“My mom always said, ‘Fake it ‘til you make it. Look at your audience and say TA DA. Don’t be sheepish.’ Her encouragement helped me make the leap to artist with a capital A. It’s very gratifying to reach so many people through the power of the visual and performing arts, which should be accessible to everyone in our community.”
Without a doubt, Whitney can hold an audience. It all began when she was a teenager rehearsing for “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Her dad came to watch and the producer ended up recruiting him to join the musical. In 2003, Whitney’s parents founded the Pintello Comedy Theater in Gilroy, and they’ve been packing the house ever since. Over the past five years Whitney has directed about half of the theater’s productions, which has allowed her to focus on the big picture and the total audience experience. The confidence that Whitney developed onstage have served her well over time. She has served on the board of Gilroy Rotary Club for five of her six years as a member and is currently its President. As a member of Leadership Gilroy (Class of 2014) she helped with the “Spokes for Folks” project, which donated 300 bicycles to local families. 26 GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN Career-wise, Whitney’s first love is the fine arts. For nearly 20 years she has continued to expand and refine her craft. She studied creative arts in college and then taught high school English and Drama for about five years. As a young mom, she carved out time to explore painting on canvas, murals and theater sets, then branched out into faux and decorative painting on walls, vintage furniture, and windows. Today, her work can be found at local restaurants, wineries, boutiques, and at the Gilroy Garlic Festival where she won first place in the festival’s annual poster contest in 2012. Whitney graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts. She and her husband Charles Gilmore live in Gilroy where they raised their two daughters. FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 gmhtoday.com