andy pederson

DIRECTOR of Education and Theatre for young Audiences

Andy Pederson stepped into the role of Director of Education and Theatre for Young Audiences in 2024.  He is deeply passionate about making theatre accessible for all audiences and providing opportunities to those whom "theatre has missed".  His core belief is that theatre is service and he seeks to promote that idea across all of his programming.

Andy is also a playwright and life-long educator.  As an educator, Andy has taught in both high schools and colleges, bringing his passion for story and love of writing to life for students for the past 24 years.  Previously, Andy was a tenured professor of English at Concordia University Chicago were he served as program lead for both the English and Theatre departments. He holds a B.A. in Secondary Education Theatre from Concordia University Chicago, a M.A. in English from The Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury College, and a M.F.A. in Playwriting from Goddard College.

As a playwright, his plays have been produced in New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, Memphis, Indianapolis, and several other places.  His play, How to Die: The Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer was part of A.D. Players 24/25 Season of Brilliance.  In The Soundless Awe, co-written with Jayme McGhan, will be on stage at A.D. Players in 2027. Andy is currently working an adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo. Additionally, Andy has written several plays for young audiences, including,Good Fable Manners: Tales from Aesop, When the Going Gets Gruff: The Trial of the Three Billy-Goats Gruff, Completely Mything the Point, Chivalry Me Timbers: The Terrifying Tale of the Most Polite Pirates to ever Sail the Seven Seas, along with several others. Most recently his young audiences play The Emperor's Disappearing Duds was on stage at The George Theater in 2026 and then on tour throughout schools and libraries in Houston. His other plays for young audiences have been performed by numerous colleges, children's theaters, and grade schools. He lives in Houston with his wife and three children while trying to figure out how to get the Cubs and the Bears broadcasts.