Rutina Wesley Talks About Working With Jonathan Groff

Rutina Wesley talks about working with Jonathan Groff in The Submission:

How did The Submission cross your radar?
I was sent the script and was immediately intrigued. It’s got so much fire and asks such interesting questions. Who has ownership over stories these days? As an actor I want to be inspired and challenged mentally and physically, and this play calls for all of these things, especially playing a character like Emilie Martin who has so many textures and layers. I can’t even put into words how happy I am to be here. I’ve been dying to do a play. The last time I was on stage was when I did In Darfur at the Public in 2007, and ever since I’ve been saying, “Play, please?” I’m honored to come back, especially in a new play. I get to put my stamp on it, and I’m excited and nervous about that.

Why nervous?
I sort of wanted to see, do I still have it? Am I “too TV” now? Will they be able to hear me? Do I still remember all the stuff I went to school for? Once I got into that rehearsal room, it all came rushing back. I was like, OK, this is how you sit and stay focused for five hours. This is how you play and you create, and working with Eddie [Kaye Thomas], Jonathan and Will [Rogers] has been like a dream. I love those boys. It’s kind of fabulous to get to be the only girl. I get treated like a little princess.

Is it hard being so brutal with the famously nice Jonathan Groff?
It is! He’s so genuinely nice it’s really hard to tear each other apart in the way that we do. We kind of have to look at each other and say, “Love you!” But we all get along and trust each other, so we can actually go there and it’s OK. It’s a safe world. Everyone’s on the same page, we all support each other and we all have each other’s back.

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