Friday, November 13, 2026
Actor and playwright Valerie David is performing two solo plays in Freeport at the Sparkle on Stage Cultural Center. Both plays tell the inspiring, personal stories of David and her family.
David first took up the performing arts as a kindergartener, singing songs like “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from “Mary Poppins” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” from the play of the same name. She says she became serious about acting and performing when she decided to apply to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan.
“I always loved writing and then acting, and then having the solo shows that I created were marrying my two favorite things,” she explained. “So it was the best of both worlds to do both of these solo shows.”
The first play, entitled “Baggage from BaghDAD,,” recounts David’s father and her families experiences facing religious persecution as Middle Eastern Jews in Iraq. It was performed at Sparkle on Stage on Nov. 8 in front of an audience captivated by the stories of intolerance. David says that his stories maintain relevance due to the continued persecution and hate that is present worldwide.
“It’s not just a just a Jewish story, but a story that anyone can relate to,” she said. “It reflects the struggles of Ukrainian and Gaza refugees, the Israel-Gaza war, and the current resurgence of antisemitism.”
David added that while she would rather these stories not be so poignantly relevant right now, she hopes audiences can walk away with a better understanding of the impact of hate and why it ought to be avoided.
David’s next solo-performance, “The Pink Hulk,” on Nov. 15, will be even more personal to her, as it is a re-telling of David’s four battles with cancer. She was first diagnosed with lymphoma in 1998, overcame it, and was later diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014.
She would go on to beat cancer after diagnoses in 2018 and 2025, yet, all the victories did not make the fight much easier for her. However, she said that the inspiration she got from her family’s story was extremely helpful during her fight for survival, and subsequently inspired the people she has performed for.
“I want people to be inspired by my story,” she said. “I want to dispel the myth that cancer is a death sentence. You can lead a full life.”
David has performed both shows across the world at theaters and even some medical centers, winning various awards and inspiring numerous people and patients who may go through similar ordeals.
Tickets to “The Pink Hulk” are available at sparkleonstage.org starting at $15.
