In Dialogue: Andy Dispensa of 'The Chosen' and '1923'

Andy Dispensa is quickly becoming a name to watch in the world of television, with standout performances in 1923 and The Chosen. Beyond acting, Dispensa is an accomplished writer and producer, with numerous projects in the works and an upcoming play set to open in Los Angeles. 

The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

A huge congratulations for booking and working on 1923. I would love to hear about your experience on that show.

It’s one of the best shows on television—writing, acting, directing, cinematography—it’s as good as it gets. I got an audition in June of last year for a different role in the series, and then a few weeks later, they sent me the role of Luca.

When I read the sides, it felt so special. I felt like I knew him, the character, very intimately. I am Sicilian-Italian and grew up with a huge family. Food is the cornerstone of my family. I was always drawn to that part of myself, and my Italian heritage is super important to me. Sharing that with my character is special.

A few days after sending in the audition, my agent called to tell me I booked the role. I was ecstatic to be working on a Taylor Sheridan show.

The show gets intense, physically and emotionally. Do you have any on-set stories you’d like to share?

Filmmaking is problem-solving every step of the way. There was one day, I think my second to last day on set, where my character is getting off the boat to America: we got off one boat and onto a smaller boat to cruise to shore. That day, we got a call to get off because there was some delay…one of the boats being used was flooded, and the crew had to drain the water before we could shoot.

There was one scene in particular that was the most intense between Spencer [Brandon Sklenar] and me. The stakes were so high, and it was an extremely traumatic scene. I felt pressure to get it right. But working with Paramount at the height of their powers, you just step into the world. It’s so detailed and feels real.

You were on The Chosen before this.

The Chosen was my first TV credit. That show is such a powerhouse, and it feels a lot like 1923 in some ways: the attention to detail and how well-made it is. We filmed with 5,000 real extras for the feeding of the 5,000, where Jesus comes to this town and gives his sermon, and the crowd grows as more people listen to this message. They don’t have anything to eat, and they’re in the middle of nowhere, and he transforms five loaves and fish into food for the entire crowd.

I’m just so lucky that I’ve had these two experiences under my belt in the early stages of my career.

And there’s more to come. Post-graduation can be a tricky couple of years. How did you navigate it?

I was lucky to have a few writer/director friends the year ahead of me who really liked my work. They ended up casting me in a few different theatre shows. I was in one after graduation called The Commedia Rapunzel, which ran for two years off-Broadway and won Best Family Show at the Off Broadway Alliance Awards. I did as much theatre as I possibly could. That’s where I had a foothold, and it helped me grow as a performer. Theatre training is the best.

I pounded the pavement for about five years but still didn’t have an agent or manager in New York. I couldn’t get one to save my life. I moved to New Orleans, got my first agent, and then got my first TV credit with The Chosen. When I moved to LA, I felt like I had a leg up with all of the training and theatre I had done, but it was still a grind.

Now that you’re working more and more, what about when you have downtime? What do you do to stay inspired?

I’m a writer and enjoy writing parts for myself. I’ve produced one full-length play and one short film, and I have four or five screenplays in the works. These are just things I’m passionate about. I do this for me; when no one’s knocking at my door, I don’t really sit back or wait for auditions to come in. 

I feel like I’ve been in class since I graduated, but I think The Academy has the best training that I’ve experienced as an actor. These days, I’m training less because I feel good about my baseline craft. I’m more focused on getting mentally healthy and staying in shape. I’m more focused on my instrument as an actor. I developed tools with meditation and a personal regimen that keep me focused and ready, but I don’t have that absurd, crazy urge to be acting all the time. 

Can you say more about your Academy training?

I had not done a play until I went to The Academy. I wasn’t a theatre kid, and I was kind of afraid to get onstage. I did the Odyssey of the Mind program in grade school, a problem-solving competition with a theatrical component, but that was it. The Academy’s training was intense, and you get out of it what you put into it. Scene study, vocal training, movement…they molded me into an artist. I had some brilliant teachers who were like wizards.

What's next for you, and where might people find out more about you?

In terms of upcoming projects, I have a full-length play I’m getting off the ground in Los Angeles; I just need a few more things to fall into place. It’s called Tweet, Tweet, a psychological comedy about what we think we can control and what we can’t. It’s something I finished writing before the pandemic. And I’ll be in The Chosen season five, which premiered in theatres on March 28th.

Find out more about Andy at andydispensa.com.