Mike Oquendo, creator of the “Mikey O Show,” is a Chicago native whose creative work reflects a deep commitment to his city and its residents. He is an accomplished producer of comedy, theatre, and music, with projects extending throughout Chicago and across the United States. Mike has served on the Board of the National Academy of the Recording Arts & Sciences in establishing the first Latin Grammy Awards—as well as on the board of the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance, which oversees 'Destinos,' the largest Latino Theatre Festival in the country. Additionally, he has contributed concepts to WTTW, HBO Latino, MSNBC, and WGN.

 

Mikes productions have been staged in Florida, New York, Puerto Rico, New Jersey, and Connecticut. His 2019 Off-Broadway project, "Made in Puerto Rico," featuring Eli Castro, sold out for seven consecutive weeks in New York City. His follow-up production at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater ran for five weeks in 2024. Notably, he remains the only Chicago Latino producer to achieve a sold-out run at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. His recent involvement includes producing the “Chicago” episode of the John Leguizamo MSNBC special “Leguizamo Does America,” which aired in 2023 and was filmed in Humboldt Park.

 

As a seasoned public speaker, Mr. Oquendo is known for his engaging style and has emceed events for leading organizations, including IBM, TikTok Headquarters, Zurich Insurance, the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation, the International Latino Cultural Center, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the University of Chicago, and Global Citizen, among others. He advocates for the integration of entrepreneurship and community engagement to foster robust neighborhood partnerships built on diversity and equity. Mike actively volunteers with numerous Chicago organizations, and his initiative “Comedians for Communities” annually raises significant funds for local non-profits.