Gualala Arts Promoting public interest and participation in the arts since 1961
Gualala Arts Theater invites audiences to step into a charming French village filled with romance, humor, jealousy, music, and plenty of neighbors who know everyone else’s business when The Baker’s Wife takes the stage in February and March 2027.
With a book by Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, The Baker’s Wife is based on the film La Femme de Boulanger by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono. The Gualala Arts Theater production is directed and choreographed by Tony Salamone, with musical direction by Sue Bohlin and Don Krieger.
Set in a small French village in the 1930s, The Baker’s Wife tells the story of Aimable, a baker who arrives in town with his young wife, Genevieve. The villagers enthusiastically welcome their new baker but soon discover that love, marriage, and small-town life can be far more complicated than they appear.
At the heart of the musical is a story about love and community, surrounded by a colorful collection of villagers, each with a story, opinion, and personality of their own. Café owners, a butcher, a teacher, a mayor, and an assortment of neighbors create the lively village surrounding Aimable and Genevieve. The Mayor’s nieces add even more humor, movement, and personality to village life.
Leading the cast are Gene Wright as Aimable, the Baker, and Diane Baccaro as Genevieve. The company also includes France Lavin as Denise; Jon Handel as Claude; Vinoo Vijay as M. Martine; Katherine Conrad as Therese; Michael Combs as Pierre; Jim Nybakken as Doumergue; Kevin McCoy as Antoine; Sean Dilweg as Barnaby; Judi Johnson as Hortense; Jean Gallagher as M. le Cure; and John Carlson as M. le Marquis.
Beverley Fagundes, Charmaine Burrell, Karen Russell, Chanee Vijay, and June Wilson portray the Mayor’s nieces Celine, Nicole, Colette, Brigette, and Babette. Rounding out the cast are David Orrin Smith as Dominique, Leif Rasmusen as Phillippe, Lilly Pasternek as Juliette, Linda Bostwick as Delphine, Thomas Rippey as Henri, Camille Campbell as Amelie, and Cheyenne Henderson as Chloe.
Together, the cast brings to life a bustling village where everyday routines, strong personalities, personal ambitions, and romantic complications collide, reminding audiences that when one person’s heart is broken, an entire community can feel the consequences.
The Baker’s Wife will be presented Friday and Saturday, February 26 and 27, at 7 p.m.; Sunday, February 28, at 2 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, March 5 and 6, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 7, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance for General Admission, plus $5 day of can be purchased at Gualala Arts, the Dolphin Gallery and online at GualalaArts.org. $100 Sponsor Ticket with select seating are available online only