Lindsay Mendez

Lindsay Michelle Mendez (born March 1, 1983) is an American actress and singer, best known for her work in American musical theatre.

Lindsay Mendez
Mendez as Rose Fenny in Dogfight
Born	Lindsay Michelle Mendez March 1, 1983 Norwalk, California, US
Nationality	American
Education	Orange County High School of the Arts
Occupation	Actress, singer
Known for	Wicked, Dogfight, Band Geeks, 21 Chump Street, Godspell, Grease, Carousel
Spouse(s)	Michael Borth ​ ​ (m. 2008; div. 2014)​ [1] Philip Wakefield ​ (m. 2016)​ [2]
Awards	Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (for Carousel)

Mendez won the 2018 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Carrie Pipperidge in a Broadway revival of Carousel. Her other credits on Broadway include Elphaba in Wicked (performing during the production's tenth anniversary), Godspell, and Jan in Grease.[3]

Beginning in September of 2019, Mendez co-stars on the CBS drama series All Rise as court stenographer Sara Castillo.

Life and career

Mendez was born in Norwalk, California. Her father is of Mexican descent and her mother is of Russian Jewish ancestry.[4] She played Lizzie in a preview of "A Little More Alive", written by Nick Blaemire, in Kansas City. Other credits include roles in The Marvelous Wonderettes, 35MM, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, and Princesses.[5]

In 2012, Mendez appeared opposite Derek Klena in Dogfight as Eddie and Rose, and in Wicked as Fiyero and Elphaba. The two frequently perform together at the Broadway supper club 54 Below.[6] Mendez sings jazz and blues at other cabarets and dining clubs with pianist Marco Paguia. The two released a jazz album entitled "This Time" in 2013. Mendez, along with composer Ryan Scott Oliver, founded and runs Actor Therapy: a five-week training experience for young actors in NYC.[7] For her role as Rose Fenny in Off-Broadway's Dogfight, she was nominated for the 2013 Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance, the 2013 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, and the 2013 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.[8][9][10]

In 2014, Mendez played Naomi Rodriguez in Lin Manuel Miranda's one-act musical 21 Chump Street and then in 2015, Laura in the play Significant Other.[11][12]

While performing in Wicked, Mendez filmed a series of video blogs for Broadway.com entitled "Fly Girl: Backstage at Wicked with Lindsay Mendez", giving an inside look at the smash musical, including interviews with current cast members, glimpses of costumes, sets, props, and how Mendez herself was transformed into the musical's protagonist, Elphaba, the green-skinned girl who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.[13]

Mendez played Carrie in the 2018 Broadway revival of Carousel, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.[14] The production also starred Jessie Mueller and Joshua Henry.[15]

Credits

Broadway Carousel as Carrie Pipperidge (2018) Significant Other as Laura (2017) Wicked as Elphaba (replacement) (2013–2014) Godspell as Performer (2011-2012) Everyday Rapture as Mennonite/Dance Captain (2010) Grease as Jan (2007–2008) Off-Broadway Significant Other as Laura (2015) The Winter's Tale (2014) Dogfight as Rose Fenny (2012) Everyday Rapture as Performer (2009) The Marvelous Wonderettes as Betty Jean (replacement) (2009) Readings Nerds as Myrtle (2016) Princesses, National Alliance of Musical Theatre (2006) Princesses, Goodspeed Opera House (2004)

Regional Theater The Rose Tattoo as Folk Singer/Giuseppina, Williamstown Theater Festival (2016)[16] 21 Chump Street as Naomi Rodriguez, Brooklyn Academy of Music (June 7, 2014) A Little More Alive as Lizzie, Kansas Repertory Theatre (2014) Footloose, Kansas City Starlight Theatre (2013) Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, Two River Theater Company (2011) The Trouble with Doug, National Alliance of Musical Theatre (2010) Band Geeks!, National Alliance of Musical Theatre (2009) Footloose, Sacramento Music Circus (2008) Princesses, 5th Avenue Theater (2008) Encores! The Golden Apple as Helen (2017) Concerts 35MM: A Musical Exhibition, The TimesCenter (2016) 35MM as Voice 2, Urban Stages (2010) Rated RSO; The Music and Lyrics of Ryan Scott Oliver (2009) Go the Distance, and the Lyrics of David Zippel, Performer, Lincoln Center (2006) Go the Distance, and the Lyrics of David Zippel, Performer, Kaufman Center

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2019-present	All Rise	Sara Castillo		[17]

Discography

• Band Geeks: A New Musical - Studio Cast Recording (2018)
• Carousel - 2018 Broadway Cast Recording (2018)[18]
• 21 Chump Street - The Musical - EP (2014)
• Dogfight - Original Cast Recording (2013)
• Kerrigan-Lowdermilk Live (2013)
• This Time, with Marco Paguia (2013)
• 35MM: A Musical Exhibition - Original Cast Recording (2012)
• Godspell - The New Broadway Cast Recording (2011)
• Everyday Rapture - Original Broadway Cast Recording (2010)
• New York City Christmas, ASTEP Benefit album (2009)
• Grease Revival - New Broadway Cast Recording (2008)

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2013	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Actress in a Musical	Dogfight	Nominated
	Drama League Award	Distinguished Performance		Nominated
	Outer Critics Circle Award	Outstanding Actress in a Musical		Nominated
2014	Broadway.com Audience Choice Award	Favorite Replacement (Female)	Wicked	Won
2017	Broadway.com Audience Choice Award	Favorite Featured Actress in a Play	Significant Other	Won
2018	Tony Award	Best Featured Actress in a Musical	Carousel	Won
	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical		Won
	Outer Critics Circle Award	Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical		Won
2019	Grammy Award	Best Musical Theater Album[19]		Nominated

References

1. "Lindsay Mendez". Retrieved 11 June 2018.
2. "How "The Green Lady" Brought Lindsay Mendez and Her Husband Together - Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
3. "Lindsay Mendez". Playbill. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
4. Wong, Curtis M. (5 June 2018). "In 'Carousel,' Broadway's Lindsay Mendez Helps Raise The Bar For Latina Inclusion". Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
5. "Bio". LindsayMendez.net. Archived from the original on 2014-06-12. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
6. "Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena: #Klendez". Time Out. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
7. "Home". Actor Therapy. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
8. Evans, Suzy (23 April 2013). "2013 Drama League Awards Nominees Announced". Backstage. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
9. Gans, Andrew (29 April 2013). "Nominations Announced for 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards; Giant and Hands on a Hardbody Lead the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
10. Cox, Gordon (22 April 2013). "'Pippin' Hot With Outer Critics Circle Nominators". Variety. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
11. "VIDEO: Anthony Ramos and Lindsay Mendez Star In Lin-Manuel Miranda's 21 CHUMP STREET". Broadway World. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
12. Levitt, Hayley (20 April 2017). "Final Bow: Lindsay Mendez Parts With Significant Other — and That's the Way It Is". TheaterMania. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
13. "Fly Girl: Backstage at 'Wicked' with Lindsay Mendez". Retrieved 11 June 2018 – via www.imdb.com.
14. Lefkowitz, Andy (10 June 2018). "Carousel's Lindsay Mendez Wins Her First Tony Award: 'Be Your True Self and the World Will Take Note'". Broadway.com. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
15. "Official: Lindsay Mendez and John Douglas Thompson Join Broadway's CAROUSEL!". Broadway World. October 12, 2017.
16. "The Rose Tattoo - Williamstown Theatre Festival". wtfestival.org. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
17. Lefkowitz, Andy (March 25, 2019). "Lindsay Mendez & Ruthie Ann Miles Join CBS Legal Drama Pilot Courthouse". Broadway.com.
18. McPhee, Ryan (June 8, 2018). "Carousel Revival Cast Recording Available Digitally June 8". Playbill.
19. "THE BAND'S VISIT, CAROUSEL & More Nominated for 2019 GRAMMY AWARDS". Broadway World. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.

External links

• Lindsay Mendez at IMDb
• Lindsay Mendez at the Internet Broadway Database
• Lindsay Mendez at Internet Off-Broadway Database