas show is planned for spring 2007 at Segerstrom. Voyance said they are looking forward to going big for the tenth show, with a theme that will celebrate a decade of Divas.
Voyance Productions will continue its partnership with the House of Blues with “Haus of Plastic,” a musical drag parody of “Mean Girls” planned for early spring while also preparing to take “Haus of Mayhem” to San Diego and Los Angeles.
Plus, she is still doing the performance of “Rocky Horror” that started it all at Segerstrom.
“Last year, 1,000 people showed up for the outdoor screening and so we anticipated the same numbers, if not more, this year. The show was at 7 p.m. and we had people start lining up at 3 p.m.,” Voyance said. “It is something so beloved in the community and to be part of it, just makes my heart sing.”
Broadway Divas performs in the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa on Nov. 13 and 14 at 7 p.m.. Tickets, which start at $34, are available at scfta.org.
