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Jen Rudin grew up in New York City and began her professional acting career at age eight. She created many new roles in new plays, starred in several television movies, and did commercials. At age twelve, she had her first epiphany at a final callback that she wanted to be a Casting Director – a perfect blend of her photographic memory and love of actors. Her casting philosophy combines the challenge of solving the casting puzzle – who is best for the role? – while creating an honest, positive and comfortable audition environment, in what is often the most stressful of situations. Jen was Director of Casting and Talent Development for Disney Theatrical Productions in New York City from 2007-2009. From 2002-2007, Jen served as head of casting for Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California and she won the 2006 Artios Award for casting Chicken Little. Additional animated films include Meet the Robinsons (2007 Artios Nomination), The Wild (2006 Artios nomination), Academy Award Winning film The Incredibles and Academy Award nominated Brother Bear. Current films include The Princess and the Frog starring Anika Noni Rose. In Los Angeles, Jennifer cast the Los Angeles premiere of Jason Robert Brown’s musical “13”, winner of the 2008 LA Drama Critics Circle Award. Jen has taught Master Classes at NYU, Boston Conservatory, Northwestern University, Emerson College, Webster University, Baylor University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point and University of the Arts. She lectures and teaches numerous workshops around New York City.
Prior to joining Disney in 2002, Jen was a freelance casting director for film and theater in New York City. Her independent films have premiered at such prestigious film festivals as the Tribeca Film Festival, the Los Angeles Film Festival, the Hamptons Film Festival and the Hollywood Film Festival, among others. Jen served as resident Casting Director from 2001-2002 for the esteemed Ensemble Studio Theater in New York City. Her other theater credits include the national tour of “The Syringa Tree” directed by Larry Moss; “Theater District” (Steppenwolf Theater); HB Playwrights Foundation, the Young Playwrights Festival, and New York Stage & Film. She has also cast hundreds of national television commercials; including the famous “Can you hear me now?” campaign for Verizon. Upcoming films include include Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, Peter Bogdanovich’s Squirrels to the Nuts and Greener Pastures: A Roberto Clemente Story.
Jen is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in History and Women’s Studies, and a past Board Member for the Casting Society of America. In her spare time, she is an avid cyclist and Board Member for the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in Israel. She is a frequent contributing writer to The Jewish Week.
