Biography
Michael Mendez is a New York City–based Latino actor, director, and educator with a broad range of experience in musical theatre. Michael has built a distinguished career bridging Broadway, regional theatre, screen work, and higher education.
His Broadway credits include the original companies of Water for Elephants, including a performance on The 77th Annual Tony Awards, and Chaplin, with television and film appearances on Elsbeth (CBS), A Place in Hell (NEON), and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO). His regional work spans the country, with productions at Goodspeed Opera House, Westport Country Playhouse, The Old Globe, the Kennedy Center, among others.
Michael 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, and has served as a Co-Coordinator of the BFA Musical Theatre program at Marymount Manhattan College.
He joins USC’s musical theatre program energized by its strong foundation and committed to shaping its next chapter through bold artistic vision and dedicated mentorship.