In Memory of Dito Van Reigersberg

We at PlayPenn would like to take this moment to celebrate and mourn the life of Dito Van Reigersberg, a consummate artist who brought immense creative gifts to the work, such joy, humor, truth and tenderness.

Dito will light our memories for many years to come.

We send our thoughts his husband, Matthew, his mother, Stephie, his family, and the many artists who have been touched and changed by the magic and power that is Dito.

Forever in Our Thoughts,

PlayPenn Staff and Board

Photo: Dito in rehearsal for @elemfeld’s “hand foot hand” in 2025

Credit: @jameskernphotography

The following letter was written by MK Tuomanen on social media:

"Dito Van Reigersberg was a fine actor. I mean a Fine actor. As in refined, as in nuanced, vibrating with vulnerability, improvisatory but controlled — you could never see the seams in the garment. Fine like couture. But also gutsy like

Jacqueline du Pre playing the Elgar cello concerto.

He had a lot of surprise talents, to be sure, but to be able to witness him sink his teeth into a serious play last year, (L M Feldman's hand foot hand at PlayPenn) during his reprieve from treatments, when he was feeling really good - that was unexpectedly dazzling. He did with two of his dearest, Mel Krodman and Jenn Kidwell - comrades who leapt at the opportunity to make something excellent together, something about friendship and commitment to art, something about the beauty of aging, about what stays even when people go. It was such a damn FINE thing to see.

This is one of my favorite speeches from Dito's character, Jaime, which, when he spoke it to Mel and Jenn onstage, trembled and shimmered the veil between reality and pretend.

He thanked his friends for witnessing him. He let us watch him be relieved, gorgeous, grateful, "tenderized". We were so lucky to have him for the time we dia."