"It was like watching a play, like an actor telling people's stories. It showed me the power of performance and how the power of someone's story could change lives."
"The reality in arts and entertainment is who are the ones making the decisions - it's not the actors. There's real power in being the one who gets to invite people in the room to do the thing they love."
Mendizábal grew up in Orlando, Florida, with an Ecuadorian father and Puerto Rican mother. Watching their father, an immigration attorney, defend clients in court inspired them to pursue performance and storytelling. After studying theater at New York University, they worked for various theater companies in New York for 15 years before joining Berkeley Rep in 2022. At Berkeley Rep, they produce larger, more ambitious projects featuring diverse casts and playwrights of color, including Mexodus, Mother Road, and Sanctuary City. Mendizábal's career focus is behind-the-scenes production work, recognizing the power of decision-makers in shaping artistic narratives and promoting social justice, radical inclusion, and anti-racism through theater.
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