Antonia Allegra is glad to join the UpStage Napa Valley Players as Maria/Mary in a scene from Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” This is her first performance with the group, though she is no stranger to the stage. Her grandparents featured a family-sized Shakespearean theater on the top floor of their residence in San Francisco in the early 1900s. Speech & drama was her major at the University at Santa Clara, where she played in many musicals and dramas. From 1965-‘69, Toni directed and acted for Children’s Theater in Davis, CA, a favorite role being the witch in “Hansel and Gretel.” She enjoys public speaking, Readers’ Theater with Rianda House in St. Helena, writing and the culinary world, which she sees as a form of “delicious staging.”
Bruce A. Miroglio is honored to have appeared in many past performances with UpStage Napa Valley. He has also appeared on screen and done voice-over work for a variety of productions. Bruce loves the creativity of stage work and the instant feedback from the other actors and audience. He relishes the opportunity to get back in front of an audience post-COVID. Statement about “12th Night”-Any chance for an actor to work with the bard's nuanced language is a treat. Though the language does not translate easily to modern usage, the fact that an actor is repeating the exact same words that have been spoken on stage for over 400 years is mind boggling. Sir Toby is one of those cantankerous, really odious roles that seems almost abhorrent, until you recognize he is both fictional and caricatured. He is fun to play and in this scene is truly humorous to experience. Bruce is a second generation native born St. Helenan, a lawyer in private practice and an ordained minister as a deacon at St. Helena Catholic Church. He and his wife Mary have been married 38 years, have 5 children and 12 grandchildren, and counting.
After a 2 year hiatus to recharge his batteries, Rob could not stay away from the theater any longer and is proud to be back with UpStage Napa Valley for this production. Rob has always wanted to be cast in a Shakespeare role, and playing Sir Andrew is a dream come true. Past favorite roles have been Terrence in "Handle With Care" and Father Flynn in “Doubt”, both here with UpStage Napa Valley. Rob has also played the Steward in "Into The Woods" at Lucky Penny Productions, Captain Treville in "The Three Musketeers" at Napa Valley Conservatory Theater and the role of Frank in "Mere Mortals" for Valley Players. Rob has also been seen in the Netflix original series, "13 Reasons Why".
