User:Griffinmcelroy/sandbox

Mientus was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, son of Jean Marie (née Gleeson) and Robert J. Mientus. He is of Polish, Italian, and Irish descent.[1] His paternal grandfather was Joseph A. Mientus (the son of John/Jon Mientus and Annie/Anna Pokracki/Pocratsky). John was Polish. Annie was born in Pennsylvania, to parents from Poland. Andy's paternal grandmother was Josephine Chernek (the daughter of Joseph Chernek and Elizabeth Steish/Steis). Joseph was from Poland. Elizabeth was born in Poland, to parents from Austria. Mientus' maternal grandmother was Mary Rose Lavachielli (the daughter of Matteo “Matthew” Lavacchielli/Lavachielli and Ernestina Costa). Matteo and Ernestina were Italian. Matteo was born in Tiedoli, Province of Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. His maternal grandfather was Morgan Francis Gleeson.

Before starting his career in theatre, Mientus was a fan of the musical Spring Awakening. After seeing the show at the Atlantic Theatre Company, he created a Facebook group for his friends and himself to discuss the show on. However, Mientus began to notice strangers (fellow fans) were joining the group, and soon one of the producers from Spring Awakening contacted Mientus and asked him to make his group the official show Facebook page, which Mientus could moderate. He agreed, and was later recommended by the same producer to audition for the touring company of Spring Awakening.[2] He left the University of Michigan after his junior year to be in the show, and never returned to graduate.[3]