The Cast of August: Osage County
Family.
Tracy Letts on writing August: Osage County has said “My play is a family story.” And it is true that when working on a play, those involved do become family over the weeks of rehearsals and performances. When casting a play, a director is often rolling the dice on whether or not personalities will mesh. Just like real-life families, there is the potential for conflict. However, this cast, this family, has been one of the best. Working together, learning together, laughing together, growing together…. It’s what makes all the hard work worth every moment. —June Alane Reif, Director
Marty Kassman (Beverly Weston) is excited to perform in live theater again after a very long break. An appellate lawyer and former journalist, Marty lived and worked in San Francisco for 30 years before moving to Napa in 2018. Many moons ago, he appeared onstage as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Mr. Brownlow in Oliver!, and a priest in Hernando de Soto, Conquistador, a short-lived summer amphitheater attraction in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Anna Li (Johnna Monevata) began her career in post-production video while a resident of Michigan, earning 3 Telly Awards and 6 Aegis Awards. A chance meeting with a talent agent inspired her to try acting. While no stranger to the art of storytelling, she found it refreshing, fun and therapeutic to immerse herself in an imaginary life and still be able to revert back to her own simple reality. She has enjoyed roles in film and television along with a few opportunities in local theater. (Resolving Hedda, Wearing of the Greens, Remember Isobel, The Girl from Beacon Hill, Driven to Kill) This is Anna’s 2nd play with Valley Players.
Randi Storm (Violet Weston) always dreamed of being an actress as a little girl, but low self-esteem got in her way until she reignited her passion in her 40’s. Randi, (yes, her real name), has been known to dance, (not sing!!!) and act in community theater since 1997 playing roles such as a serial killer nun, a psychic cleaning lady, a grandmother, and a stripper, with many of her favorite performances being with Valley Players. This summer she is thrilled to reprise the role of Roxy in the full-length production of Growing Old WithOUT Grace. Learn more about the play at: https://bit.ly/WithOutGrace.
Georgia Taylor (Ivy Weston) is making her second appearance in a Valley Players production, having made her debut last year in Romantic Fools. A native of the United Kingdom, Georgia moved to the Napa Valley in 2010 to work in the wine industry and has never looked back!
Dan Monez (Charlie Aiken) is happy to be back on stage with Valley Players. His last role was Hank in the 2020 production of Tin Woman. Dan has performed in over 65 plays and musicals throughout the North and East Bay. Some favorite roles include Cheswick in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Sitting Bull in Annie Get Your Gun, and Herr Schultz in Cabaret. He will be performing next as Arvide in Sonoma Arts Live’s production of Guys and Dolls this July. Dan has served as President of both Dreamweavers and Lucky Penny theaters in Napa and thanks his wife, Diana, for supporting his theater habit.
Nancy Heine (Mattie Fae Aiken) is a long time Napa resident who is new to Valley Players. Her previous work includes several independent films, including Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for Planned Parenthood and The Snake, a romantic comedy. While living in England she also did voice overs.
Rhonda Bowen (Barbara Fordham) has been involved on and off stage with Valley Players since 2018. And, while acting in other North Bay productions, she has come to consider Valley Players “home.” This is her sixth time performing with Valley Players, including appearances in Hardball, Farce of Habit, and The Old Friends.
Richard Pallaziol (Bill Fordham) studied theatre at CSU Long Beach and the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. As actor, director, dancer, and fight choreographer during the past fifty years he has worked in over 400 shows from San Diego to Michigan. Locally, he has performed for Marin Shakespeare, Cinnabar Theatre, and Shakespeare Napa Valley. He has performed in many Valley Players productions, most recently in Resolving Hedda.
Kira Tavakoli (Jean Fordham) is a senior at Vintage High School who has enjoyed acting her whole life. She’s played many roles through the years such as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Terry in Stage Door. She hopes on moving to SoCal after high school and pursuing a career involved in music and film. She’s loved being a part of this show and is blown away by everyone’s talent. She truly believes she’s never laughed harder than when rehearsing with this cast. And she hopes you enjoy the show just as much as she’s loved participating in it.
Christina Julian (Karen Weston) loves to escape reality onstage and behind her keyboard as an author, playwright, and performer. She’s performed throughout the valley in God of Carnage, Sylvia, Black Tie, The Dining Room, Farce of Habit, Women in Jeopardy, and more! Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Bohemian, North Bay Biz magazine, and within the pages of her debut novel, The Dating Bender. Most recently she produced her one-act play, Growing Old WithOUT Grace, for Up Valley audiences, with the full-length play coming this summer. Learn more about the production and Christina at: https://bit.ly/WithOutGrace.
Craig Rekdahl (Steve Heidebrecht) was first inspired to hit the stage after seeing Grease on the big screen as a kid. He actualized the dream when he joined the Children’s Theatre Company in Napa where he did numerous plays including Grease in the role of Vince Fontane. Life would take different turns and acting fell to the wayside until Craig reignited his passion a decade ago when he began performing throughout the valley, in productions with Lucky Penny in Napa, and more recently with Valley Players in Farce of Habit, where he may or may not have danced the can-can in women’s undergarments.
Michael Hunter (Little Charles Aiken) previously appeared as Spike in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike with Valley Players. Michael is very excited to play a role in this show which had been on his bucket list of shows to do. Michael has also tread the boards at Spreckels Theater Company, 6th Street Playhouse, the Raven Theater and Marin Musical Theatre Company’s. Michael will be next be seen in the Raven Players production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat this summer.
Scott Slagle (Sheriff Deon Gilbeau) is thrilled to be working with Valley Players for the first time! A longtime Solano County resident, Scott has really enjoyed being involved with local theater companies in Solano and Napa counties over the last 25 years or so. Favorite roles include SCT: Cookie McGee, Nice Work If You Can Get It; Charlemagne, Pippin; Herr Schultz, Cabaret; BAS: Teddy, Arsenic & Old Lace; Uncle Fester, The Addams Family; Baron Bomburst, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; MST: Ladislav Sipos, She Loves Me; Prof Marvel/Oz, The Wizard of Oz; Mayor Shinn, The Music Man; and Herbie, Gypsy.