L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Welcomes Valarie Pettiford in Concert, 9/16

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents Valarie Pettiford (Tony-nominated star of Fosse, the feature film Jumping the Broom, ABC Family's Bunheads, HBO's Treme), who is releasing her second solo album, Velvet Sky, a collection of original lullabies this fall.To celebrate the release of her new album, Pettiford is performing a rare, one-night-only concert on Sunday, September 16, at the Center's beautiful Renberg Theatre. Her last solo concert in Los Angeles was in 2010.

"This concert is a celebration of great music," enthuses Pettiford. "Some old and some new, but definitely songs that are fun to sing, such as 'All That Jazz,' 'Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries,' and 'My Miracle,' which is from my new album! There will be dancing, storytelling, and one thing that I can promise is that it will be a fun and entertaining night!"

The Broadway star's second solo album, Velvet Sky, features a collection of songs written especially for the actress/singer by two legendary writing teams, Ron Abel and Chuck Steffan, and Michael Orland and Jamie Wooten. The album will be released on October 9.

"I am very proud of this project," Pettiford continues. "It was a real labor of love... I think people, especially parents, single parents, and soon-to-be parents, will really connect with this music, which will help them connect more with their babies. I was thinking about having children at the time and thought, what a beautiful idea it would be to record an album of lullabies. I also thought my voice was well-suited for lullabies."

Pettiford hopes one song on the album, "My Miracle," will become an anthem for parents who have struggled to conceive: "It touches the core of any woman who has had difficulty having children. It speaks to the beauty of an impossible dream realized."

Valarie Pettiford in Concert is directed by David Galligan with musical direction by Ron Abel.

Velvet Sky will be available on iTunes and other online retailers on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. For more information, visit officialvalariepettiford.com.

Net proceeds from the concert benefit the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. The Renberg Theatre (200-seat mid-size theatre) is located on The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood (one block east of Highland, just north of Santa Monica Blvd. Free parking). The concert is set for Sunday, September 16, 2012, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20: General Admission and are available at lagaycenter.org/theatre or call 323-860-7300.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center provides a broad array of services for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, welcoming nearly a quarter-million client visits from ethnically diverse youth and adults each year. Through its Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic and on-site pharmacy, the Center offers free and low-cost health, mental health, HIV/AIDS medical care and HIV/STD testing and prevention. The Center also offers legal, social, cultural and educational services, with unique programs for seniors, families and youth, including a 24-bed transitional living program for homeless youth.

 

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