Valerie David's One-Woman Show 'PINK HULK' to Hit Orlando Fringe

 

Actor and playwright Valerie David performs her inspiring, comical one-woman show about becoming a two-time cancer survivor.

What's the first thing Valerie does when she's diagnosed with cancer for a second time in her life? She tries to get laid. Having beaten lymphoma earlier in life, she is now diagnosed with breast cancer. And...does she succeed? Come see the show to find out! This sexy and adventurous solo show follows the triumphant journey of one woman as she finds her own "hulk-like" strength to find her superhero within! A true and inspiring story!

The Pink Hulk: One Woman's Journey to Find the Superhero Within, written and starring professional actor and playwright Valerie David will be performed in the Orlando Fringe.

Directed by Padraic Lillis, the production runs at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center/Purple Venue, 812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL, 32803. Show Schedule: Thursday, May 18, 5:30 PM; Saturday, May 20, 5:15 PM; Wednesday, May 24, 7:15 PM; Saturday, May 27, 12:45 PM; and Sunday, May 28, 5:45 PM. Run time: 60-minute, one-woman show with mature content.

Prices: $12 ($10 discounted tickets for Fringe Artists, Fringe Volunteers, Military, Students, Seniors, Cancer Groups and with Fringe Button). The Pink Hulk Ticket Link:
orlandofringe.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=111. Also go to orlandofringe.org for tickets and more information. Full Festival Dates are May 16 to 29, 2017-Loch Haven Park/Ivanhoe Village. For more information and to book The Pink Hulk, visit pinkhulkplay.com.

Last summer marked Valerie David's official Pink Hulk U.S. tour, performing in New York City, the Providence Fringe, Baltimore's Charm City Fringe Festival, Sarasota's SaraSolo Festival, Indianapolis' DivaFest, the Pittsburgh Fringe and back to Providence; and after the Orlando Fringe, Valerie heads to the Cincy Fringe in Cincinnati. Plans are in the works for more cities this fall, including an international tour.

David, who has been cancer-free since 2015, wrote the autobiographical comedic drama The Pink Hulk to express the empowerment she felt being able to find humor and superhero inner strength going through two bouts of cancer-first Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and then breast cancer 15 years later. She raises money through The Pink Hulk performances for domestic and international cancer organizations.

"My show is not just about fighting cancer; it has a universal message of fighting back from any adversity in life with its inspirational message of hope and empowerment. I want to help and inspire others through my performances, and The Pink Hulk also has plenty of humor and comedy -guaranteed!" David exclaims. "I'm super excited to bring this show to the amazing Orlando Fringe, and this marks my return to Florida for a second time this year!"

"I have been honored and humbled with the impact this show has had on its audiences, whether or not they have any affiliation with cancer," she adds. "It has been so special when people have approached me after a performance to say how much they related to The Pink Hulk." A cancer survivor said, 'Your show nailed exactly everything I felt when I was going through my own treatment.' And one gentleman commented, 'I have never known anyone to have had cancer...either friends or family, but your story had such an impact on me because it was about living life on your own terms. And that really resonated with me and made me feel empowered to do the same.' "

At its world premiere in the Planet Connections Festivity Theatre Festival in New York City this past summer, The Pink Hulk was nominated for Best Performance of a Solo Show, Best Overall Production of a Solo Show, and won Best Director of a Solo Show. It was also awarded a Congeniality Award and Planet Activist Award, raising funds and awareness for Mary's Place by the Sea, a nonprofit cancer organization in Ocean Grove, NJ. Valerie also received the following award for The Pink Hulk by the 2017 SaraSolo Festival in Sarasota, Florida: Queen's Medal for Valour, presented to an exceptional performer who brings bravery, grace and humor to extraordinary circumstances. And she also received The Best Survivor Award in the Pittsburgh Fringe 2017.

VALERIE DAVID (Writer and Performer of The Pink Hulk) is an actor and playwright. A graduate of James Madison University and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, her credits include the Off-Broadway production of A Stoop on Orchard Street, Cookie in Rumors and Claudia Shear's Blown Sideways Through Life. Films: How I Became that Jewish Guy, which premiered at a November 2015 NYC Film Festival, and Bridges and Tunnels. She has been touring with The Pink Hulk performing in festivals, for cancer benefits and colleges, and having talk-backs after performances with cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones. Memberships include the League of Professional Theatre Women, AEA and SAG-AFTRA. Valerie also performs improv throughout New York City with improv groups Faceplant, Cronuts and Cherub. Valerie played the role of Maxine in Abraham's Daughters by Emma Goldman-Sherman and directed by Lorca Peress in the Lady Liberty Festival on 9/11. She wrote and starred in the one-woman musical Bring On a Man!; and both cowrote and starred in the two-person show Wanted: A Few Good Men and Two-mur Humor: He's Malignant; She's Benign.

Padraic Lillis (Director) is the founding Artistic Director of The Farm Theater. He was awarded Best Direction of a Solo Show for Valerie's The Pink Hulk solo show at Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. Padraic has also been awarded the NY IT Award for Outstanding Director for Lindsay Joy's Rise and Fall of a Teenage Cyberqueen, Overall Excellence Award from NY International Fringe Festival for Lee Kaplan's Bully, Best Overall Production of a Solo Show and Planet Advocate Award for his solo show addressing suicide awareness Hope You Get To Eleven or What are we going to do about Sally?, and is a member of the Indie Theater Hall of Fame. He is a published playwright with Dramatist Play Services and Indie Theater Now. His film Hand Over Hand, which he wrote and directed, was awarded Best Short Film at the Milan International Film Festival. He is a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company and a lifelong Yankee fan.

Artwork courtesy of Rebecca Kalant