Johanna is one of Australia’s most versatile singer/actors, with credits across stage, screen, opera, and concert.
After graduating with both a Bachelor of Music Performance (Hons) and B.A. (Drama Performance and Direction) she won a scholarship to study with Daniel Ferro at the Juilliard School, New York. There she continued her training in music and acting. She is a two time Green Room award winner, awarded for her portrayal of Charlotte in A Little Night Music, and Alice Beane in Titanic the musical. She has also been awarded the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Walk of Fame, alongside Hugh Sheridan and Sir Robert Helpmann for her year.
Most recently she played Mrs Lovett in Victorian Opera’s international touring production of Sweeney Todd. Other roles include: Mrs Teavee in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory national tour, Mother Abbess in GFO’s production of The Sound of Music, and Signora Nacarelli in The Light in the Piazza.
She premiered her show Pop Culture Vulture at the 2024 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, and most recently filmed a role in Stan’s new tv series Love Divided.
In 2024 she was also a soloist with the Sydney Philharmonia’s celebration of Rodgers and Hammerstein ‘Showstoppers’ at the Sydney Town Hall. This
co-incided with the continuation of her side career in radio, as presenter/producer for the ABC and the highly successful release of her arts program Words with Friends on Saturday afternoons.
‘The effervescent, ebullient Johanna Allen literally stole the show.’ - Sydney Morning Herald.
Further credits also include Phantom of the Opera (Handa’s Opera on the Harbour/OA), Wicked, Dr Zhivago (GFO), Marcy in Dogfight (Hayes Theatre) Carlotta in Phantom of the Opera (Really Useful/Neil Gooding Productions), Lady D’Asquith in A Gentlemen’s guide to Love and Murder (The Production Company) and Emma Goldman in Assassins (Watch This Melbourne).
Her self-written musical play, The Songs That Got Away, based on the music of Harold Arlen has had sell out seasons at the Hayes Theatre Sydney, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Melbourne Recital Centre, Glen Street Theatre, Noosa Festival and Parramatta Riverside Sydney.
Johanna played Oriel in developments of Cloud street for the State Opera of South Australia, with music by George Palmer and directed by Gale Edwards. Other roles include The Baker’s Wife - Into the Woods (GFO), The Threepenny Opera (Sydney Theatre Company/Malthouse Theatre), Elizabeth Proctor - The Crucible (New York Theatre Festival), Lady Macbeth - Macbeth (New York Theatre Festival) and The Angel and the Red Priest (Adelaide Festival).
Operatic principal credits include Kate - The Pirates of Penzance (opposite Anthony Warlow, National DVD release, Opera Australia) Pitti Sing- The Mikado (Opera Australia), The Old Lady - Candide (State Opera of South Australia) and she originated the role of Gussie Bethell in Ode to Nonsense (Slingsby/State Opera of South Australia) a new opera about the life of Edward Lear.
Her association with the Adelaide Cabaret Festival has included roles in The Wild Party – The Music of Andrew Lippa, Suitcase - The Music of Sean Peter, An Evening with Jeremy Sams, her own show Mixtape, The Songs that Got Away and Cake. Further professional credits include Guys and Dolls (MSO concert version), The Sign of the Seahorse (Playbox Theatre) SCAM (Junction Theatre Co) Mr McGee and the Biting Flea (Patch Theatre) and Dead Man Walking (State Theatre Sydney).
Her concert experience is vast, with numerous credits in classical repertoire, big band, swing and pop. She has collaborated with artists such as David Helfcott, Anthony Warlow, Michael Cormick, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Festival of Voices and New York City Big Band. As an artist she has performed at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, the International Spegieltent, Melbourne International Festival, New York Baroque Ensemble, and in concert with the NYC Big band.
She presented her third sell out show at the Melbourne Recital Centre Euromash, featuring the music of Michel Le Grand, Astor Piazola and Edith Piaf in collaboration with Jazz composer and musician Mark Simeon Ferguson.
She was cast as Golde in Opera Australia’s production of Fiddler on the Roof. However that was postponed due to covid. As result Johanna was able to work as presenter, associate producer and performer on a new web series/tv show ‘ASQ live at UKARIA’ with the Australian String Quartet. Further film and television credits include: The Divorce (ABC TV/Princess Pictures), Rewind (presenter), Travelling Light (Dawnie), The Front Bar, The Eye (Festival Shorts: Best Actress). Johanna’s album, Calling Card, is a collection of jazz standards, covers and originals created in collaboration with is available on iTunes.
In addition to her work as a performer, she is steadily gaining credits as a writer, producer and director. She has worked across artistic programming, and as a creative producer, vocal coach, cultural curator, educator and Artistic Director. Previous positions include Casting Producer The Voice Shine Television, Creative Producer Powerhouse Youth Theatre, and she has produced work for major Australian companies including Carclew Youth Arts, Australian Theatre for Young People, and Ensemble New York. Her most recent directing credits include Beautiful - the Carole King Musical for Matt Ward Entertainment, Songs my Mother taught me (writer & director) starring Tina Arena, Lior, Jess Hitchcock and Wendy Matthews), The 50TH Birthday Celebration for Adelaide Festival Centre (writer/creative director) and Homage to the Maj starring Meow Meow, Tim Rodgers, Rob Mills and Accordion to Hans.
She is delighted to be part of the 2025 Australian Music Theatre Festival.