Nancy Kocher, with her amazingly versatile face, sees herself as a character actress. She is currently playing an Italian-American grandmother in the Magic Circle Center production of OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS.

THREE VIEWINGS MPC Players at Cherry Hall

Nancy grew up and attended schools through high school in Solano County (west of Sacramento) in California. Her parents were both educators, her Dad played the piano, and both parents were vocalists. Her mother lamented that Nancy's singing capability was ruined when she was a high school cheer leader (then known as a yell leader).

Nancy says her first acting (outside of her house) was in a two room school play, when she was in the third grade. Nancy says, "I naturally wrote, directed and starred in it." She also continues, "My first interest in performing came from a record collection (78s) of 'Alice in Wonderland,' all those wonderful character voices - 'Off with your head, 'whoooo are youooo?' 'I'm late. I'm late.' I drove my parents crazy with my mimic of the various characters." In addition, she recited poems and other material for school and church throughout her childhood.

Nancy performed in high school plays; for her the most memorable role was as Essie in YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. Her first memory of going to a professional production was attending the Curran Theater in San Francisco when she was a teenager. She loved Ethel Merman in GYPSY and the cast of NEW FACES OF 53 (or was it 54?), including Eartha Kitt and Robert Cleary. After high school, Nancy attended Stanford University where she received a

STEEL MAGNOLIAS Monterey Peninsula College Theatre Company

Bachelors Degree in Sociology with a Speech and Drama Minor. While at Stanford she performed in plays, reviews and musicals. She was a member of a Stanford theatre club, Ram's Head.

In 1959 Nancy married a United States Naval Officer, Rear Admiral Edward M. Kocher SC, USN (now retired) and moved from California for various duty assignments. She attended the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and received a Masters of Arts in Teaching. In 1983 Nancy's husband retired from the Navy, and they built their home in Carmel Mid-Valley. That's where they still reside. They have two children, a son (a commercial airline pilot) who lives with his wife and two sons in Philadelphia, and a daughter (a bank information systems officer) who lives with her English husband and two daughters in the London area.

Nancy went to her first audition in Monterey for ANYTHING GOES because she was a cast member for that show at Stanford. Since that first audition she has been a cast member of seventy theatre productions on the Monterey Peninsula for the following theatres: Monterey Peninsula College Theatre Company

THE TEMPEST Monterey Peninsula College Theatre Company

(both Main Stage and SRO and MPC Players at Cherry Hall), GroveMont on Washington Street, Pacific Repertory Theatre at the Golden Bough (Mainstage and Circle Theatres) and at the Outdoor Forest Theatre, Staff Players Repertory Company, Magic Circle at Cherry Hall and Stage Right Productions at Cherry Hall. Among her most unusual roles have been playing Eeyore in WINNIE THE POOH for Monterey Peninsula College (complete with donkey ears and suit), Chief Weasel in MR. TOAD'S WILD RIDE for Pacific Repertory Theatre (with ears and weasel nose), and Gonzalo in THE TEMPEST for Monterey Peninsula College (complete with beard, turban and pot belly). Nancy has been chorus, ensemble, supporting actor, lead actor. She sees herself as primarily a character performer. Nancy comments, "Each part has its own appeal - I'm grateful each time I'm cast. Without formal dance or voice training, I'm always amazed and thankful for each musical casting. I think in my mind I'm a closet Carol Channing."

Her current involvement is in OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS for Magic Circle Center. Nancy describes her role, "This is a charming play involving two sets of Italian-American grandparents and their mutual grandson - he decides to move cross-country for a job promotion. It relates to multigenerational attitudes and is poignant as well as humorous. I play the maternal grandmother."

What other interests does Nancy have outside of theatre? She comments, "Outside of theatre my interests are tennis and, of course, my spouse of forty-four years. Also, I've been a volunteer docent at Point Lobos State Reserve for sixteen years.” On her continued interest in performing, she provides an interesting explanation, "One of the major benefits to me of my involvement in theatre is the opportunity to interact with so many diverse age groups, share their various experiences, and observe their growth as performers and individuals."

OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS