A director's notes from another world

Author: Lise Rosenberger

Nerina Cocchi '10 is the director of Ariel Dorfman's play "Manifesto for Another World," playing Thursday, November 1st at 8 p.m., Friday the 2nd at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., and Saturday the 3rd at 8 p.m. at The Zoo. Tickets can be bought online or at any campus box office location. Cocci briefly spoke with The Campus about her personal theatrical history and her experiences with the production of Manifesto.

The Middlebury Campus: What is your own history and involvement in theater and what led you to directing this play?

Nerina Cocci: I've been involved in physical theater (theater derived from dance where expression is articulated through physical movement) since I was fourteen. I read the play and really enjoyed it. I pitched the idea of doing a production here to my friend Saila Huusko '10 - an actress in the play and one of Symposium on Human Rights' organizers - and we went to work. The play is part of the Symposium and one of the manifestations of direct student involvement in stressing the importance of human right's in everyone's lives.

TC: Tell us about your play and its evolution from the page to the stage.

NC: The show was cast last spring and rehearsals started this semester. We began with individual rehearsals because of the monologue-based text and then came together to rehearse as a group. The set is based around the physical action and expressions the actors are conveying. It is an extension of physical theater.

TC: What are some challenges you've faced and rewards you've received in collaborating this play?

NC: Time and limited resources such as money have proven to be challenges. Everyone has conflicting schedules. It's hard to get everyone and everything together but once things start falling into place, it's very rewarding. Everyone in the department and all who are involved in the play have been extremely supportive of each other and respectful of everyone's effort, commitment, and work.