The Bakers Wife

What happens when the heart of a village suddenly goes missing? In The Baker’s Wife, the answer is a delicious blend of humor, romance, jealousy, community spirit, and unforgettable music.

Set in a charming French village in the 1930s, the Stephen Schwartz musical: The Baker’s Wife tells the story of Aimable, a baker who arrives in town with his young wife, Genevieve. As the villagers welcome their new baker, they soon discover that love, marriage, and small-town life can be far more complicated than they appear.

This production brings the village to life through an ensemble of distinctive characters, each with a story, an opinion, and a personality of their own. From the local café owners and the butcher to the teacher, the mayor, and the villagers who always seem to know everyone else’s business, the community provides a lively backdrop to the central love story. Adding a particularly colorful dimension to the production are the Mayor’s six nieces, each with her own personality and perspective. Their interactions bring additional humor, movement, and character to village life, creating an ensemble that is as entertaining as it is memorable.

Meet the Cast

The production features an outstanding company of local performers:

• Gene Wright as Aimable, the Baker
• Diane Baccaro as Genevieve, his wife
• France Lavin as Denise, the café owner
• Jon Handel as Claude, her husband
• Vinoo Vijay as M. Martine, the teacher
• Katherine Conrad as Therese
• Michael Combs as Pierre
• Jim Nybakken as Doumergue
• Kevin McCoy as Antoine, the village drunk
• Sean Dilweg as Barnaby, the butcher
• Judi Johnson as Hortense, his wife
• Jean Gallagher as M. le Cure
• John Carlson as M. le Marquis, the mayor
• Beverley Fagundes as Celine, one of the Mayor’s nieces
• Charmaine Burrell as Nicole, one of the Mayor’s nieces
• Karen Russell as Colette, one of the Mayor’s nieces
• Chanee Vijay as Brigette, one of the Mayor’s nieces
• June Wilson as Babette, one of the Mayor’s nieces
• David Orrin Smith as Dominique, the Mayor’s handyman
• Leif Rasmusen as Phillippe, Dominique’s friend
• Lilly Pasternek as Juliette
• Linda Bostwick as Delphine
• Thomas Rippey as Henri
• Camille Campbell as Amelie
• Cheyenne Henderson as Chloe

Together, this talented company creates the bustling village at the center of the story, where everyday routines, personal ambitions, and romantic complications collide.

Join Gualala Arts Theater for The Baker’s Wife on one of the following dates:

• Friday, February 26, 2027 — 7 PM
• Saturday, February 27, 2027 — 7 PM
• Sunday, February 28, 2027 — 2 PM
• Friday, March 5, 2027 — 7 PM
• Saturday, March 6, 2027 — 7 PM
• Sunday, March 7, 2027 — 2 PM

Come for the music. Stay for the characters. And discover what happens when the village loses its baker’s wife.