VALARIE PETTIFORD

Valarie started 2008 with lots of laughter and love when she guest starred in four episodes of the hit series  HOUSE OF PAYNE for the highly acclaimed director/creator Tyler Perry, in the role of Sandra Lucas.  In February 2006, Valerie completed her fourth season of the hit TV serried HALF & HALF on UPN that earned her three NAACP Image Award Nominations for her portrayal as Big Dee Dee Thorne.  The hit series is now in syndication.  In 2007 she was thrilled to open The Pasadena Pops Summer series with acclaimed conductor Rachel Worby and was fortunate to star in a pilot for  HBO directed by JJ Abrams.  She guest starred as Dr. Lana Whitford in CSI MIAMI (Spring 2006), Ellen Laskow in BONES (Spring 2007), Susan Latham in CSI( Spring 2007) and Aunt Jackie in the #1 film in the country 1/16/07 STOMP THE YARD.  A Sony Screen Gems production.  Her widely successful one woman show was performed to sold out audiences at the Gardenia Room, the El Portal Theater in Los Angeles and at the Metropolitan Room in New York City, where she just received the 2007 Back Stage Bistro Award for Cabaret Debut.  Valarie began her training as a child at the Bernice Johnson Theatre of the Performing Arts in Queens, New York and continued her early training at the Performing Arts High School.  Her tremendous versatility in all styles of dance soon led her to Broadway where she became a “Fosse dancer”, working with the late great legendary choreographer, Bob Fosse in DANCIN and his last Broadway musical, BIG DEAL.  This turned out to be the experience of a lifetime, when Fosse himself, called Valarie to be part of the backers audition for the musical.  She became part of an elite group of five who helped Fosse workout the choreography and staging for the show.  She also became dance captain and assisted in the casting.  Best of all, the number “Dancin Dan and His Shadows” that was featured in the Tony Award winning musical, “Fosse”, was created for Valarie, Barbara Yeager and Gay Chapman.  Valarie was last seen on Broadway in the Tony Award winning show Fosse”, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award, Outer Critics Circle and Dora Mavor Moore award, (Toronto).  

Her other Broadway and national tour credits include SOPHISTCATED LADIES, original cast and understudy for Judith Jamison.  WEST SIDE STORY, 30th anniversary tour for which she was to perform the number “America” on the CBS special CELEBRATING THE CONSTITUTION.  On television, Valarie has had recurring roles on THE DISTRICT, FAME LA AND HONEY I SHRUNK THE KIDS.  In addition, she has appeared on FRASIER, STATE OF GRACE, THE WEST WING, ANY DAY NOW, WALKER TEXAS RANGER, SLIDERS, SILK STALKINGS, THE SENTINEL, JACK & JILL, SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH, THE DIVISION, MEN WOMEN AND DOGS THE X-FILES AND MATTHEW (The Pilot).  Valerie was also a regular on ANOTHER WORLD, as Detective Courtney Walker.  She is probably best remembered for her three year stint as the indomitable Shelia Price a role she created on daytime drama, one life to live.  Valerie has also appeared in such memorable films as THE WIZ and THE COTTON CLUB, where she was the featured dancer in the Moocher directed by Frances Ford Coppola.

Valerie made her London West End debut in CHICAGO as Velma Kelly opposite Chital Rivera.  They were the first Americans to perform the roles.  Valarie sang and danced “All That Jazz” at the Kennedy Center Honors, where Chita Rivera was being honored.  Earlier in her career, she was choreographer for the musical review, JEROME KERN at Theatre Row; Phyllis Hyman in concert; and for Larry Elgart, HOOKED ON SWING, video  which played on MTV.  Valerie continues to lend her support and talents too many charities annually and is thrilled to have fulfilled a life long dream of recording an album titled HEAR MY SOUL.