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The NYC Insider's Guide
for women who aren't kids
The Three Tomatoes
Valeries Gallery
The insider scoop on New York City nightlife
Broadway news and other fun around town
a 5 time Billboard Magazine Award winner, is perhaps best known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 position in the New York radio market as the midday host of New York’s 106.7 FM. She was also the co-creator, writer, producer and host of 'Spotlight On,' a nationally syndicated program that featured in-depth interviews with top recording artists such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Sting and Celine Dion, to name a few.
Presently, Valerie can be heard on her new daily radio show, Valerie’s New York on WOR.710.com. She is also the voice of numerous commercials and television promos. She has been the “Voice of God” for many prestigious live events including: The Clinton Global Initiative, The New York Emmy Awards, The Tony Preview Concert on CBS, and many more. She writes a weekly nightlife column for TheThreeTomatoes.com and writes a theater column for Examiner.com.
As adjunct professor at the School of Visual Arts, Valerie teaches a course on Internet Radio and Voice-over, coaches talent privately, and produces promo reels and demo tapes for various clients.
An actress and writer, she has appeared in numerous off -Broadway productions and co-wrote a play with music entitled, "Spit it Out!"
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Striking paperboys, a contentious election and Judy Garland’s last days.
An energetic production of Disney’s Newsies is on Broadway, featuring rising star Jeremy Jordan, who just a few months ago was Clyde, as in “Bonnie And”, and is now the star rabble rouser who wants to see fairness and job protection for the boys who sell the papers at the turn of the (last) century.
Hummable songs from Alan Mencken (music) and Jack Feldman (Lyrics) make this limited run musical quite enjoyable, but it’s the inventive and fabulous choreography of Christopher Gattelli that really makes this. musical shine.
I must admit I am extremely partial to predominately male dancers and singers in a show, so I was happily invested in enjoying the great accomplishments of these young men. With book by the multi talented Harvey Fierstein, and direction by Jack Calhoun, Newsies is a great show choice for the family this summer.
Newsies runs through August 19th.
The Best Man by Gore Vidal got me very nervous when I read on its’ website that there are two intermissions with the play coming in at 2 hours and 40 minutes. But what a stellar group of actors! Angela Lansbury, James Earl Jones, Candice Bergen, John Larroquette, Eric Mc Cormack. The cast alone is worth seeing.
The question raised is, “Does the best man (and for good measure, let’s add the word ‘woman’ to this query) always make it to the White House? The Best Man is about the race to the presidency, as two front-runners vie for their party's nomination in the midst of backstabbing, double-crossing, dirty-dealing and all the games politicians play.
Despite the two intermissions the show keeps you engaged and the material is certainly timely, given the country's climate Limited run through July 9.
Eric McCormack and John Larroquette in The Best Man
And finally, a show about the last days of a musical icon. Like so many before and after her, the awesomely talented Judy Garland, died way before her time. In this must see play with music, “The End of the Rainbow” starring an unforgettable Tracie Bennett, I was shocked to learn that Ms. Garland was only 47 years old at the time of her death. I remembered her passing as a young child, and thought she was well into her sixties. But like Whitney Houston, (the parallels are pretty stunning), she had bad press at performances later in her career, her drug use was constant, and ultimately was found dead in a bathroom.
We learn about Garland’s fear of loosing her voice and not being able to perform any more. We get insight into the men surrounding her and upon whom she relied.
Although Tracie Bennett does not have the same physicality of Judy Garland, (she is extremely slight of figure, and yet quite muscular, like that of a dancer) she does transform into the persona of Garland. And her singing is just otherworldly. Tracie Bennett gives an incredible performance.
