Val Vigoda set to perform at Uptown!

Composer, musician and speaker Val Vigoda will perform at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center.

WEST CHESTER » Composer, musician and speaker Val Vigoda will perform a high energy solo production of the self-penned “Peak Aliveness,” Tuesday, July 17 at the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center.

Half the show will feature Vigoda playing a 6-string Flying V-Shape “Viper” electric violin.

“It lets me sing and play at the same time in a very comfortable way,” Vigoda said during a phone interview.

The North Virginia native and Seattle resident played the violin in Cyndi Lauper’s band.

Vigoda referred to Lauper as the best teacher and performance instigator. She said the “Girl’s Just Want to Have Fun” singer changed her life.

In front of 20,000 fans, Lauper simply asked Vigoda to, “play like a barbarian.”

“I let it flow and the audience responded like crazy,” Vigoda said.

Vigoda also warmed up an audience of 1,800 for Michele Obama. She vamped a little bit since her hero, the first lady, was running late for an education conference. She learned later that both ladies had studied sociology at Princeton University and both shared the same favorite professor.

Vigoda skipped three years of high school to attend Princeton, was a 15year old freshman, and graduated at age 20.

Sociology gave her a chance “to study why people do what they do.”

Vigoda’s brand new show, a year in the making, is a combination of music, story and theater and is composed of half concert and half spoken word. A couple of times the audience will be prompted to get out of their seats and participate.

The musical set up enables Vigoda to record herself and then loop back around while recording original songs in layers.

The violinist served in the U.S. Army, which helped pay for college.

She said with a chuckle that she was excellent at taking orders but not so good at giving them.

“I found my voice,” she said. “It prepared me for the ups and downs of the music business.”

Vigoda has co-written several off-Broadway musicals, most recently, “Ernest Shackleton Loves Me.”

Shackleton was trapped for seven months with 27 men and after the ship was destroyed he saved everyone aboard.

The captain was a relentless optimist and said, “optimism is a form of moral courage.” Tuesday’s show will combine elements of

the musical. The heroine of the musical was separated from Shackleton and became empowered after discovering that she didn’t need him.

Vigoda has also written 20 songs used by Disney in movies, on cruise ships and at theme parks all over the world.

For more information on the performer go to www. valvigoda.com.

The event will take place

Tuesday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $25, $30 at the door, with a $3 service fee. Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center features a diverse slate of performances and is conveniently located near parking, shopping and restaurants at 226 N. High Street, West Chester. Purchase tickets for other shows at UptownWestChester.org, at the box office or call 610-356-ARTS(2787).

SUBMITTED PHOTO Val Vigoda