valerie's happy hour

If you can call yourself a "working actor," you're already a success. Valerie David ('90) can call herself more than successful, because this actress' path has not been easy. David has performed in many off-Broadway shows including Perfect Wedding and the rock musical The Fires. She landed the lead role in Whispers of Saints and in the independent film Bridges and Tunnels. She also produced and starred in her own one-woman comedy, Bring on a Man??

But in 1999, David tackled her hardest role to date -- cancer patient. She was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. "It was the most frightening time of my life," she says. "I dropped everything and began an intense chemotherapy treatment."

Five years later and cancer free, David has come home to the stage this summer to share her experience in a two-person play with Jim Tooey, another cancer survivor. "We want to give other cancer patients, survivors and their families hope," says David. "Even in the scariest times, there are always good times and laughter."

David's best memories of JMU include much laughter and jokes played on her sorority sisters. "Sigma Kappa used to have Friday happy hours, and we were only given two colored tickets each for guests," says David. "I used to Xerox 30 tickets at Kinko's and have all my friends party with me. It wasn't really a Sigma Kappa Happy Hour; it became the Valerie David Happy Hour."

Despite her collegiate comedies of error and a declared English major, David says she always knew she wanted to be an actress. After graduation, she moved to Arlington and began acting in community theater. Then she moved to the Big Apple to pursue her lifelong dream. She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts acting program in 1996. Last spring, David starred in the off-Broadway production of Three Women.

In May -- to celebrate five years being cancer free -- she vacationed with her parents in Las Vegas. The celebration will continue in September in Manhattan with David's  "support system," which includes her parents, relatives, friends and two sisters, Jennifer ('85) and Pam David ('88). "Having cancer actually turned out to be
the greatest gift," David says. "It gave me a new perspective. I appreciate the simplest things like walking down a sidewalk on a sunny day." What a great role.

-- Kelly Rose ('04)