Joseph C. Townsend is a Middle Eastern American AEA Actor & Singer based in New York City. Originally from the small-town of Auburn, NY, Joe moved to NYC after booking the National Tour of How The Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical! on his first NYC audition. Post tour, Joe was mentored by Broadway Legend & Tony Award Winner, Baayork Lee, who encouraged him to move to the Big Apple to start and work with her as he began his showbiz journey. From there, he signed with his first agent, trained at the Manhattan School of Music and Stella Adler Studio of Acting on full-scholarship, and became a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
           
Joseph has since performed in Oliver at the Paper Mill Playhouse, various regional theaters, and a contemporary reimagining of Mozart’s Le Nozze Di Figaro in Italy. Joseph has performed as a guest star in concerts at Lincoln Center, The Town Hall, Birdland, Feinstein’s/54 Below, and The Green Room 42. Joe had the honor of singing “Over The Rainbow” at the Smithsonian Institute of American History in Washington, D.C., for the unveiling of The Ruby Slippers, worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz, after their two year restoration project was complete. Joseph has performed the National Anthem 90 times (as of 05-01-21) for various Veteran’s, political, sporting, and ceremonial events including for the NYC FBI Headquarters and The Wall That Heals. In 2020, he was nominated “Best Vocalist of the Decade” by BroadwayWorld, after having just made his cabaret debut, only three months before the pandemic shutdown.