Best of Rochester

Best Local Actor

By megan malugani

It’s ironic that Nick Dibble was voted Rochester’s best actor at a time when he’s willingly taking a hiatus from theater to prepare for his next big off-stage role: husband and expectant father. The 29-year-old Kasson native, an established figure on Rochester’s acting scene who often has “comical standout parts,” is perhaps best known for his two-year run (Christmas seasons of 2005 and 2006) with the one-man show “The Santaland Diaries” at the Rochester Repertory Theatre. Off-stage, “in the grown-up world of health insurance and babies and bills,” Dibble is the Cheif Information Officer at BuyOnlineNow.com.

Early acting: Dibble started acting when he was 12, influenced by shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “Kids in the Hall.” “I knew I wanted to do something fun like that.”

Onstage kisses, then and now: Dibble’s first stage kiss was for a dramatic role in “And They Dance Real Slow in Jackson,” when he was 15. “The girl was a senior. It was very nerve-wracking.” Dibble doesn’t know yet how his real-life fiancee will react to his present-day onstage kisses—she hasn’t seen one yet. 

Theater hopping: Dibble is on the board of Vertigo Theatre Factory, which produces alternative theater for mature audiences, and is a founding member of Theater Du Jour, which focuses mainly on fast-paced sketch comedy. He has also performed for Rochester Civic Theatre, Rochester Repertory Theater, and other local groups. “Everybody in theater circles here knows each other. It’s quite uncanny.”
He’s acted in: “You Can’t Take It With You,” “Go Ask Alice,” “Nothing Serious,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Santaland Diaries,” and many other productions.

Dream role: Ralphie in “A Christmas Story.”

Unusual costumes and roles: A penguin who helps a couple lost in Antarctica find direction in “Nothing Serious.” An elf in “Santaland Diaries.”

Behind the scenes at “Santaland Diaries”: The 24 pages of nonstop text Dibble had to memorize for “Santaland Diaries”—based on author David Sedaris’ story of arriving in New York with dreams of becoming a writer, only to realize that the only job he can get is as an elf at Macy’s—will be forever ingrained in his head. “It’s a tedious process, but you have to do it so that you are out there acting, not out there trying to remember your lines.”

He’s directed, too: In the summer of 2007, Dibble directed “Glengarry Glen Ross,” which was shown at Chateau Theatres.

Acting philosophy: Shows like “Glengarry Glen Ross” and “Reservoir Dogs” are among Dibble’s favorites to produce and perform. “I like comedy but I really enjoy the intense, gritty shows as well, the ones that make the audience feel a little bit uncomfortable ... I typically like to do the kind of theater that people who don’t think they like theater or those who haven’t been exposed to theater will like. If someone goes to a bad show they’ll never go to a show again.”