GrooveLily is an American band known for their creative songwriting in different genres and popular musical plays. This band which was formed in late 90’s is based in New York City and it has formed songs in genres like jazz, rock, folk and show tune. The bandconsists of Valerie Vigoda and Brendan Milburn along with Gene Lewin.

The Founder

Val Vigoda is a true all-rounder who is a trained electric violinist, singer, song writer. Val is also a former Army lieutenant, and one of the founders of the band GrooveLily. She has performed in tours worldwide with Cyndi Lauper, Joe Jackson and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. After touring with her band, she started a solo live project, Just Getting Good.

She is a co-writer of many songs for Disney and the scores for ten stage musicals produced from La Jolla Playhouse to Off-Broadway.

She completed her studies in Princeton University. Apart from this, she is an excellent teacher too. She has experience in training students at Stanford University, Berklee College of Music and Emerson College.

She is an artist mentor who brings rock arrangements and high-octane performance energy to school orchestras across the nation. Val lives with her 12-year-old son Mose in Los Angeles.

Awards

1. Jonathan Larson Award (Excellence in Musical Theatre)
2. The LA Ovation Award (Best Musical)
3. The ASCAP Richard Rodgers Award

Collaborations

Valerie got into writing musicals with Milburn and then collaborated with many renowed production houses. They both got comfortable with writing as they believe it gives a huge emotional impact and satisfaction when it’s done perfectly. Groovelily’s numerous shows have been accepted regionally and internationally by audiences.

Our collaborators are two time Tony-winning book writers Rachel Sheinkin (spelling bee), and Joe DiPietro (MEMPHIS). Valerie, Brendan and Gene has played 150 gigs a year, across the country and also worked hard on a 100 days tour. Groovelily has its own signature style of doing theatre, with acting and singing right from their first musical, striking 12. This show gave them more followers as they gave a mind-blowing performance made it another successful show. Later, Groovelily entered the world of traditional musicals like sleeping beauty wakes. This show was another success story produced at McCarter Theatre, La Jolla and then in New York.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2006 was indeed one of the fun shows which had original music created by Groovelily. Milburn and Vigoda wrote for Disney’s production Toy story: The Musical. They wrote total seven musical for the same.

In 2002, a holiday musical Striking 12 which was performed by Groovelily was quite a fascinating show which engaged the audience into a concert style entertainment, according to a Washington Post Reviewer. It was a perfect blend of a cabaret act and chamber musical. Milburn & Vigoda collaborated with Rachel Sheinkin for writing book, music and lyrics. After years of concerts and tours worldwide, Groovelily took steps towards writing and performing a high-tech musical called Wheelhouse, which was premiered at TheatreWorks, June 6, 2012 in Silicon Valley. See more on Groovelily’s old website.