Bissell, 24, will play Desdemona in “Othello” at Shakespeare on the Green in Lake Forest in July and August. She attended the University of Chicago’s Lab School and graduated from the University of Chicago.
What drew you into acting? There was something about becoming somebody else on stage that was very addictive for me. And then, certainly, being somewhat of a nerd in school, [I found] theater people much more accepting, especially through middle school and high school.
Where did you find your best training for theater? I was on stage more at the University of Chicago than I would have been if I were in a conservatory program [where] they don’t let you on stage until your third year. At the U of C . . . they do five or six productions every quarter.
What did you major in? Gender studies. I found that issues of gender . . . come up everywhere.
Is there one playing out right now? Yeah, a little bit. I’ve been doing Shakespeare for a whole year and, don’t get me wrong, I love it . . . but the women in Shakespeare plays never have it as good as the men. How to explore these women and have them show as many layers as their male counterparts is definitely an ongoing task for me.
What are your impressions of the Chicago theater scene? I haven’t been to New York, but the impression that I get is that Chicago is just a warmer community. . . . It’s all about creating good art.