David Ellenstein
Artistic Director

Born into a theatrical family, David has worked in theatres across the country for more than five decades. Before joining North Coast Rep in 2003, he served as Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Repertory Company and the Arizona Jewish Theatre Company. He also served as Artistic Director of Laguna Playhouse.

A veteran of more than 300 productions, David has directed an extensive range of classics, contemporary works, musicals, and world premieres. Favorite productions at North Coast Rep include Louisa Gillis (World Premiere), Birthday Candles, A View from the Bridge, The Cherry Orchard, The Homecoming, Becoming Dr. Ruth, An Iliad, The Outsider, Holmes & Watson, The Father, Travels with My Aunt, Hedda Gabler (World Premiere Translation), Freud’s Last Session (San Diego Premiere), Becoming Cuba (World Premiere), Henry IV Part 1, My Name is Asher Lev, The Drawer Boy, Ghosts, Talley’s Folly, The Dresser, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Tuesdays with Morrie, Romeo and Juliet, and Einstein Comes Through and The Remarkable Mister Holmes, both of which he also co-authored.

Other directing credits include Sonia Flew starring Lucie Arnaz at Coconut Grove Playhouse; Halpern and Johnson starring Hal Linden and Brian Murray; The Chosen starring Theodore Bikel and John Lloyd Young at Paper Mill Playhouse; His Royal Hipness Lord Buckley at 59E59 Theaters; and productions at Portland Stage, Rubicon Theatre Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Laguna Playhouse, and Southwest Shakespeare Company.

David is the recipient of numerous theatre honors, including the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award for “2018 Director of the Year.”