Playwright brothers Carl Arrington (front left) and James Arrington (front right) are shown here with "Queens of Birdland" cast members: Anne Mangum as Carly Simon, left, Shona Draper as Madonna, Rebecca Cain as Mariah Carey, Holly Anderson as Patti Smith, Elise Hardman as Chrissie Hynde and Quiana Arnold as Tina Turner.
Matt Chambers
OREM — Modern-day divas will be speaking at an unusual stage reading at Utah Valley State College.
Through a script written by Carl Arrington — the journalist brother of local dramatist James Arrington — readers portraying Carly Simon, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Tina Turner, Chrissie Hyde and Patti Smith will share thoughts, quips and laughs.
According to James Arrington, the evening will be totally different from what theatergoers are accustomed to seeing.
"The script will be liquid. There'll be costumes. We'll have the makeup and the hair," Arrington said. "We have music written by Sam Cardon."
The audience will be asked to watch and critique the show and offer suggestions.
"There's no admission. They can just sit back and enjoy. It's a gift," Arrington said.
Carl Arrington wrote for People magazine for a time and has free-lanced in the Washington area, collecting quotes and anecdotal material along the way, said James Arrington. Often the stars he interviewed would talk with him at length, giving him information that didn't necessarily fit his story at the time but was nevertheless interesting.
"He's kept these quotes and stories and is using those in this show," Arrington said.
If you go
What: "Queens of Birdland, the Diva Diaries"
Where: Ragan Theater, UVSC Sorensen Center, Orem
When: 7 p.m., Sept. 22, 23
Cost: Free
Sharon Haddock is a former full-time writer and editor for The Deseret News. She currently does freelance writing from her home in American Fork where she lives with her fellow journalist husband Marc Haddock. They have 12 more ..
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