Dámaso Rodríguez

Dámaso Rodríguez (he/him/his) is a producer, director, educator, and arts administrator having contributed to theaters and universities across the United States. Credited on over 100 productions, he brings more than 20 years of experience as an arts leader at both start-up organizations and venerable institutions.

Prior to joining ACG, Rodríguez spent nine seasons as Artistic Director at Artists Repertory Theatre (Artists Rep) in Portland, Oregon. In this role, he established new artistic programs and guided the 40-year-old organization through many periods of transition, including the property sale and facilities planning process for a $32 million redevelopment of the theater’s downtown home. Under his leadership, Artists Rep joined the League of Resident Theatres, produced more than 60 shows and events, and digitized productions during the pandemic, including audio dramas and short films. He also established a new works development program; a resident artists initiative involving nearly 40 diverse artists across theatrical disciplines; and the ArtsHub, an organizational residency and resource-sharing program.

Rodríguez is Co-Founder of Los Angeles' Furious Theatre Company, where he spent 11 years as Co-Artistic Director. He has also served as Associate Artistic Director of the Pasadena Playhouse. Over the course of his career, he has produced and directed new and classic plays at some of the country’s most prominent regional theaters, such as Actors Theatre of Louisville, American Conservatory Theater, Boston Court Pasadena, Intiman Theatre, A Noise Within, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Rep, and South Coast Repertory.

In addition to serving on the faculty at Columbia College in California and Portland Actors Conservatory, he has guest lectured at numerous institutions of higher education, including Occidental College, Texas A&M University, University of Portland, Willamette University, Portland State University, Point Park University, University of Texas at Austin-Los Angeles Program, and University of Southern California’s master of fine arts in dramatic writing program. As a member of the Drama League Directors Council, Rodríguez provides counsel, guidance, and partnership to the organization. A member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and three-time grant panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, Rodríguez has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, NAACP Theatre Award, LA Weekly Theatre Award, and Back Stage Garland Award. Fluent in Spanish, he has served as a Theatre Communications Group Delegate to the Havana International Theatre Festival and as a guest of Spain’s Ministry of Culture for the Ibero-American Theatre Forum. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in theatre arts from Texas A&M University.