Biography

A Broadway Original, A West End Star, A Story Still Being Written.

Joe Aaron Reid’s journey began in Greece, New York, where music was woven into the fabric of family and community. His father played piano, B3 organ, and drums in church, and it was there that Joe first discovered his voice. From church solos to school chorus, from chorus to show choir, and eventually to musicals, every step brought him closer to the stage.

Before discovering dance, Joe was a stellar athlete — a foundation that made his transition into movement feel both natural and inevitable. Once he began dance lessons, everything changed. He fused athleticism with artistry, channeling rhythm, storytelling, and soul into a lifelong passion for performance. In those early years, Joe also performed nationally and internationally, appearing in showcases and tours across the United States — including Los Angeles and New York City — as well as throughout Europe, experiences that ignited his love for travel and cross-cultural connection.

2005

After graduating from Greece Athena High School, Joe earned a BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College, one of the country’s top performing arts programs. During his studies, he discovered a love of choreography and began refining his creative voice as both a performer and storyteller. While still a student, he worked professionally for the first time with The Rev Theatre Company — an experience that deepened his passion and gave him an early glimpse into professional theatre life. The day he graduated, Joe moved to New York City with his newly earned Equity card and began rehearsals for Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of Ragtime the very next morning. In New York, Joe launched a multifaceted career that spanned theatre, television, and commercial modeling. He performed with companies such as North Shore Music Theatre, Place des Arts, Northern Stage, the Macau International Music Festival (MIMF), and City Center Encores! before making his Broadway debut in 2007 with Kander & Ebb’s Curtains. That debut led to a string of celebrated credits including Broadway’s Chicago, Finian’s Rainbow, Catch Me If You Can, Ghost: The Musical, and If/Then, along with appearances at Roundabout Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, 5th Avenue Theatre, Ahmanson Theatre, and the National Theatre. During this time, Joe also began branching out into television, appearing on NBC’s primetime hit SMASH and It Could Be Worse, as well as performing on The Today Show, Late Show with David Letterman, and multiple appearances on The Tony Awards. It was also in this chapter of his life that Joe became a proud father — an experience that deepened his artistry, purpose, and perspective both on and off the stage.

2015

Joe’s artistry reached new heights in London, where he became a leading man in the West End. He starred as Benny in the three-time Olivier Award–winning In the Heights and as Curtis Taylor Jr. in Sonia Friedman Productions’ two-time Olivier Award–winning Dreamgirls, opposite the incomparable Amber Riley. Performing to sold-out houses and critical acclaim, Joe cemented his reputation as a dynamic, commanding force on one of the world’s most prestigious stages. He also expanded into voiceover work, collaborating with major brands including Samsung, Unilever, Under Armour, Dannon, Emirates, Weetabix, and Tommy Hilfiger, among others, and dipping his toes into animation with the Netflix's Robozuna — building a reputation as a versatile performer both on stage and behind the mic.

2019

After several celebrated years in London, Joe and his family returned to the U.S., settling in Los Angeles, where he broadened his career into film, television, teaching, and writing — all while navigating the challenges of COVID, industry strikes, and even California wildfires. During his time in LA, he appeared on HBO Max’s Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, Amazon’s The Holiday Exchange, Pasadena Playhouse’s Jelly’s Last Jam, and in his return to London’s West End, starred as Stephen in Mark Gerrard’s Steve at Seven Dials Playhouse. As an educator, Joe has shared his expertise with numerous studios, organizations, and non-profits, including Musical Theatre Mayhem, White Heron Theatre Company, Musical Theatre West, and the Theatre Gap Initiative. His work as a writer has led to collaborations with publications like ParentMap Magazine and companies such as CopyCat, and he is currently developing multiple film projects.