A New Generation of Storytellers
Our Mission
Bethesda Repertory was born from a belief in the sacred, transformative power of theatre. Named after the Angel of the Waters fountain in New York’s Central Park, immortalized in Angels in America, we carry forward a legacy of healing, truth, and revelation.
We create because we’ve been changed by live storytelling, gutted by its honesty, revived by its beauty, and awakened by its call to action. At our core, we believe theatre can do more than entertain; it can provoke, illuminate, and mend.
Our mission is to give voice to those too often unheard and center stories from the LGBTQ+ community, people of every race, every body, every background. We are committed to unearthing the stories that lie beneath shame, stigma, and silence, especially around mental health and collective trauma.
Bethesda Repertory is not just making art; we are building a bold, inclusive, and compassionate movement, one story at a time by holding space for audiences to witness, reflect, and heal.
Bethesda Fountain, NYC
Andrew Rudy Galindo - Cofounder, Artistic Director
Andrew Rudy Galindo is a Los Angeles born and raised Latino. He is also the Cofounder and Artistic Director of Bethesda Repertory Theatre. Andrew is from Alhambra, California. He attended Loyola High School, in Los Angeles, and had his training in Theatre from Colburn School of Performing Arts, where he studied under Deborah Devine. He continued his study of Theatre & Cultural Anthropology at Saint Mary's College of California and The Sanford Meisner Center under Martin Barter and Ranjiv Perera. He is deeply grateful to his parents, Martin & Diane Galindo, and his pillars of strength, his siblings, Marty, Anthony, Alejandra, his family and friends, and always, his partner, Michael Gomez.
Theatre: Third Culture, The Southland Company, Upright Citizens Brigade, LA Opera, Word for Word Theater, Berkeley Rep, A.C.T, LCF Shakes, Yale Repertory Theater, Boston Court Pasadena, & Pasadena Playhouse.
Film: Award-Winning short Sana, Sana directed by Adam Holguin, The Cuck Directed by Sean Taylor.
Television: Love Victor, 68 Whiskey, VEEP, NCIS, Seal Team, and Westworld.
Michael Gomez - Cofounder, Managing Director
MICHAEL GOMEZ is a New York native and a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He is a Cofounder, proud Company member and currently serves as the Managing Director of Bethesda Repertory Theatre. His recent Bethesda appearances have been in An Evening With Company and The Rhythm of Mourning, which he also co-wrote. At South Coast Repertory, he appeared in Our Town, I Get Restless, and the NewSCRipts reading of The Hombres. Michael performed the solo play I Died Today at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, created the original YouTube series Rollups, and leads FORGE, Bethesda’s weekly writing workshop. An actor, writer, and director, Michael has a passion for telling LGBTQ+ driven stories, and advocating the push for more diversity, equity and inclusion in creative spaces.
Martin Galindo - Chair
MARTIN GALINDO serves as Board Chair of Bethesda Repertory Theatre and brings more than 36 years of experience in public education, leadership, and community engagement. Prior to his retirement, he served as a teacher, coordinator, assistant principal, elementary principal, Operations Administrator, Local District Superintendent in LAUSD, and superintendent in both Bassett Unified and El Rancho Unified School Districts. His background includes executive leadership in policy implementation, budget oversight, personnel supervision, program evaluation, and strategic planning.Throughout his career, Galindo has worked to expand opportunities for students and families through strong school-community partnerships focused on technology and arts education. Combining governance experience with a longstanding commitment to arts access, Galindo advances Bethesda Repertory Theatre’s mission through thoughtful leadership, community-centered engagement, and support for the arts.
Pam Shriftman - Vice Chair
PAM SHRIFTMAN serves as Vice Chair of Bethesda Repertory Theatre and brings leadership experience in operations, finance, and organizational support. She is retired from Sprint Corporation, where she served as an Area Technical Support Manager, and also served as Finance Director for the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center Guild. Her background strengthens Bethesda Repertory Theatre’s leadership through board governance, operational insight, and financial stewardship.
Deidre Mumford - Secretary
DEIDRE MUMFORD serves as Board Secretary of Bethesda Repertory Theatre and brings extensive experience in public administration, governance, and community-focused leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Loma Linda University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. She currently serves as Senior Analyst at the Los Angeles County Development Authority, where she manages federal and state fire and wind disaster recovery programming for Los Angeles County. Her previous work with the City of Santa Monica included administration of federal, state, and local programs addressing community development, transportation, and homelessness.She has also served on the boards of the Junior Leagues of St. Louis and Pasadena, Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Pasadena Chapter, and Glendale City Church, reflecting a long-standing commitment to board service and civic engagement.
Diane Galindo
DIANE GALINDO brings more than four decades of experience in public education, mentorship, and community service to her role as a Board Member of Bethesda Repertory Theatre. Over the course of her 40-year career with the Los Angeles Unified School District, she served in a range of instructional and leadership positions, including Resource Specialist Teacher at Queen Anne Elementary School, Adult Education Teacher and Coordinator at Wilson High School Adult Education, and Elementary Teacher at various schools in East los Angeles. She also served as a Master Teacher and Mentor Teacher, helping to guide and strengthen the work of fellow educators. Her experience supporting students with varied learning needs, coordinating educational programming, and mentoring teachers gives her a strong foundation in equitable practice, community responsiveness, and capacity building. These skills directly support Bethesda Repertory Theatre’s mission to expand access to the arts.
Bethesda Repertory Theatre Staff
Shelby Mumford - Resident Casting Director
SHELBY MUMFORD is honored to be Bethesda Repertory Theatre's Resident Casting Director. She also facilitates the company's free monthly workshop, The Rehearsal. Shelby is passionate about storytelling and developing original material, especially quality content for communities of color. Casting has been a fulfilling way to contribute to bringing these incredible stories to life. She is grateful to her family, friends, and the Bethesda team for their support throughout this journey.
CJ Lazatin - Production Manager
CJ LAZATIN serves as the Production Manager at Bethesda Repertory Theatre, where she keeps the gears of our creative machine running smoothly. An accomplished technical theatre professional, CJ brings a wealth of leadership and expertise in personnel management, budgeting, and audio-visual coordination to every production. In addition to her vital role at Bethesda Rep, CJ works as the Technical Director at Agoura Performing Arts Education Center and as the Production Coordinator forMONTAGE! at the Orange County School of the Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Technical Design and Production, with an emphasis in Stage Management, from California State University, Fullerton. Known for her adaptability and sharp organizational skills, CJ is dedicated to bridging the gap between creative vision and technical execution to bring unforgettable stories to our stage.
Thank You To Our Partners
