The Cast of Small Mouth Sounds

Bess Wohl’s play about six characters who are attending a silent retreat, contains almost no dialogue, but it speaks volumes. It is a satire, but it treats its subject with respect. It is a comedy, but it slowly reveals each individual’s tragedy. In short, “Small Mouth Sounds” is a remarkable work of theater.

Fernando Espinoza (Ned) started his theater career backstage as a stage manager for Napa Valley College. As the years progressed, he decided he wanted to be on the other side of the curtain. Fernando has been in productions of Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare Napa Valley’s Shakespeare Walk, and most recently as Ariel in Es Una Vida Maravillosa. Fernando is very excited to be a part of Small Mouth Sounds and hopes you enjoy this as much as he does!

Bridget Folan (Alicia) is thrilled to be performing with Valley Players, again! You may have seen her in Tin Woman, Resolving Hedda, in one of the hilarious comedies, Ladies’ Briefs or Romantic Fools as well as other plays and musicals in the Valley. She is a Bay Area native, who fell in love with acting at the age of 12, playing her most beloved role of Anne Frank. While not on stage, she works as a flight attendant. Her favorite layovers are anything with a warm, sandy beach!

Bonnie Gamble‘s (Teacher) love of musical theatre as a child led her to study theatre at UC Berkeley where she received her BA in 1975. While studying, she performed in musicals and plays in the East Bay and San Francisco. After retiring from her business career a few years ago, she restarted her acting journey in North Bay theatres, performing in plays and musicals. She has been privileged to work with Valley Players, starting with their first company production, Anton in Show Business, where she played Wiki-witch, a cherished part. She has also participated in two of their short play programs. It is Bonnie’s honor to perform in this innovative play with this talented cast and amazing director. Bonnie thanks her family and friends for their undying support.

Amy Hall (Judy) is thrilled to be back on stage after quite a long break. Debuting as Little Bell in a Christmas pageant at age 10, she went on to stage roles throughout junior high, high school, and college. She dabbled in voiceover in her twenties, but since then her main performances have been teaching yoga, and bossing lawyers around in her day job as a trial consultant.

Linda Howard (Joan) came to Northern California from Chicago in 1985 and has been involved in local theater ever since. She has performed in productions with Valley Players, Napa Valley College, Dreamweavers, The White Barn, Solano Community College, Fairfield Community Theater, Left-Hand Theater Company, On the Fringe, and others. Some of her favorite roles include Masha in Vanya, Sonia, Masha & Spike, Annette in God of Carnage, Rona Lisa Peretti in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Mrs. Frank in Diary of Anne Frank. She is retired after 30 years as a music therapist and has been a member of the local Irish band, Kith & Kin, for over 25 years.

Luis Marks (Rodney) is happy to make his first appearance onstage with Valley Players. He first found his passion for performing in high school after being cast in Romeo and Juliet. He then performed in Dracula as Norbert Briggs. Luis has also done various voiceover work. He hopes you enjoy the show and hopes to be onstage in front of you again very soon!

Richard Pallaziol (Jan) studied theatre at CSU Long Beach and the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. As an actor, director, dancer, and fight choreographer during the past fifty years, he has worked in over 400 shows from San Diego to Michigan. He has performed in many Valley Players productions, and most recently directed Men On Boats. This summer he will be performing as Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing at his second-favorite theatre – Marin Shakespeare Company.