Actor and Master Impressionist
Meet Joe
Joe is an actor and master impressionist originally from Ohio. His love for acting began early, sparked by a childhood trip to see Peter Pan, where he was the most enthusiastic believer in reviving Tinker Bell. By seventh grade, he was already entertaining his classmates with impressions of presidents (Ronald Reagan was his first), soon becoming the go-to performer at school whenever teachers asked.
Joe went on to train extensively, earning a BA in Theater from Goucher College and studying further at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and the Stella Adler Studio in New York. Though he initially took what he calls a “sensible career path” as a journalist, he never quite lost the pull toward acting. Eventually, he made the leap back to the stage, and a recent discovery of his dyslexia brought new understanding: the constant repetition, visualization, and sounding out of words that he’d long relied on have become essential tools in creating memorable, layered performances.
Known for his range and emotional depth, Joe’s work spans Shakespeare, 20th-century American classics, Greek Theater, and comedy. A proud board member and graduate of Studio Acting Conservatory in Washington, DC, he’s also shared his knowledge by teaching young adults at Theatre Lab.
Now based in Washington, DC, Joe’s Sundays often start at the Dupont Farmers Market, affectionately called “Vegetable Church” at home. Known for complicating his own food (no jarred sauces here), he frequently brings homemade treats to rehearsals. He’s available for work throughout DC, Maryland, Virginia, and nationally.
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Romeo and Juliet
The Lovers
Red
Waiting for Godot
John, Oleanna
by David Mamet
Reviews
Romeo and Juliet
“Friar Lawrence, played by Joe Crea, is the most heartbreaking of characters. He only wants to do what is right, he tries to help the young couple, but his attempts are in vain and ultimately cause the tragic end. Crea captures that recognition and his devastating remorse in his final scene.”
– DC Theater Arts
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
“You know you’re steeping yourself in the character correctly when the audience is nervous-laughing and cringing at the utterly inappropriate drivel rolling out of your mouth, and that’s exactly the success that Joe Crea achieves in the role of Rutherford Selig, especially when he starts gassing on about his long family lineage of being a ‘people finder.’ It seems harmless enough when he talks about how he finds ‘…negroes for negroes…’ right up until he starts dating back a bit further, talking about how his grandaddy found people and put them on slave ships, then his daddy was a slave catcher, etc. All the while Crea is just beaming ear to ear with this fine lineage, and the audience is squirming in their seats watching this snake-oil salesman wax poetic about his noble past and present practices. It’s quite the accomplishment.”
- Theatre Bloom