Rita Disibio
Rita Disibio (John Webster)
Shakespeare in Love
FEBRUARY 11 — MARCH 20
What excites you about Shakespeare in Love and the role you are playing?
Honestly, what excites me the most about Shakespeare in Love is Christine's vision for the production. The care for detail through the weaving of style and ritual into the action have been lovely to play with as an artist.
On the other hand, something I am really trying to take to heart as of late is that not everything in art has to be so serious and tortured all the time. This I have been able to explore through the wonderfully antics of John Webster. To put it simply, when is it not fun to play a mischievous, 13 year old street urchin?
More personally, I also just adore playing boys. I adore playing boys on stage in particular because for a brief period of time, the act of being in a play begs the audience to believe that I am a boy - I don't have to ask. The play tells me to stop worrying and just live, and I am seen as a boy, or a girl playing a boy maybe, or perhaps I just confuse people, and for a brief second, I am anything but just a girl, a luxury I am not entitled to in my life outside of the stage. It may seem silly to others, but to me, it means everything.
What’s your process like in preparing for a show like this, and how does that process change (if at all) from other shows?
Show up, be present, make choices. For this show in particular, I would say this process has been even more challenging as we navigate the pandemic and the many other personal and global tragedies of the past two years. Despite it all, my colleagues have persevered, some since 2020 when the show was originally supposed to open, and it has been inspiring to watch.
What’s your biggest challenge about taking on this role?
Technically speaking, the accents!
How did you get started performing?
When I was 4 or 5, my mother put me in this ballet class. I remember going to see the older kids perform, and I leaned over and whispered to my mom "I want to do that but without the dancing" (words I would later regret as a wanna-be dancer). My mother then explained what theatre was, and a couple years down the line, I started taking classes.
Why do you still perform?
In all honesty, I have been struggling with this question, even since before the pandemic brought it's own well known uncertainty to the table. Right now, I think I still perform because of a persistent hope that theatre will change - that theatre will bring change.
What’s your dream role, and what do you feel you would bring to it?
My "dream role" changes often as I grow older, but one dream that remains constant is the hope that someday I may be part of a company that produces brand new works that both serve as catalysts for change in today's socio-political climate and also challenges what we currently consider qualifies as art and/or theatre.
What’s a fun fact people may not know about you?
I love poetry - if you see me after the show, tell me your favorite poet or chapbook or collection, and I'll add it to my list!
Follow Rita:
Instagram: @ritadisibio
Website: www.ritadisibio.com
