One of the Bay Area’s favorite entertainers, Val Diamond, returns to the Napa Valley on Monday night to serenade fans gathered at Copia.

Star of San Francisco’s long-running “Beach Blanket Babylon,” Diamond provides plenty of sass and sizzle in the cabaret shows that she performs in the Bay Area on a relatively infrequent basis. It’s been a year since she performed for a Napa Valley audience.

Diamond is slated to return to Copia at 8 p.m. Monday with a showcase of Broadway hits, torch songs and ballads.

Backed by a quartet that includes her husband, Steve Salgo, on trumpet, and led by pianist/arranger Ross Gualco, Diamond is scheduled to perform material that ranges from the great American songbook to songs of renown from her “Beach Blanket Babylon” days.

Born in Oakland and raised in Castro Valley, Diamond was first attracted to show business as a young girl.

“When I was very young I wanted to be a comedian,” she readily admits. “Specifically, I wanted to be one of the Smothers Brothers.

“I was very blessed. I knew from an early age where my heart wanted to go. It wasn't that I wanted to be famous. It was doing the work. I wanted to be a serious actress when I was younger. I wanted to go to Juilliard (in New York City) or American Conservatory Theatre (in San Francisco).

“But I always took the path of least resistance. I don't believe life has to be really difficult. Maybe I could have had more had I fought. But I wouldn't be as happy inside.”

Tickets for her Copia show are $30 and can be reserved by calling 259-1600 or online at www.copia.org.