In life, it is imperative to sparkle inside and out. Much more radiant than her purple gown, Johanna Moise’s personality blossoms through her every performance. In each step she takes in her white pumps, it is another step for aspiring black women on Broadway.
Growing up in a nine-person household in Miramar, Moise was surrounded by music and the arts. Moise’s days were filled with busy mornings and afternoons, and when school ended, she often waited at the Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS) library for her mom to pick her up and drive her to dance lessons.
Since Moise was five years old, dancing stood as a lifelong dream, and Moise’s love for performing began right on the PPCHS stage. Though her schedule was packed with Advanced Placement (AP) classes and a heavy STEM track, her passion for dance had stuck through high school.
Moise still remembers her senior year in Andrea Kidd’s drama class—the previous drama teacher at PPCHS—when she first performed with Troupe 6153.
“Once I auditioned for Hamlet: Zombie Killer of Denmark and got the role of Ophelia, I got a true taste of the theatre community,” she says.
“Everything we got to do in the River of Grass auditorium felt magical and untouchable.”
Moise’s first experience on stage sparked something she hadn’t expected, which was a new direction and passion.
“I was always so med-school minded,” she says, “but that show changed everything. I realized how much I loved telling stories and connecting with people.”
That passion eventually led her to one of Broadway’s biggest stages when she joined the cast of Hamilton, a significant turning point in her career that introduced her to professional theater and confirmed that performing was her true calling.
What she thought would be a short-term experience has become a long-term career, as she has lived in New York City for nearly seven years. With this massive adjustment, Moise expresses that being far from her family is the hardest part of her move.
“Coming from a large household, it was [difficult] not being able to go home for every holiday or birthday,” she says.
Although she’s ensured that her time in New York is worth it, Moise now performs in Death Becomes Her on Broadway, where she serves as a swing and understudy for the role of Viola Van Horn.
Moise mentions that “the most challenging part was understanding that I deserved to be there. You have to believe in yourself enough to share what you have to offer.”
Earlier this year, Moise appeared with the Death Becomes Her cast at the Tony Awards.
“It was my first time performing at the Tonys, and it was incredible,” she expresses. She also mentions feeling lucky to be part of a show that has been widely appreciated.
However, a vast part of these roles is meeting the individual fans who connect with her performance and remind her that she belongs on stage, showing that each step she takes is worth all the practice and determination. After realizing that she deserves to be on stage, she gains confidence in each performance she does.
In addition to her theater career, Moise has lent her voice to Netflix projects and worked alongside prominent Hollywood names, including Timothée Chalamet in A Complete Unknown. During this experience, she soon fell in love with on-screen acting as well, and although her scene didn’t make the final cut, she took this opportunity to value the experience.
For young performers looking to follow in her footsteps: “Throw yourself into class, watch interviews, [and] read. The only person who can make it happen for you is you,” Moise continues, “you can’t perform at your best if you’re not taking care of your body and mind.”
Moise credits much of her success to PPCHS teachers. “Andrea Kidd taught me to ‘use what you know to grow,’” she says. “And Sunshine Phelps inspired me to be curious about the world and about people.”
From her first stage role at PPCHS to her debut in Hamilton and her continued success on Broadway, Moise’s journey shows how passion, discipline, and courage can turn a childhood dream into a lifelong career. Her story reminds students that even the most significant goals begin with a single opportunity and the willingness to take it.
