alphabetical author index

Valerie Vigoda


Work by the author


Long Story Short Striking 12

Author's Bio


Valerie Vigoda, electric violinist and singer, is the founding member of GrooveLily. Originally from McLean, VA, Valerie is a classically-trained musician, honors graduate of Princeton University, and former Army lieutenant. She has toured the world with Cyndi Lauper (opening for Tina Turner and Cher), Joe Jackson and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. She founded GrooveLily (originally “The Valerie Vigoda Band”) in 1994, with a critically-acclaimed CD called “Inhabit My Heart.” Dirty Linen Magazine wrote: “to call Valerie Vigoda talented barely seems to do her justice. She has a great voice, is an intelligent lyricist … and an ace violinist. Methinks we’ll hear more of her.” Along with her husband and longtime collaborator Brendan Milburn, Valerie is a 2009 winner of the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award, as well as a two-time winner of the Jonathan Larson Award for Excellence in Writing for the Theatre.
The success of their first concert-musical, the critically-acclaimed holiday show STRIKING 12, has led them farther into the world of theater, where they have carved out a unique niche as a rock band writing and performing shows. After years on the indie touring circuit, they are delighted to be creating many projects with various collaborators: STRIKING 12 (Off-Broadway 2006, Lucille Lortel Nomination for Outstanding Musical, Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Choice Award); TOY STORY THE MUSICAL (Disney); SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES (Deaf West Theatre/Center Theatre Group/McCarter Theatre, two 2007 Ovation Awards, including World Premiere Musical); WHEELHOUSE, GrooveLily's autobiographical concert-musical (in development); LONG STORY SHORT (City Theatre of Pittsburgh/TheatreWorks Palo Alto/San Diego Rep); A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (McCarter Theatre/Paper Mill Playhouse); and ERNEST SHACKLETON LOVES ME, a new 1-woman fever-dream musical (La Jolla Playhouse/TheatreWorks Palo Alto). Valerie lives in Los Angeles with husband Brendan Milburn and 5-year-old son Mose.
The success of their first concert-musical, the critically-acclaimed holiday show STRIKING 12, has led them farther into the world of theater, where they have carved out a unique niche as a rock band writing and performing shows. After years on the indie touring circuit, they are delighted to be creating many projects with various collaborators: STRIKING 12 (Off-Broadway 2006, Lucille Lortel Nomination for Outstanding Musical, Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Choice Award); TOY STORY THE MUSICAL (Disney); SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES (Deaf West Theatre/Center Theatre Group/McCarter Theatre, two 2007 Ovation Awards, including World Premiere Musical); WHEELHOUSE, GrooveLily's autobiographical concert-musical (in development); LONG STORY SHORT (City Theatre of Pittsburgh/TheatreWorks Palo Alto/San Diego Rep); A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (McCarter Theatre/Paper Mill Playhouse); and ERNEST SHACKLETON LOVES ME, a new 1-woman fever-dream musical (La Jolla Playhouse/TheatreWorks Palo Alto). Valerie lives in Los Angeles with husband Brendan Milburn and 5-year-old son Mose.