Jennifer Russo

In the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, variety shows were all the rage. A time-honored form of entertainment, these shows would bring together a great mix of performances that ranged anywhere from music and dance to comedy and magic. These diverse acts offered something for every taste and became a great pastime for audiences of all ages.

Jim Rice and Valerie Sneade-Roy, who are renowned in the Worcester area and beyond for their stellar performances of nearly every style of music from every decade, have been working together for over 30 years. They fuse together raw talent, high energy, humor, and a true understanding of each other into everything they do. Valerie kids around that everyone assumes they are married. They aren’t, but the musical chemistry is undeniable for anyone that watches them perform.

Valerie didn’t even really know she could sing until tenth grade, when her friend Donald discovered her and helped arrange performances at local parties. Sadly, Donald passed away early in his life, but Val gives him full credit for motivating her to stick with music and to not only create a legacy of her own but honor his as well. She has a wide vocal range and has created and operated two successful production companies and has performed in almost every state, including at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Jim is a singer and pianist that has an impressive body of work, directing a number of shows, conducting the European tour of Ken Hill’s Phantom of the Opera, and accompanying a plethora of artists throughout his career, including many Tony Award winners. His arrangements have been performed by orchestras across the country, and he is the resident music director of the Arctic Playhouse in Warwick, RI.

Together, they are The Jim and Val Show and are keeping the variety show tradition alive with a 3-show series that they are calling the “Second Saturdays Series”, held at Apple Tree Arts in Grafton. Reeling from the success of the first-in-series October performance, Thanks for the Mammaries featuring Ida Zecco, they are now gearing up for shows in November and December.

The November show is an original idea the two came up with, called I’m a Baby Boomer’s Baby, which pays tribute to songs that were loved by Baby Boomers and Generation X (1960’s and 1970’s), and were recorded to vinyl because that was the option then. Being ten years apart in age, Jim and Val thought it would be a fun idea to bring both generations’ perspectives to the show. The audience can expect some upbeat humor, but also some topics that warrant discussion.

“Between us, we know thousands of songs, because we grew up listening to what our parents did, and then found things on our own along the way. We thought the dynamic between these two generations would make for a great show,” Val shares.

“Personally, as a Gen X’er, I stand on the shoulders of my mother’s generation. My grandmother made half of a man’s salary and couldn’t have her name on a mortgage, so my mom really engrained it into me to not ever have to rely on someone else. I am so grateful for that. It has made me very independent.”

And that independence and drive came in handy when the pandemic hit. Having just started planning a series of shows when the world was turned on its head, they refused to give up hope. Applying for an OPERA grant, they were able to offer a series of shows at Mechanic’s Hall to help people get out there again. This year, they took their time finding the perfect venue for their new series and found it right in Val’s hometown at Apple Tree Arts.

“When we walked in and did a tour, it was like meeting the ‘one’ – we both just knew right away that this was the place for the shows,” says Val.

In December, they have a holiday-themed show planned called Naughty AND Nice, featuring friend and professional voice-over artist, Jennifer Antkowiak. The show will feature a seasonal, wintery mix of songs, and some unexpected comedy.

“She is a wonderful singer and kindred spirit – with a really great knack for infusing stories and humor into her performances. She has this luxurious, gooey, approachable voice and we thought of her immediately for this one,” Val tells Pulse.

Every show they plan has a purpose and they put a great deal of thought into what their audience would like to see and hear. Both Val and Jim believe that a performance isn’t about the artist, but about the people listening to them. 

“We do this to serve other people, and to bring them happiness and enjoyment. We are all about feel-good moments where people can take their mind off their regular day,” Val shares.

“Working with a new venue is always exciting, but this hits home in a different way. We work all over the place, and it is so nice to be doing something in and for our own community where we are from. After this series, we hope to continue working with Apple Tree Arts,” she tells us.

Apple Tree Arts is located at One Grafton Common in Grafton, MA. Check out the next two shows in the Second Saturday Series! I’m a Baby Boomer’s Baby hits the stage on Saturday, November 9^th and Naughty AND Nice will be performed on Saturday, December 14^th. Both shows kick off at 7:30 PM. Tickets are only $29 and can be purchased at www.ValerieInConcert.com or by calling 828-702-8122.