‘If/Then’ Broadway tour brings Overland Park native Janine DiVita to Starlight Theatre

Before she acted on Broadway, Janine DiVita attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School, performed at the Theatre in the Park and took dance and voice lessons in Overland Park.

At age 7, she loved “My Fair Lady” and would sing “Just You Wait” in a cockney accent. Her mom recognized her good pitch and put her in voice lessons with David Yoss, whom she stayed with for the next 10 years.

“David was a great foundation for me to get my start,” said DiVita, who now lives in Manhattan. “Teachers that share what they love with kids, that’s how they become enthusiastic. I loved the sense of community and being with like-minded people coming together for a cause.”

She also studied for years at Miller Marley School of Dance.

Since her days of imitating Eliza Doolittle, DiVita, 31, has come a long way. Since graduating from the University of Michigan in 2007, she has performed on Broadway, on national and regional tours, on TV, in movies and in concerts. She has performed at Starlight before, most recently in 2013 when she played the Lady of the Lake in “Spamalot.”

She is now returning to her hometown to appear in the musical “If/Then,” opening Tuesday at Starlight Theatre. She plays Anne, a lesbian friend of the lead character, Elizabeth. She is also the understudy to Elizabeth.

DiVita said she has long been a fan of the duo who created the show: Tom Kitt, who wrote the music, and Brian Yorkey, who wrote the book and lyrics.

“It’s a really contemporary show. I’ve done a lot of classics, so it’s a nice change,” DiVita said. “It’s a show about contemporary life and issues that women face, and a lot of people will relate, both men and women.”

On Broadway, DiVita has been in the cast of “Grease,” “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” and “Anything Goes.” She calls Broadway a “small world” — she has met many people from Kansas City and Miller Marley who now perform on the big stage.

“They have a combination of strong skills and strong work ethic,” DiVita said. “I think when you’re from Kansas City, it’s instilled from a young age.”

DiVita will return to Kansas City soon for a big role of her own: She’s planning on getting married next summer. DiVita has been looking at wedding venues while she’s in town for “If/Then.” She said she has already shown her fiancé from Connecticut the Kansas City staples: Boulevard Beer and barbecue.

But for now, DiVita is ready to perform in the place she started her career.

“It’s really exciting. I feel a huge sense of gratitude,” she said. “This is where I’m from, where I was introduced to this incredible art form that has become my life.”

This story was originally published July 24, 2016 at 8:00 AM with the headline "‘If/Then’ Broadway tour brings Overland Park native Janine DiVita to Starlight Theatre."