The Cast of The Women
Ms. Luce, known for her sharp wit, captured the essence and irony of The Women—an all-female cast dissecting their relationships with men—with one clever line:
“The Women has no men in it, but it’s all about them.” – Clare Boothe Luce
Sarah Beth Abernathy (Miriam Aarons, April 11, 12 & 13) performed as a youth in the musicals: The King and I, Bye Bye Birdie, Peter Pan, and she also starred as Annie. She is a Women’s Roller Derby champion and boasts an avatar of her likeness in Nintendo Wii’s Jam City Rollergirls. She was the lead vocalist in the psychedelic-rock band The 21st Century Foxes. She returned to the stage in 2024 at Upstage Napa Valley’s Playfest, starring as Amelia Earhart in Joyride. This marks her debut with Valley Players and she would like to thank Rhonda, June, Craig, and the crew. She is honored to be one of The Women!
Debbie Baumann (Jane/3rd Sales Woman/2nd Girl) has been enjoying her roles on stage and behind the scenes for many years. Her recent role in Men on Boats as Hall is top of her list. Debbie’s fascination for the theater has been alive since her Mom took her to her first play, Hair, in San Francisco in the 70’s. Years later she took her daughter April to see Hair and since then they have both been involved in community theater together. This cast rocks! Thanks to Valley Players and their vision to bring this play to life.
Lynda Hyland Burris (Countess de Lage) has been acting all her life, beginning in third grade when she portrayed The Captain of the ”Germies,” where she was killed on stage by the Captain of the “ Soapies”. Following that great success, Lynda performed in college and community theatre, acting in a variety of roles, from Shakespeare to Camus. Lynda returned to the Valley in 2010. She connected with the arts community here in Napa as a writer, and now returns to her great love, the theater. I dedicate my performance to my big brother, Tom, my rock and my coach. Love you, Bro.
“The Women” by Clare Boothe Luce
Janet Duhé (Euphie/Miss Fordyce/Nurse/Sadie), a seasoned actor and singer from London, UK, is thrilled to be a part of Valley Players’ The Women, and previously the Summer Staged Reading Series. She has performed in numerous shows, Solano Theatre, plays, Benicia Theatre, musicals, My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls, character ballet The Nutcracker, and two operas Carmen and La Traviata, around the Bay Area for over 40 years. Today she is retired, happily living in American Canyon with her husband, Phil.
Bridget Folan (Crystal Allen) is so excited to perform in The Women, with Valley Players! A Bay Area native, she majored in Drama at Cañada College, and studied acting at A.C.T. and Berkeley Rep. She performed in many Bay Area productions, including Comedies, Dramas and Shakespeare. At Valley Players you may have seen her in Tin Woman, Ladies Briefs, Romantic Fools, Resolving Hedda or Small Mouth Sounds. She hopes you will enjoy the show!
Bonnie Gamble (1st Fitter/Maggie/Dowager) studied theatre at UC Berkeley where she received her Bachelors. While studying, she performed in musicals and plays in the East Bay and San Francisco. After retiring from her business career in 2008, she restarted her acting journey in the North Bay, performing in plays and musicals. She has been blessed to be in several Valley Players productions over the years and it is her honor to perform in this play with such talented female actors and directors. Bonnie thanks the Valley Players production team, and her family and friends for their support.
Courtney Harris (1st Hairdresser/Model/Helene/Debutante) is a former theatre kid. Thank you Valley Players for the opportunity to play!
Lauren Kelley (Mary Haines) This is Lauren’s third performance with Valley Players. Lauren is always looking for challenging roles that help to hone her craft. With roles like Susan Hendrix, in Wait Until Dark & Angela, in her first one woman show, Natural Shocks. She’d like to thank her directors Rhonda and June for the opportunity to play. And to her friends & family for the continued support of her passion. And lastly, thank YOU, the audience, grateful for your attendance and the opportunity to entertain you. For news & representation visit www.lauren-kelley.com.
Cora Lesti (Little Mary) is the youngest aspiring actress with the Valley Players group. Her theater background started with singing lessons and watching her father perform that led her to a few solo roles in the St. John’s musicals including: Newsies, Anastasia, and Aladdin. Her passion of being on stage led her to seek further experiences in acting and trying out for deeper roles. In her free time, you will find her with head phones on singing and dancing in her room. She also loves art and hanging out with her friends.
Stacey Loew (Voice/2nd Saleswoman/Miss Watts/1st Woman) has been acting, directing, producing and working in just about every area of theatre for more than 40 years. In fact, she runs her own theatre company, Bay Area Stage Productions in Vallejo. Stacey is thrilled to be premiering with Valley Players in this production, and focusing solely on the art of acting – a rarity for her. Favorite acting roles include Ethel in On Golden Pond, Grandma in The Addams Family Musical, Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Maggie in The Man Who Came to Dinner and, Aunt Queenie in Bell, Book & Candle.
Mellene Miller (Sylvia Fowler) is excited to be back on stage after a long absence and is truly grateful to Valley Players for this opportunity. Some of her most cherished roles include Desiree in A Little Night Music (1992 & 2001), Judith in Hay Fever (1997) and Anna in The Merry Widow (1994). Outside of acting, Mellene enjoys cooking, gardening, horseback riding, and spending time with friends and family (and two Standard Poodles named George and Gracie!). She would especially like to thank her husband, Karl, for his unwavering support.
Robyn Myers (Princess Tamara/Instructress/1st Girl) makes her theatrical debut in Valley Players production of The Women. Robyn’s heartfelt gratitude goes out to directors Rhonda Bowen and June Alane Reif. She currently studies with L.A. acting coach, Patrick Malone/ The Actors Spot and thanks him for always calling B.S. When not rehearsing lines, Robyn can be found, sticks in hand, rocking out behind her drum kit.
Esmé Nicolson-Singh (Edith Potter) is honored to be spending another year with Valley Players! She fell in love with singing and acting at a young age, attending productions with her mother, a theatre critic/artist. She attended a performing and fine arts school, singing as a solo performer and writing and performing in plays, before moving to Napa to pursue a pastry arts degree. She has performed roles throughout the years in A Doll’s House, Once on This Island, Little Shop of Horrors, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, Men on Boats and most recently in Ripcord by David Lindsay-Abaire.
Megan Palagi (Miriam Aarons, April 4, 5 & 6, 18, 19 & 20) is returning to the stage after nine years. In that time, she has been active behind the scenes as a director, pursued a passion for aerial arts, and become a mother. Favorite past onstage credits include Honey in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Lydia in Beetlejuice Live! and Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Megan is grateful for the opportunity to perform again and for the support of the cast, crew, and loved ones.
Cata Parkhurst (Olga/2nd Salesgirl/Girl in Distress) is delighted to be performing with Valley Players once again. A graduate of the University of Denver, B.A. in Theatre, Cata has appeared in VP’s various Summer Staged Reading Series, and productions that include: Hardball, Dixie Swim Club, 8 x 10’s, plus three Napa Valley Follies shows at the Lincoln Theatre. She has also appeared in original one-act plays with Upstage Napa Valley. Additionally, she appeared in over 100 TV commercials in Honolulu, Hawaii. Past credits included: The Marriage-Go-Round, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, West Side Story, The Boyfriend, Lion in Winter, The Devils, and Kiss Me Kate.
Kathleen Puntillo (Lucy/Pedicurist/1st Salesgirl/2nd Woman) is delighted to be working with Valley Players. After a fulfilling career as a nurse researcher and educator, she is pursuing her bucket list wish to act. She thanks Richard Pallaziol and June Alane Reif for offering acting classes through Valley Players, which got things started. Kathleen has performed in the company’s Staged Readings over the past two summers. She is grateful for her husband, Richard’s, support every step of the way.
Dorothea Rastegar (Mrs. Morehead) is very pleased to be celebrating her 60th year in theater doing her first play with Valley Players. Since receiving her Dramatic Art degree from Cal, she has acted and directed at many theaters around the Bay Area and beyond. Favorite roles include Raina in Arms and The Man, Casewell in Mousetrap, Dotty in Noises Off, nine different characters in The Dining Room, and Barbara in The Fitting Room. She especially enjoyed acting in classic radio dramas such as Sorry, Wrong Number and War of the Worlds. Her day job is accounting manager for an environmental testing lab.
Jennifer Rastegar (2nd Hairdresser/1st Saleswoman/Miss Trimmerback/Cigarettes) is delighted to be making her Valley Players debut. She was most recently Trudy in Bay Area Stage’s Social Security and Ruth in Benicia Theater’s Blithe Spirit. Her favorite roles include Libby in I Ought to be in Pictures, Jenny in Shenandoah and Daisy in Biloxi Blues. In real life she is a home health occupational therapist and lives with her husband, three dogs, and one cat.
Audrey Schultz (Peggy Day) is a local Bay Area actor based in Berkeley, California— and is excited to be in this wonderful production! Recent credits include Siduri in The Epic of Gilgamesh with Stray Dog Theater Co, Natalya in The Marriage Proposal with Untitled Theater Company, Cut in Daughters of Leda at Zellerbach Playhouse, and Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing with Barestage Productions. She has a BA in Theatre and Performance Studies from UC Berkeley, where she put emphasis into acting. Audrey enjoys making sense of difficult language, and when not performing, loves to write and direct when she can. IG: @aschu
Paige Whitney (Nancy Blake) is thrilled to be returning to Valley Players. Some of her favorite roles include Sibyl in Private Lives (Pinole Community Players), Sammy in The Tin Woman (Valley Players), and Steffy in You Ought To Be In Pictures (Bay Area Stage). When she’s not onstage she enjoys writing poetry, working on her numerous committees for El Camino Health where she works as a proud nurse, being a mom, and ballroom dance. Many thanks to the cast, crew and directors. Enjoy the show!
