Val Diamond (born 1951) is a stage performer and San Francisco icon.
She is best known for her role in the stage musical, Beach Blanket
Babylon.Diamond grew up in Castro Valley, California, the daughter of
Harold and Lilly. Her father is Jewish and her mother is an Italian
immigrant. She began her acting career in high school, playing Medea
in Medea and Anna in The King and I. After high school, she performed
with a rock band, touring the country from 1970 to 1978.After Diamond
tired of life on the road, her friend, Shelly Werk, convinced her to
audition for Beach Blanket Babylon. Werk was already a cast member.
Steve Silver, the creator of the show, wanted Diamond despite the
objections of the dance captain. Diamond speculates, "I didn't look
like most of the people who were in the show. I was heavyset and I
think that bothered them 'cause there was a lot of dancing for me. But
I can dance. Women that aren't Twiggy-thin can still dance."Diamond
had her first of over 10,000 performances in Beach Blanket Babylon on
January 17, 1979. Diamond has played numerous roles in the show. She
is best known for singing San Francisco at the end of the show wearing
a tremendous hat depicting numerous San Francisco landmarks. In 1983,
she performed at Davies Symphony Hall for Queen Elizabeth II.
She is best known for her role in the stage musical, Beach Blanket
Babylon.Diamond grew up in Castro Valley, California, the daughter of
Harold and Lilly. Her father is Jewish and her mother is an Italian
immigrant. She began her acting career in high school, playing Medea
in Medea and Anna in The King and I. After high school, she performed
with a rock band, touring the country from 1970 to 1978.After Diamond
tired of life on the road, her friend, Shelly Werk, convinced her to
audition for Beach Blanket Babylon. Werk was already a cast member.
Steve Silver, the creator of the show, wanted Diamond despite the
objections of the dance captain. Diamond speculates, "I didn't look
like most of the people who were in the show. I was heavyset and I
think that bothered them 'cause there was a lot of dancing for me. But
I can dance. Women that aren't Twiggy-thin can still dance."Diamond
had her first of over 10,000 performances in Beach Blanket Babylon on
January 17, 1979. Diamond has played numerous roles in the show. She
is best known for singing San Francisco at the end of the show wearing
a tremendous hat depicting numerous San Francisco landmarks. In 1983,
she performed at Davies Symphony Hall for Queen Elizabeth II.
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