Pesha Rudnick

Pesha Rudnick is a Lecturer in the Department of Theatre & Dance at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where she joined in 2021. She is the founding artistic director of Local Theater Company (LTC), dedicated to new American plays, world premieres, and arts education. LTC has won 38 Colorado Theater Guild awards and was named “Best Theater Company in Denver” in 2019. Rudnick has directed over twenty world premieres and collaborated with prominent playwrights such as Beth Henley and Quiara Alegria Hudes. She transitioned LTC to shared leadership in 2022 and currently serves on its board alongside roles at Lights Up! Theatre and 2nd Stage (NYC).

Education: B.A. from University of California, Berkeley; M.A. from New York University. She is a Drama League Directing Fellow and member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Rudnick’s work spans prestigious institutions like La Jolla Playhouse, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Kennedy Center. Her TEDx talk, “The Danger of Live Theater,” highlights her advocacy for live performance. She emphasizes innovation in theater education and new play development, reflecting her dual focus on artistic excellence and community engagement.