A Conversation with the Cofounder of GALA Hispanic Theatre
Join the UMGC community for an interview with Rebecca Medrano, the cofounder and executive director of GALA (Grupo de Artistas LatinoAmericanos) Hispanic Theatre, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. The moderated session will focus on the organization's mission and long history of preserving and promoting Latino arts and culture, providing opportunities for Latin American artists and training programs for students, and engaging the entire community in a dynamic exchange of ideas and perspectives.
The GALA Hispanic Theatre in Washington, D.C., is a national center for Latino performing arts. It has developed and produced more than 325 plays and musicals in Spanish and English and commissioned original works that reach more than 19,000 patrons a year, including free shows to make programs accessible to all.
About the Speaker
Rebecca Medrano is a graduate of Smith College, where she majored in Latin American Studies and dance before pursuing graduate work at the University of Madrid. She also studied and danced with the Martha Graham Dance Company and Alvin Ailey. Deeply rooted in the Washington, D.C., community, Medrano has cultivated partnerships with arts organizations and social service agencies throughout the city. In addition, she has established international exchanges with theatres in Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, and Argentina.
She was honored with the Legacy Award from the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2023 and received the Allan Cooper Leadership in the Arts Award from Mid Atlantic Arts in 2020. In 2014, she and her husband Hugo Medrano were special honorees at the D.C. Mayor's Arts Awards, and in 2010, they were named Washingtonians of the Year. They were also awarded the Order of Queen Isabella, bestowed by King Juan Carlos I of Spain, for their dedication to preserving Spanish culture in the United States.
Please join us for this special event.
When
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Noon–1 p.m. eastern time
Where
ONLINE via Zoom
Note
You must register to attend. Login information will be emailed to you.