The Pink Hulk with Valerie David
Life At Full Blast Podcast - Special Episode
New York City-based performer/playwright Valerie David’s currently performs the award-winning, internationally acclaimed solo show, The Pink Hulk: One Woman’s Journey to Find the Superhero Within. She wrote the autobiographical comedic drama The Pink Hulk as a cancer survivor to express the empowerment she felt being able to find humor and superhero inner strength going through three bouts of cancer to become a 3-time cancer survivor—first Stage III Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Stage II Breast Cancer, and then Stage IV Metastatic Breast cancer, which she has conquered. Valerie is a true superhero—she currently has no evidence of disease—no trace of her cancer as of April 2019. 2024 is a banner year for Valerie—this marks her 25th year of cancer survivorship. The Pink Hulk has been accepted into more than 50 different play festivals worldwide since its 2016 debut, performed in over 25 different cities, including touring in Europe, and is a testament TO NEVER GIVE UP! Valerie and The Pink Hulk have been featured on TV, radio, in publications and on podcasts, including NBC 4 New York, CBS, FOX, amNY, Heal magazine, The IndyStar, Breast Friends Cancer Support Radio Network, Mia’s World, First Online With Fran, The Crisis Help Show, the Jim Masters Show! Live, Tamara L. Hunter’s Service Hero Show and Reykjavik Fringe Festival podcast. For more info on Valerie, visit https://pinkhulkplay.com/
Now battling breast cancer after fighting off lymphoma, Valerie does something most people facing cancer in their life probably wouldn't think of doing. With a fear that she might lose “the girls,” she takes them out for one last hurrah—after all, a cancer diagnosis means only one thing: Call your ex’s and try to get laid. And does Valerie succeed? Is there a “happy” ending? Come see the show to find out! This award-winning, internationally acclaimed, sexy solo show follows Valerie's journey to seek her own “hulk-like” strength to find her superhero within to become a three-time cancer survivor. An empowering and true story of inspiration for anyone facing ANY adversity in their own lives—not just from cancer! With plenty of laugh out loud, heartwarming moments!
The Pink Hulk has garnered rave reviews and won several awards: the prestigious “Act Alone Solo Show Award” at the Reykjavik Fringe Festival in Iceland and is the 2022 recipient of The Colby Award for Excellence in the Arts for The Pink Hulk, which is in recognition of her career achievements; also the Audience Choice Award in the Shenandoah Fringe and WOW Award in Sweden’s Gothenburg Fringe. “My show is not just about cancer—it’s about fighting back ANY adversity in life. And what makes it stand out is its humor,” Valerie said.
Valerie goes beyond just performing her award-winning solo show The Pink Hulk and is truly making a difference: She raises awareness, educates and inspires communities through her outreach, engagement and patient advocacy initiatives. She raises money through The Pink Hulk performances for domestic and international cancer organizations. Valerie created "The Pink Hulk Forums" and moderates these panels of health care experts to discuss the latest breakthroughs in research and medicine, the obstacles of our health care system, and provides resources for cancer patients and survivors seeking both financial and emotional support. She contributes to panel discussions with Theater Resources Unlimited, Broadway Bound Theatre Festival, the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, and other organizations. Valerie nurtures and mentors solo show performers and encourages them to create their own stories, as well as providing advice and guidance on touring. Valerie is also a member of “Broadway Hearts,” where she is part of the Broadway community performing weekly virtual singalongs at children’s hospitals nationwide to bring smiles and joy to children in need. Most recently Valerie/The Pink Hulk partnered up with The Grief Gallery to help those who have lost a loved one, as well as performed The Pink Hulk in Seattle—partnering up with Cancer Pathways—and presented at the Power of Pink Summit 2023 Conference in Las Vegas, in October 2023.
Memberships include the Dramatists Guild, League of Professional Theatre Women, AEA and SAG-AFTRA. She also performed improv throughout New York City with improv groups Faceplant, Cronuts and Cherub. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Manhattan campus and James Madison University,
Valerie also teaches improv both domestically and internationally and at nationwide state thespian conferences. In addition, she also conducts monthly improv/creative writing workshops for cancer patients and survivors at Red Door Community (former Gilda’s Club of NYC).