Michelle Della Fave
Diggin’ Life: Songs & Stories of a Former Golddigger
Don’t Tell Mama, NYC, February 27, 2026
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
Michelle Della Fave has had quite a life, and she shared all its details in her show Diggin’ Life: Songs & Stories of a Former Golddigger. And what a life it has been! This was not just a show-biz tale; she told of the long string of cities she’s dwelled in, about her numerous relationships (most of them emotionally, physically, both, or abusive), and about a complicated history with her mother. It was a full story, and director Tanya Moberly has helped her shape it quite well, but that was a slightly tawdry tale can’t be denied. Music director/pianist Ian Herman, assisted by Jerry DeVore on bass, certainly contributed to the flow and details of the show.
Della Fave can certainly sing. Her opener, “It’s a Good Day” (Peggy Lee/Dave Barbour) was spirited and her “Willow Weep for Me” (Ann Ronell) was a highly effective blues number. Later, she offered a very sexy “Just for a Thrill” (Lil Hardin Amstrong/Don Raye). She also chose some surprises, such as “Life Is Beautiful” (Fred Astaire/Tommy Wolf) and “This Masquerade” (Leon Russell).
An opening video montage established her time on the highly popular Dean Martin television show. At various times she was part of the sow’s singing/dancing groups The Golddiggers and The Ding-a-Lings (Della Fave later explained her complicated life with a quip that she was a real ding-a-ling), and she finally became part of a vocal duo. Martin, the star of the television show, was barely mentioned, which was disappointing. A trademark of Moberly-directed shows is that the artist is directed to use the entire stage, and Della Fave certainly followed suit. She certainly knew how to deliver a number—her “Some of These Days” (Shelton Brooks) was a genuine showstopper. It was unfortunate that her story was so complicated and downbeat; perhaps it might work better as the subject of a better full-length musical than as a tight cabaret show.
