The Nether
by Jennifer Haley
“A life outside of consequence.”
The Nether is a virtual wonderland that provides total sensory immersion. Just log in, choose an identity, and indulge your every desire. But when a young detective uncovers a disturbing brand of entertainment, she triggers an interrogation into the darkest corners of the imagination.
Part crime drama and part sci-fi thriller, Jennifer Haley's haunting play The Nether investigates the boundaries of ethics and human desire in a world of ever-changing technology.
The Nether was produced in 2020 as part of the Cornell Department of Performing Arts Black Box Exploration Series. Twenty pages of analytical and expository writing and an oral defense constituted my Honors Thesis in the Cornell PMA Department.
Photos and trailer by Youngsun Palmer
“Director Bryan Hagelin sure does magic with the minimum.”
The Nether
by Jennifer Haley
Directed by Bryan Hagelin
Produced by Lyra Liu
Dramaturgy by Aoise Stratford
Scenic Design by Thea Goldman
Costume Design by Chiara Corey
Lighting Design by Edy Kennedy
Sound Design by Franklin Wang
Original Compositions by Jacob Nannapaneni
Featuring
Joey Welsh as Sims/Papa
Ankita Bhattacharjee as Morris
Abbey Crowley as Iris
Andrew Dettmer as Doyle
Ian Capell as Woodnut