Intimacy Explained:

Fight directors protect actors physically during stage combat, but who protects actors emotionally and mentally during close or intimate moments on stage? Intimacy directors provide productions with the tools to create and uphold BRAVE spaces. They act as an advocate for actors and a liaison between the actors and the production team for scenes involving nudity, hyper-exposed work, simulated sex acts, and intimate physical contact in live performance or film. From pre-production to rehearsals to the final product, intimacy directors are trained to bring a director’s vision to life, always within the performers’ boundaries and comfort levels. It’s a win-win!

Alex Manalo is an intimacy director and (as she calls it) a closeness coach, working towards certification with Intimacy Directors and Choreographers (IDC). With a background in performing arts and theater-making, she is passionate about this work and ensures a communicative and collaborative process that best supports the artists. Alex combines her attention to detail, superpower memory, and lived experiences as a woman of color to tell authentic stories within a comfortable and inclusive environment.

Check out what artists have to say about working with Alex!

“Working with Alex advanced our production to the next level. From the first rehearsal, she created a space that felt safe, respectful, and open for the entire cast and crew. Working alongside Alex showed me just how essential intimacy coordination is to modern storytelling. I can’t imagine doing another production without her.” -

Gemma Mitchell, Director of Production Operations, Pittsburgh Musical Theater

Two people sharing a dance, one woman with dark skin wearing a leopard print dress, one man with light skin, a beard, and dark hair, wearing a dark embroidered shirt, holding hands and closing their eyes.

“Alex makes it easy. As an actor, intimate scenes can be really daunting, but she keeps everyone in the room comfortable and on the same page. Plus, the techniques she uses help teach you how just to be a better actor as you continue moving forward.” -

Ben Nadler, (Finch in South Park Theatre's How to Succeed…)

A man in a white shirt, bow tie, and red apron holding a red rose, smiling at a woman in a green vintage dress with blonde hair, on a colorful stage.

“I left each rehearsal working with Alex feeling safe, empowered, and free within the work. She created moments that, for me as an actor, felt justified, natural, and replicable. She continuously advocated for us actors and made an exciting space for us to create together.” -

Zanny Laird, (Jenna in PMT’s Waitress)

A woman with blonde hair hugging a man in a beige jacket in a dimly lit space with blue neon lights in the background.

“From first rehearsal through closing performance, Alex went above and beyond advocating for our cast. She introduced vocabulary and tools adaptable to everyone’s working styles, and she even found ways to include our young artists in an age-appropriate manner. Having Alex as intimacy choreographer makes our jobs as actors healthier and more sustainable, which ultimately enhances the storytelling and audience experience as well.” -

Catherine Baird, (Dawn in PMT’s Waitress)

A theatrical scene with a group of diverse women surrounding a man and woman dressed as a bride and groom, engaging in a humorous or dramatic moment on a brightly lit stage with pink and purple lighting.