Daniel Sepehr Bamdad
Director & Actor
2026, he/him BFA Drama, Directing
Daniel Sepehr Bamdad is an actor, director, and creator committed to shaping the future of theatre. At the age of 12, he discovered the world of theatre through a Catholic school production of Peter Pan. He left that theater that night changed and inspired. (some might say a religious experience) something students from that Catholic school probably didn’t expect to achieve that night.
Identifying with his Persian background, he feels a responsibility to create space for representation and untold stories, and to build work that inspires both audiences and artists. He describes his practice as planting mysterious seeds, trusting they will grow into meaningful art rooted in truth, even when that truth reveals contradictions. Drawn to contemporary plays that allow for bold world-building and storytelling, and stories reflecting his experiences, Daniel also reimagines classics in modern contexts to spark new perspectives. His work blends movement and physical expression with foundational practices and striking visuals to bring the show to life. Each performance, he believes, is shaped by what the audience brings, making theatre uniquely personal.
Daniel began his education in 2022 at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama in the John Wells Directing Program, expecting to graduate in May 2026. At CMU, he has studied directing, acting, dramaturgy, design, and management, while assisting with the direction of A Little Night Music (dir. Ethan Heard) and performing in Lorca in a Green Dress (dir. Samantha Pazos).
In spring 2025, he studied abroad at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama for acting, portraying the Waiter in Moira Buffini’s Dinner (dir. Max Harrison) and Don Pedro in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing (dir. Martin Hutson).
Now in his final year, Daniel has just finished his capstone project, directing Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl. Daniel will be heading back to the UK in August to start his MA in Acting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Work Samples
Eurydice
By Sarah Ruhl
Directed by Daniel Sepehr Bamdad
CMU School of Drama – April 2026
Quiet Valley Saloon
By Rusty Daniel, James Minta, Truman Steinberg
Directed by Daniel Sepehr Bamdad and Nell Murphy
CMU School of Drama- Playground 2025
Lorca in a Green Dress
By Nilo Cruz
Directed by Samantha Pazos
Daniel Sepehr Bamdad as The General
CMU School of Drama at City Theatre- November 2024