Valerie Saunders's Page

Home Town City:

Cleveland

Hometown State:

OH

Current Location City :

Scottsdale

Current Location State:

AZ

About Me:

I have been a professional singer, comedienne, actress, dancer, and choreographer for 21 years now.

I have performed nationwide as well in Arizona, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. I am also a Vocal Impressionist, and my niche is being a Comical Singer.

A stellar career in musical theater for over 20 years, my repertoire is quite extensive: 1. Show Tunes 2. Big Band 3. Country 4. Western 5. Sing A-long 6. Classical.

I sang on board the Seabourn Cruise Line. My international performances include the Hotel Splendido in Portofino, Italy, and a restaurant in Paris, France

My first lead and dream role were one and the same, Molly Brown, which I played here in Phoenix, AZ, in 1987. Other favorite roles, all of which happen to be in Phoenix, include Nancy in Oliver in 1991, Ado Annie in Oklahoma in 1992, and Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes in 2005.

More about me:
Valerie honed her skills in improvisation back in 1991-92 at the original Rawhide in Scottsdale, AZ. She first learned about and then performed “Streetmosphere,” strolling through Main Street as Matilda, a character she created and developed there. She performed in comedies every hour and also did an authentic Vaudeville show.

Valerie’s determination led her to audition to sing the National Anthem for the Phoenix Suns. To her delight, she performed the Star Spangled Banner at a playoff game in 1992. She then sang it for the Phoenix Coyotes in 1999. Her largest audience ever, 50,000, was singing at an Arizona Diamondbacks game in 2000.

In 1993 she played Sapphire Sue at Old Tucson Studios. One day that spring the piano player was out sick. Because the house was packed she was asked to go on live and alone. With no time to prepare, she sang a cappella and performed improvisation for all 4 scheduled shows. That summer she was also asked to be assistant set coordinator for the film Tombstone.

As a vocalist, her greatest thrills came with the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus when she sang Mahler’s 8th Symphony of 1,000 not only at Severance Hall in Cleveland, OH, but also at Carnegie Hall in New York City, NY, in 1995, considered to be the greatest theater in the world.

Another singing opportunity filling her with joy was as a big band vocalist with The Sentimental Journey Orchestra. She performed throughout Texas in 1997, 1998, and again in 2001. She belted out several tunes, including Rock-A-Bye Your Baby and I’ve Heard That Song Before. One of many ballads she crooned was Over The Rainbow.

A vocal impressionist for many years, she emulates Judy Garland, Julie Andrews, Patsy Cline, Barbra Streisand, Doris Day, and Patti Page. Since childhood she has been doing scenes of The Wizard Of Oz.

She was once told by a patron her niche was being a comical singer. She decided to take this to heart.

Based on this insight, Valerie has produced several traveling one-woman shows: 1. A Tribute to Patsy Cline 2. A Salute to Western
Movie Musicals 3. Western Songs Of Yesteryear 4. The Patriotic Tribute. And her newest one, 5. Cowgal Val - Yodeler, Comedienne, Storyteller.

Website 1:

http://www.valeriesaunders.biz

Website 2:

http://ifpphx.ning.com/profile/ValerieSaunders

MySpace

http://myspace.com/val106

Agency / Representation Website 1

http://Danisagency.com

What industry function are you involved in?

Production

What is your profession or specialization?

Producer, Actor, Make-up Artist, Hair Stylist, Dancer, other

How did you find out about FilMixer?

Word of Mouth

Favorite Movie:

The Great Race

Favorite Director:

Blake Edwards

Favorite Actor:

George Clooney, Val Kilmer

Favorite TV Show:

Desperate Housewives

Favorite Music Artist:

varies

Favorite Song:

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and Over The Rainbow

Are you a Gamer?

No

Favorite Author

Alan Cohen