Obama Nominates Noted Theater Leader for Role on National Council on the Arts

President Obama is expected to nominate the distinguished theater leader Diane Rodriguez for a position on the National Council on the Arts in Washington, the LA Times reports. The announcement was made by the White House last Thursday, along with various nominations for other positions.

If she takes on the position, Rodriguez, who is an associate artistic director at L.A.’s Center Theater Group, will be among those advising the chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Rodriguez is an experienced candidate. In addition to her current role at CTG, she has held a number of other positions at the company since 1995. Starting her career as a member of El Teatro Campesino, she went on to co-found two theatre companies of her own, Latins Anonymous and El Teatro de la Esperanza (Theatre of Hope). She was also Director and Resident Artist of the Latino Theatre Initiative from 1995 to 2005. I

In addition, Rodriguez was an Artistic Associate at the Cornerstone Theater Company from 1999 to 2005. In 2007, she won an Obie Award for playing multiple roles in Heather Woodbury’s “Tale of Two Cities.” She now serves as board president of the Theater Communications Group in New York.

The National Council for the Arts is comprised of a number of artists and arts leaders from across the U.S. and is currently chaired by Jane Chu.