Biography
At the age of three, Mike Calendrillo first appeared on stage during his mother's (Jean Marie) one-woman show. This is where Mike first discovered his love for performing. As a teenager, Mike continued to hone his craft when he had the privilege to learn the fundamentals of acting and screenwriting from Michael Coppola, nephew of Francis Ford Coppola. Here, Mike picked up the nuances and subtleties that go into creating memorable pieces of art.
After high school, as part of the music group J2, Mike and his sister L'ren, signed a record deal and toured the country, singing their very own brand of pop/r&b music - opening for the likes of Lenny Kravitz, JC Chasez, and Nick Cannon. This experience only added to Mike's already deep love for being stage. After four years as a recording artist, Mike decided to take his career in a different but familiar direction. He set his sights on achieving success in the worlds of acting and with the guidance of veteran stage and screen performers, Mark Durso and Timothy O' Keefe.
In 2005, as Mike began to land professional roles on television, he also started to craft original ideas into original screenplays for all entertainment mediums. Always evolving, Mike has since optioned numerous scripts while working on various projects - from TV pilots, elaborate stage productions, and even full-length motion pictures.
Then, in 2009, Mike followed his heart and relocated to Los Angeles, California. There he dipped his toe into the world of sketch comedy, becoming head writer and producer of Now That's Freakin' Funny. That same year, Mike premiered his theatrical comedy/musical, 'Midtown Blues' off-Broadway to rave reviews.
Over the past 10 years, Mike has garnered extensive expertise in developing strategic content specifically focused on digital video, editorial, social media, personnel management, storytelling & branded partnership marketing in a variety of roles in the entertainment industry. His work as a media producer and coordinator, journalist, writer, and performer has won him numerous professional awards.
