About

Biography

Maryalice “Top” Rubins-Topoleski is the epitome of a modern day Renaissance Woman.  Driven by the pursuit of acquiring knowledge and being a well rounded individual, she is an accomplished actor, artist, chef, dancer, director, educator, photographer, and writer.  Maryalice was named "2014's Entertainer of the Year" by Bucks Happening Magazine. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies and Theater from Kean University in Union, NJ and is a member of the National Theater Honor Society, Alpha Psi Omega. In 2008, her research paper on “The Effects of Television on Homosexuality Through The Cultivation Theory” was selected to represent the school at the New Jersey Communication Association Conference. Top continues to do research in the communications field particularly in the study of Kinesics and in the Cultivation Theory.

In 2009, she developed and taught daily performance classes in; Physical and Verbal comedy, beginning and advanced acting, dance, performance art, Shakespeare, stage combat, and technical theater for Linden’s 21st Century LCC, which provides academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. She also served as the Director of Performing Arts for Timberlane Middle School in Pennington, NJ during 2010-2012. Currently, she is presiding as the President of the Board of Directors at The ActorsNET of Bucks County.

​

Her background is in dance as well as Technical Theater and has done freelance technical work for the Strand Theater of Lakewood, Union County Performing Arts Center, Millstone Performing Arts Center, Langhorne Players, and many off Broadway venues. Over the years she has had the privilege to work with many performers such as the late George Carlin, Carlos Mencia, Alice Cooper, Taylor Swift, James Taylor, The Irish Tenors, The Strawbs, Richie Blackmore, Boyz II Men, and many others. 

Recently, Top along with her creative partner, Charlotte Kirkby, co-authored a reimagined version of Oscar Wilde’s comedic masterpiece of blackmail and corruption An Ideal Husband. The pair illustrated how Wilde’s world of arched eyebrows and gossip blend beautifully with D.C.’s world of politics and scandal. Proving that the machinations of sex, politics, money and power flow as lavishly in the 1960s as they did at the turn of the century. In addition to adapting the script, Top also served as the production's director and set designer.

​

Other directorial credits include Becky Shaw for Langhorne Players, The Importance of Being Earnest, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Cheaper by the Dozen for ActorsNET, and The Wizard of Oz and Bugsy Malone for Timberlane Middle School.  She has choreographed numerous shows including Meet Me in St. Louis, Midsummer Nights Dream, Man of LaMancha, Wizard of Oz, Bugsy Malone, A Man Who Bought a Country, Guys and Dolls, Hello, Dolly, Suessical, Annie, and Mary Poppins. 

​

She has also performed in over 50 different productions throughout her career some of her favorite roles include Marie (Is He Dead?), Julia (Lend Me a Tenor), Meg (Leading Ladies), Trisha (Five Women Waring the Same Dress), Theresa (Circle Mirror Transformation), Sebastian (Twelfth Night), Marci Banks (Wildest Dreams), Helena (A Midsummer Nights Dream), Octavia (Julius Caesar), The Fairy Godmother (Shrek: The Musical), Janet in the Regional Premier of The Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Holy Trinity Church and The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular,  Margaret (A Man For All Seasons), Rosalind (As You Like It), Mina (Dracula), Alice (You Can't Take it With You), Narissa (Merchant of Venice), Fermina (Man of LaMancha), Charlotte (The Night of the Iguana), Karen (August: Osage County), and Diana, Maggie, and Christine in three different productions of A Chorus Line. 

​

When she is not working, she enjoys painting, playing the drums and bass guitar, kayaking, cooking, and wandering around taking photos of what ever inspires her at the moment. Maryalice is also the co-creator and author of the blog "Gluten Free Speaks" in which she depicts  her life as she navigates the challenges of being gluten intolerant. 

​

"As a child I LOVED to play pretend. Every other week started with the phrase, 'When I grow up, I want to be a ....' I wanted to be a doctor, a police officer, a soldier, a teacher, a lawyer, a rock star, etc. Then as I became older, I realized I didn't have to grow up and focus on one profession. I could be an actor and get the chance to play all of those people without the burden of someone's life actually being in my hands." ~TOP

​