Biography
Michael Mendez is an actor, director, and Associate Professor of Musical Theatre, serving as Director of the B.F.A Musical Theatre program. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he spent two decades building a career in New York, originating roles on Broadway, appearing on television and film, and mentoring the next generation of musical theatre performers, before returning home to California to lead the Musical Theatre program.
Michael is an alumnus of The Orange County School for the Arts, holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from the University of Arizona and an M.F.A. in Directing from the University of Idaho.
On Broadway, Michael was in the original casts of the Tony-nominated Water for Elephants and in Chaplin, and can be heard on both original Broadway Cast recordings. Most recently, Michael was seen at Lincoln Center in Man of La Mancha, directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher. His screen work includes Elsbeth (CBS), A Place in Hell (NEON), Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) and The 77th Annual Tony Awards (CBS). Other favorite New York Credits include Hey! Look Me Over! (NY City Center) and Fat Camp The Musical (Off-Broadway). Regionally, he has appeared at some of the country’s most respected theater’s, including Goodspeed Opera House, The Old Globe, The Kennedy Center, Westport Country Playhouse, Weston Theatre Company, and the Alliance Theatre.
A dedicated educator as well as a performer, Michael comes to USC from Marymount Manhattan College, where he served as one of the co-coordinators of the B.F.A Musical Theatre program. He has also taught at Rider University, the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, and has led masterclasses nationwide.
For Michael, leading USC’s Musical Theatre program is more than a new chapter, it’s a return to where his own story began. He is excited to bring all he’s learned on Broadway stages, in professional rehearsal rooms, and in the classroom back to Los Angeles, guiding the next generation of artists to build careers that last.