Photo Flash: Galyana Castillo Wins Marty Thomas Presents' DIVA BE A DIVA Competition, Round 1

Marty Thomas Presents DIVA features NYC's finest female vocalists paying tribute to the greatest icons throughout history! The show performs weekly in midtown Manhattan hotspot, Industry Bar. It has also been seen around the country, as well as on Off Broadway and Broadway stages. In its fourth year, the show has featured such acts as Shoshana Bean, Shayna Steele, Rachel Potter, Alysha Umphress, Lena Hall, Eden Espinosa, The Glamazons, The Skivvies, Ramona Keller, N'Kenge, Saycon Sengbloh, Kate Rockwell and many many more. To expand its talent pool, Industry Bar announces the second installment of the BE A DIVA Competition. Scroll down for photos from Round 1 on Monday, September 29!

Weekly, beginning September 15, dynamic female vocalists will go toe to toe before a panel of celebrity judges. They will be competing for a cash and prize package, plus the opportunity to return for the finale show on November 17, where they can take it all! The grand prize winner will take home a $1000 cash prize, as well as paid bookings with Marty Thomas Presents DIVA and an exciting prize package. Prizes include but are not limited to a headshot package with famed photographers Kevin Thomas Garcia, David Perlman and Barrymoore Photography, a sizable acting class package with The Actors Connection, a gym membership with Equinox gyms and more to be announced shortly!

You get to select our newest DIVA! Each week you'll get to vote for your favorite contestant as well as weighing in through social media to let us know who you want to return to the DIVA stage! Competing this year are Sarah Elle Daniels, Galyana Castillo, Courtney Rada, Molly Mastrangelo, Krista Antonacci, Aja Goes, Mayme Marshall, Elissa Goldstein, Christina Cataldo, Kelsey Griswold and Krysi Kroft. The contestants will compete in 3 week heats, elimination style, to choose 3 top finalists to compete in the finale show on November 17. You can also vote for your favorite contestant by tweeting @martysdivas #Beadivacontest #(name of your favorite contestant) and/or by voting on our website www.martythomaspresentsdiva.com.

Monday, September 29 a semi finalist champion for round 1 was chosen. Florida native, Galyana Castillo took top honors. Celebrity judges Jeffrey Thomson and Katie Thompson weighed in on the night, but ultimately the audience chose the winner. Castillo recieved a month of unlimited classes from the Actors Connection, a headshot package from BarryMoore photography and the opportunity to return November 17 to compete in the grand finale. The audience was also treated to a concert from Marty Thomas and the divas which included Marissa Rosen (MY BIG GAY ITALIAN WEDDING), Holly Ann Butler (HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS, GREASE, ON THE TOWN) and Lisa Ramey (WHITE CHRISTMAS).

Composer Jeff Thomson is a recipient of the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award, as well as the Dramatist Guild Musical Theatre Writing Fellowship. His songs have been performed by such artists as Diana DeGarmo, JoJo, Adam Lambert, Elizabeth Gillies, Frankie Grande and was a featured songwriter in the acclaimed songbook series at Lincoln Center. Projects include an arena rock musical adaptation of Allan Moyle's Pump Up the Volume, a dance pop musical adaptation of the cult film Jawbreaker, the upcoming original American musical TRAILS and most recently he was selected to write the music for an upcoming animated movie musical for Amazon Studios in Los Angeles.

Composer/Vocalist/Actress Katie Thompson recently starred in the City Center production of PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES. She was also featured in the out of town trial of BIG FISH, and the John Michael LaChiusa musical GIANT. Her music has been featured on So You Think You Can Dance, and her music is available on Itunes.

The show is hosted/produced by Marty Thomas. Thomas has appeared on Broadway in Xanadu, The Secret Garden and Wicked, and is currently starring off Broadway in Pageant the musical. He's a Grammy Nominated recording artist and a former Ed McMahon's Star Search Champion. With his experience in the recording industry and musical theater, he created DIVA to feature strong female talent paying tribute to his ultimate idols.

Marty Thomas Presents DIVA performs every Monday night at Industry Bar at 11 PM. There is no cover charge, you must be 21 years old to enter. The show has been featured throughout the city and around the country in popular nightspots. Visits www.martythomaspresentsdiva.com for more information on show specifics and how you can vote through social media.

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