Rhett Luedtke
Associate Professor of Theatre
Professor Rhett Luedtke has directed more than 50 productions during his career — at 鶹ý, George Fox University and as a freelance professional director lending his expertise to theatre companies across the country.
At Hope, he teaches acting, directing and theatre history, and oversees capstone productions for theatre majors in their senior year.
Rhett also serves as the artistic director of the Big Bridge Theatre Consortium — a group of university and college theatre departments across the country committed to developing new American plays dedicated to interfaith conflict and peace.
Before arriving at Hope in 2022, he taught for 19 years at George Fox University, where he was a tenured professor. His earlier professional credits include directing Shakespeare programs for youth in Illinois and Alabama and founding a community-based social service theatre in Auburn, Alabama, which he led for five years.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Directing
- Acting
- Theatre history
EDUCATION
- MFA, directing, Illinois State University, 2003
- B.A., theatre and English, Valparaiso University, 1995
SELECTED HONORS & AWARDS
- Undergraduate Faculty Scholar & Researcher of the Year award, George Fox University, 2019
- Kennedy Center Gold Medallion for Excellence in Educational Theatre, 2016
- Undergraduate Teacher of the Year award, George Fox University, 2010
- National Directing Fellow, Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, 2010 and 2016
SELECTED RECENT & UPCOMING DIRECTING CREDITS
- Sense and Sensibility, 鶹ý, 2025
- The Hijabis, 鶹ý, 2024
- John Proctor is the Villain, 鶹ý, 2024
- The Last Five Years, Hope Repertory Theatre, 2024
- The Addams Family Musical, 鶹ý, 2023
- Havurah, Big Bridge Theatre Consortium new play, 2023
- Godspell, University Theatre, George Fox University, 2022
- Merchant of Stratford, Theatre 33 new play development company at Willamette University, 2021
- Much Ado About Nothing, University Theatre, George Fox University, 2021
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
- “Ethics and Storytelling” panel participant, Ethics Week, University of Portland, 2021
- “The Big Bridge Theatre Consortium,” presentation to the national conference of the Association of Theatre in Higher Education, 2018
- “Pentecost and Interfaith Dialogue,” presentation at Newberg (Oregon) First United Methodist Church, 2018
- “Survivors or Snowflakes? Critical Conversations in an Age of Trauma” panel participant, George Fox University, 2018
- “The Paradigms of Abundance and Scarcity: Theological Subtext in David Edgar’s Pentecost,” Ecumenica, 2009
- “An Unveiling: A Response to the Whitworth Forum Experience,” Christianity and Theatre, 2001
- “Rural Alabama, Shakespeare, and Children,” Christianity and Theatre, 1999
OUTSIDE THE COLLEGE
Rhett is an avid cycler, and enjoys spending time in his garden or curled up by the fire with a good play. He grew up in Papua New Guinea and enjoys cross-cultural adventures with his spouse.

616.395.7600
luedtke@hope.eduDeWitt Student Cultural Center Floor 2 141 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423