For our 2025 Festival opening night, we wanted to honor Roberta Flack with a joyful, soulful celebration that captured her grace, her genius, and her influence across generations. And she wasn’t welcomed alone—Nina Simone, Linda Hopkins, Ruth Brown, and a surprise cameo from Aretha herself all stepped into the spotlight through the voices and performances of our cast. Yes, you heard me right: Aretha showed up and lit that guitar on fire like Jimi Hendrix. Comedian Mimi Gonzalez added sharp wit and joyful mischief, while our all-star band wrapped the entire night in rich, luminous sound. It was an evening of music, memory, laughter, and pure diva magic—a shimmering welcome home for Roberta and the perfect way to open the festival.