Divas Simply Singing

For 35 years, DIVAS Simply Singing! Raising Health Awareness has stood at the intersection of music, memory, and advocacy—using performance as a way to confront urgent health issues impacting marginalized communities. Founded by Emmy Award–winning actress and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph through The DIVA Foundation, the event was born from personal loss during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. What began as an intimate act of remembrance grew into one of Los Angeles’ most enduring benefit events, rooted in healing, visibility, and care.

The 35th Anniversary marked a moment of reflection and resolve. The evening brought together generations of artists and allies, many connected through Ralph’s early Broadway journey with Dreamgirls. Appearances by Loretta Devine, Jenifer Lewis, and James Pickens Jr. underscored the deep bonds formed through decades of shared artistry and activism. Throughout the night, music served as both remembrance and remedy—holding space for grief, resilience, and collective hope.

For this milestone year, ATTAIN shaped a proposed creative direction centered on the Fresnel Lens—a theatrical lighting metaphor that reflects how a single point of light can be focused, softened, and amplified to reach far beyond its source. The concept mirrors the spirit of DIVAS Simply Singing! itself: bringing clarity to health inequities, approaching hard truths with empathy, and extending awareness into the wider community. Translated across print, digital, stage, and environmental design, the visual system honored legacy while pointing forward—positioning the event not simply as a performance, but as a living source of light.