One Third of Divas Three - Get to Know Crystal Alicia Garrett

After winning Miss South Carolina in 2007, performing all over the world, and starring in the satirical comedy, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul., Crystal Alicia Garrett makes her FST debut this summer in the hit Cabaret, Divas Three.

In this dynamic music revue, Garrett wows audiences with her powerful renditions of “9 to 5,” “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “River Deep, Mountain High,” and more. This lively Cabaret has been such a hit with audiences that the revue’s run has been extended through September 17, 2023.

We sat down with Crystal to talk about her experience touring the country with Divas Three, her favorite song to perform in the show, and what she enjoys most about performing in FST’s Cabaret spaces.

You’ve traveled across the country for almost two years, performing in Divas Three. What has been your favorite part of bringing the music of these iconic divas to life in so many places?

It is such an honor to pay homage to all these greats! We cover Gladys Knight, Dolly Parton, Celine Dion, and more. I have never felt worthy performing their songs because they are all so fabulous, so being part of Divas Three has been very humbling for me. I grew up with these songs, so being able to bring them to life and inspire so many memories for audiences is such a blessing!

Do you have a special memory from your time with Divas Three that you’d like to share?

At a performance in Maryland, we had a very mixed crowd. People of all ages, colors, and backgrounds were there and the music brought everyone together. That was so beautiful. I love the music we sing in Divas Three and its ability to unite people. I’m fortunate that I’m able to be a part of it.

Do you have a personal connection to any of the songs in the show? What is your favorite song to perform and why?

Tina Turner’s “River Deep, Mountain High.” The song reminds me of my husband, and I think about how much I love him when I perform that song. The words are so perfect. It’s such a high energy song and I can’t wait to get to it every show.

You have opened for a wide array of artists, from Jennifer Holiday and Keisha Cole to Robin Thicke and Ciara. What did you take away from these experiences as a person and an artist?

I’ve been fortunate to open for different types of artists in a variety of venues, and each experience helped shape the artist that I am today. These opportunities helped me be open to discovering who I am as an individual artist and as a person. I was able to see that there is room for everyone—on and off stage. I realized there is only one “me,” just like there is only one Jennifer Holiday and only one Ciara. These experiences freed me to accept myself as I am, flaws and all, and to perform with my whole heart and soul in each performance.

Divas Three is now playing in FST’s Court Cabaret, an intimate theatre that seats about 100 people, which is different from other venues where you’ve done Divas Three. How does the intimacy and atmosphere of the Court Cabaret impact the show? 

The Cabaret atmosphere takes our show to a whole new level! We can hear everything the audience says, so our interactions with them are immediate and pure. It also keeps the audience involved with the show and takes away the “fourth wall.” At other venues, we aren’t able to be this close to the audience, so this experience has been a breath of fresh air! It feels like we write a whole new show each night with each audience and it’s very special.

Due to popular demand, FST’s presentation of Divas Three has been extended through September 17, 2023. For tickets and more information, click here.

Header Image: Charity Farrell, Crystal Alicia Garrett, and Samantha Duval. Photo by John Jones.