Next Up!
"A Midsummer Night's Dream", Summer 2026
by William Shakespeare, adapted and directed by Sarafina Vecchio
Lakeside Shakespeare
Fall 2025: "The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!"
by Erik Rockwell and JoAnne Bogart
North Central College Department of Theatre, Naperville, IL
Music Directed by Linda Madonia, Choreographed by Jen Cupani
https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/department-theatre-presents-musical-musicals-musical
Fall 2024: 5 time Jeff Award Nominated "The Tragedy of Macbeth",
with Invictus Theatre Company.
Directed and Adapted by Sarafina Vecchio
Please CONTACT ME for a copy of my directing/text coaching/teaching resume
DIRECTING & TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
As a director and educator, I believe theatre is a collaborative
act of courage. My work centers on creating rehearsal and
classroom environments where artists feel both supported and
challenged; spaces where curiosity, rigor, and vulnerability can
coexist.
My directing process begins with text. Years of Shakespeare
training and text coaching have shaped my belief that language
is an actor’s most powerful roadmap. Whether working on
classical or contemporary material, a straight play or a musical,
I guide actors toward clarity of intention, purposeful choices,
and active storytelling grounded in the text’s emotional engine.
I collaborate with designers by grounding every choice in the
“why” of the story. Together, we explore the emotional and
thematic logic behind color, texture, space, and rhythm,
ensuring each detail serves character and narrative. I see
design as dramaturgy, not decoration, and I foster a process
where thoughtful questioning and shared purpose lead to
cohesive, intentional storytelling.
In the room, I balance structure with play. I direct by asking
questions, fostering ensemble ownership, and building a
shared vocabulary that empowers actors to take risks. The best
work emerges when people feel safe enough to be brave.
As a teacher, I help students develop the tools they need to
work truthfully: specificity, responsiveness, physical
awareness, and the ability to self-direct. Technique matters-
Shurtleff, script analysis, monologue preparation, movement-
but so does cultivating resilience, curiosity, and trust in their
own artistic instincts.
Ultimately, my mission is to guide performers toward work
that is grounded, imaginative, and deeply human. Whether in a
classroom or a rehearsal hall, I lead with empathy, precision,
and a belief in the transformative power of storytelling.
A glimpse into my rehearsal room energy:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBIBYrnv3FD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link