Mad Dog Media and Company recently discussed Divara's experiences with Pandemonium, a creative outlet in her youth that fostered her love for performing arts. She reflects on the program's impact, her friendships, and her last performance in "Beauty and the Beast" the summer of 2017. Post-graduation, she cared for her grandmother and worked at an animal shelter. She returned to the music community, joining Tri-M and a community choir. She also works at the opera. She discusses her role as music director for "Grease" and her current support role for Cora Harms in "Annie." She encourages new students to join Pandemonium for personal growth and creative expression.
When you think of pandemonium, going back to being a student, and going back to those earlier days. What first comes to your mind?
Divara: Well, definitely what first comes to mind is that Pandemonium was such a great creative outlet for me as a young girl exploring her vocal talents in particular, but also growing her love for performing arts. I loved the program. There was nothing else in Santa Fe like it. It really gave me a chance to explore the creative and performing side of myself that I didn't even really know I had. I just knew I loved music, but to add in the acting and the dancing to it, it was just so much fun, and it really kind of informed me of what I really love to do. And of course, what comes with that hard work and friendships. I have friends still to this day, from Pandemonium. So yes, it was just such a fun, great experience as a young performing artist.
What have you been up to since your last show with Pandemonium, "Beauty and the Beast" (Summer 2017)?
Divara: It didn’t get too exciting until this year, really. I graduated high school at NMSA, The New Mexico School for the Arts, in 2018. I went to college very briefly, before I came back to start taking care of my grandmother, and she passed away last year.
She was definitely one of my biggest supporters in the performing arts. So, her passing, in a way, kind of reignited my passion and my love for performing, and it kind of made me really sit down and think about, okay, like, is this something I'm genuinely going to pursue? And, you know, I decided it's what I love, it's what she (her grandmother) always supported me in doing. So, I started to kind of just get, slowly, get back into it. I joined "Tri-M"- the musical theater company here in Santa Fe, and I recently joined a community choir, so I'm doing that now as well.
"Tri-M" website: https://www.trimsantafe.org/
Sangre de Cristo Chorale website: https://sdcchorale.org/
Divara: And then getting back to Pandemonium too has definitely been a great experience. So, I'm getting back into the music community. And then, of course, I have my yearly dose of opera when I work at the opera every summer. So, I have a life full of music right now.
Divara: I work at the Animal Shelter in Española as a part of their transfers team. So, I work with getting our animals out to different rescues who are willing to help and support us. So that's been great. I love the people I work with. I really love the work that Española Humane is doing. So, I'm definitely proud to be a part of their team and they've been so supportive in me too and pursuing my performance dreams. It's definitely been a great support system through them as well.
Española Animal Shelter website: https://www.espanolahumane.org/
This past Summer, 2024, how did it work out for you to be in charge of the music for Pandemonium Production's "Grease" and how did you feel about it?
Divara: It was definitely a great experience. Definitely learned a lot. I had never been in a music directing or even teaching role, so that was definitely a great first-time experience to have.
The kids were such great sports, and they're such hard working individuals who really put a lot of effort into making the show what it was. They had such a great time, and I was so proud of them for learning their harmonies and such. They did such a great job. I think we all missed Cora, and I was just really there to guide them in whatever way they felt like they needed. Whether it was sending them audio recordings of their music, whether it was figuring out what keys they needed to be singing in, going through very brief vocal exercises with them, just getting them comfortable to do what they wanted to do on stage. So, they are really the ones who really put in the work to make "Grease" what it was.
As Ms. Harms takes over for "Annie", what will you be focusing on?
Divara: She came back last week. I stepped in for a couple weeks to help with the audition process while she was away, and as she is now in, starting to teach the kids the music, I'm just kind of there as her support. If I ever need to take a trio aside and work with them, or give “one-on-ones” to anybody. I'm kind of really just extra hands at this point.
How are the students getting ready for the music in “Annie”?
Divara: Well, a lot of the songs they know already, which was actually pretty incredible given that a lot of them probably weren't alive when Annie came out. They came in, you know, knowing a lot of the classics, and they just came in so enthusiastic about being a part of this performance. Their energy sometimes shocks me. They are so ready for this. And such talented kids, you know, these small little things, have phenomenal voices, and they take direction very well. Even the new music, they are starting to pick up and understand so it is really exciting, from my perspective, to really see that they're doing great. I'm really excited to maybe now work on the next step with them a little bit, and start to add in character work into their singing. And I'm excited to see how each kid kind of comes into their own. But as far as music, they're so far so good.
Is there something funny that's happened at rehearsal?
Divara: I'd say no particular moment stands out, but it's so funny to watch the kids come in from school. We usually have a little bit of a delayed start due to kids getting out at different times and just seeing how much energy they have and what goofy stuff they'll do in that gym before we start. Where we're at right now, they have apple trees and the kids like to pick the apples.
What could you share with new students with the experience you had being in the shows, and now your 20/20 hindsight of directing the shows?
Divara: For new students, or, you know, potential students, I would definitely say if you like singing, dancing, acting, or you just want a fun place to hang out after school. It definitely grew my confidence, not just as a performer, but as a human being taking up space in this world. I’ve grown relationships through Pandemonium that I still have today. So, I would definitely just say, don't be afraid to put yourself out there. It's just such a fun, creative environment for you to just express yourself. So, I'd say, come join the team, have fun and just explore who you are through other like-minded kids who are there doing the same thing.
What have you noticed about the cast so far for this show?
Well, they're definitely still in their very early stages. So, I think now that they're officially in their roles, I think they're kind of discovering what that means for them. We do have a female playing, I don't want to give anything away, maybe, but we do have a female playing Daddy Warbucks, so I think she's kind of got to get back into performing as a male role as opposed to the female role that she just came off of.
The girl who we cast as Annie, personality-wise, she's just so radiant and brave and she's phenomenal. She has a phenomenal personality. So, I think now, just making sure that she understands that, you know, she just has to really be herself in this character.
And I think a lot of them are finding a little bit of themselves, all the little orphans are, even the sassy one or the ones who are playing twins, they're kind of finding a little bit of themselves in their characters, which is bringing them to life.
So that's been really cool to see again, still very early stages, but seeing everybody just start to figure out what this means to be who they are now as a character, as opposed to maybe what they wanted, or maybe what they were expecting, or maybe who they are on a normal basis. So, we're starting to get glimmers of character work. But I'm really excited to hopefully, through voice, help them through that journey.
Are there any exciting projects you have going on currently that you would like to share with us?
Divara: Well, I am still doing "Tri-M". I will be in “Oklahoma” in the ensemble, so that'll be November, I believe 20th through 24th--- so if anyone in town wants to come, we’d definitely appreciate it. “Oklahoma” is so fun. We haven't started rehearsals yet, actually, so I'm excited to dive right into it in the next couple weeks.
I'm also in a community choir, Sangre de Cristo Chorale, and we have our concerts (October) the 19th and the 20th here in Santa Fe. We are doing a piece based off of the Diary of Anne Frank. So, it's a very moving piece. If that interests anybody, please come down.
And as of right now, I have not yet confirmed any other projects, but there are some that are maybe coming up for me as well. So, I'm just excited to be back in the music community.
Thank you again, Divara, for an incredible interview!