Marina Montesanti has experienced and lived a life so far that has made her one of the most in-demand theatre directors of her generation. Marina, a globetrotter who has immersed herself in the world and is here now to bring unity and representation to the stage, has lived in Brazil, Argentina, South Africa and now resides in New York City. She has won countless awards for her groundbreaking productions in theatre, whereas she translates non-English works and tells the stories on stage that others have been too scared to bring to light.
Besides directing, Marina is also known for her conservative, yet trendy fashion sense, and how she brings her own personality to her productions. We sat down with Marina for a fun chat about the trends happening in her industry and her own personal style and career successes….
NICK NORTHSTAR: How would you describe your own personal style – both while at home and while directing?
MARINA MONTESANTI: At work, I tend to wear all blacks. At home, I like to wear earthy colorful dresses. I love everything that can give someone else a glimpse of my personality or way of being.
NN: What are some of your favorite beauty products that you use to get red-carpet and show ready?
MM: My savior product is eyeliner from MAC because it can go from day to night and tie a look together. It really depends on the make-up designers and the product they see best fit.
NN: Who have been some of your role models in your career?
MM: Michael Greif, Tina Landau, Edward Sheblak, Gabriela Gutierrez, David Mendizábal
NN: What is your all-time favorite play?
MM: Oh, so many! Our Lady of Kibeho by Katori Hall transformed me in so many ways.
NN: What trends in the theatre world are you loving right now?
MM: Ensuring the audience involvement is not passive, but emotionally and intellectually active. A theatre that invites the audience to be on the edge of their seats.
NN: What changes in the entertainment industry would you like to see changed moving forward?
MM: Representation. We need to look at all ingrained systemic layers that the business is running on to truly make it inclusive – in front of and behind the camera.
NN: What is your advice to anyone wanting to get into the entertainment industry?
MM: Networking is really important. But, make sure its genuine and true. Find people that share a similar mission as you. Ask for advice. Ask if you can be in their room in any capacity, even just watching rehearsal…you never know when something will go wrong and you will be asked to jump in.
NN: What is your definition of “Glam”?
MM: Natural glow of happiness – it all comes from the inside.
NN: How does the style where you currently live in New York compare to that in Brazil and elsewhere that you have previously lived?
MM: It is very similar. Culture has a big impact on stamps, colors, and cut. In Brazil, I see more vivid colors with a sense of freedom in its tropical nature. New York has one of the most unique ways of self-expression through clothing – you can literally see someone’s personality glow by their garments.
NN: What projects do you have coming up this year?
MM: One play and two musicals! While She Sleeps by Jo Bilac. EXI(S)T which I am developing with Nicole Sousa and another new revolutionary musical by Jesse Sanchez.
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