Valerie's film and television directing credits include the series WOMEN for Showtime, GR8BUY TV a pilot for Griffen Entertainment with Julie Haggerty and David Leisure and the cable movies, GOING HOME and BEAUTIFUL DREAMER for Cinemax. In 2000 she directed the critically acclaimed SONS OF LINCOLN with Chad Allen, Jonathan Advilson, Tony Colliti, Bill Faggerbbakke, Lawrence Monoson, Joel Polis and Glynn Turman. Her other stage work includes THE BOYS OF MARIEL nominated for A GLADD Award for best Los Angeles Theater production, Phyllis Nagy's GIRL BAR, the world premire of CALL WAITING by Dori Framm and TELEGRAM FROM HEAVEN at the National Jewish Theater of Chicago. She has worked extensively in radio with KCRW's The Play's the Thing. As an actress Valerie has appeared as a regular in the series FAME, YOU AGAIN, ALL IS FORGIVEN, HOTEL, FIRST AND TEN AND DREAM ON.
Making a career out of playing the "Best Friend" to Jill Clayburgh, Joanna Kerns, Dinah Manoff, Lori Loughlin and many others in multiple movies-of-the-week.
She has appeared on stage on Broadway in I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES, THE FLOATING LIGHTBULB, and in Los Angeles in TELEGRAM FROM HEAVEN, A MOTHER A DAUGHTER AND A GUN, the world premier of Paula Vogel's AND BABY MAKES SEVEN amongst others. Last year she found herself working as an actress unexpectedly in the films BAR HOPPING and ROCK STARS, and recurring as Dr. Joclyn Felt on Showtime's BEGGARS AND CHOOSERS.
And if someone looked familiar on that Light Done Right Kraft salad dressing commercial that's been running for three years it indeed was Valerie. Thank you Leo Burnett.
As a teacher Valerie travels all over the United States and later this year London conducting workshops for actors, directors as well as people outside of the entertainment industry in the "art of creating". Last year her travels took her to animators at The Colorado Institute Of Art and young directors and The Maine Film and Photographic Workshops. Having recorded several albums including a hit single in seven countries in the FAME years Valerie is just completing work on her new album, Spending time with some of her favorite artists with husband James McVay at the helm with John Leftwitch. She lives high on a mountain with her husband film and television composer James McVay and her two children.
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