Valley Players champion mature women and their untold stories
By Tim Carl
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — While the theatrical world often focuses on youth and glamour, one theater group in the Napa Valley has chosen an alternative route. Established in 2016, Valley Players center on providing significant roles for women over 40, a group frequently neglected both on and off the stage.
Following the closure of renowned theater groups in the region, such as the Napa Valley Playhouse and Dream Weavers, a collective of like-minded locals embarked on a new initiative to rejuvenate community theater in the area.
"There was a genuine opportunity to redefine what it meant to have a theater group at that time," said June Alane Reif, co-founder and current artistic director of Valley Players. "We wanted to do it the right way, creating a venue to enable our local creative community to flourish and present high-quality work."
Although women over 40 often face restricted chances to see their lives and experiences reflected onstage, Valley Players seek to alter this perspective by highlighting stories that are often untold. Part of this effort includes securing a venue to exhibit their productions that is financially feasible.
"Venues are costly, so it's critical that local entities such as CrossWalk Church in Napa are accommodating us by offering their space at a cost that suits a not-for-profit organization like ours," said Debbie Baumann, co-founder of Valley Players. "They've been generous and view this as furthering their mission to serve the community, I think."
The Valley Players group is devoted to producing both classic and modern genres, firmly believing in engaging women in various roles, such as writing, directing, designing and more. The group's approach to theater is comprehensive, striving to include as many women as possible in live theatrical productions.
"Our goal is to present works with meaningful roles for women over 40, but that doesn't exclude excellent opportunities for others," Reif said. "Also, our group, while fostering a relaxed atmosphere, maintains a high standard for quality."
The community recently glimpsed the group's dedication to theater during a staged reading of “Taken” by Susan Jackson and “For the Love of a Good Man” by JS Jacklin at the CrossWalk Community Church. This event was a blend of actors and spectators. Though entrance was complimentary, a $10 donation was recommended to back the cause, and dozens of individuals attended.
"We are a community theater," Baumann said. "That includes staged readings where individuals can observe the transformation from script to production. The enjoyable aspect is that the audience actively engages."
Richard Pallaziol, the evening's director and the board of directors' secretary, addressed the crowd before the reading.
"You are here to participate in the continuous development of this play," Pallaziol said. "As actors we strive to personify the playwright's vision, but each performer brings their interpretation to every role. The audience, however, turns our performance into art. It doesn't genuinely come alive until witnessed through your eyes."
Following his introduction, the reading began, narrated by Reif. Each scene materialized with the actors subtly lit as they stood at lecterns, conveying each line with emotion and intent, captivating the audience's attention and making them an integral part of the evolving experience.
For theater enthusiasts in Napa Valley and beyond, Valley Players provide more than mere amusement; they offer an inclusive community experience. Their mission underscores the significance of representing mature women in theater and vocalizing their experiences and narratives to explore and amplify varied voices and viewpoints.
Valley Players is soliciting submissions for its summer 2024 Staged Reading Series, which will span at least four weekends with one to two performances nightly. They are seeking short, one-act and full-length plays, particularly original, unproduced works that feature strong roles for women over 40 from Northern California playwrights. They will not consider musical submissions. While they welcome all plays, those meeting the outlined criteria may have higher chances of selection. The deadline for entries is Nov. 1, 2023.
Tim Carl is a Napa Valley based photojournalist.