A Brief History of Josh

Welcome! My name is Joshua Ponsones (He/Him) and I’m an Illinois based actor, singer and writer. My love for theatre began in 6th grade with a production of Arsenic and Old Lace and has become a lifelong obsession. I went on to receive my BFA in Acting/Directing from Rockford University (Class of 2023!) and have been working various jobs in the industry since.

Along with theatre, my performance capabilities also include voice-over, stand-up, playwriting and improv. I have also worked in various scene shops as a carpenter, building and designing for various shows.

My professional career began in 2022 with Cedar Point’s Snake River Expedition, and I have since been blessed to work with Bright Star Touring Theatre, Cedar Point’s Halloweekends, and perform in productions of Oklahoma! and The Addams Family.

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Ghosts of Theatre Past

Like all kids, I had an unlimited supply of energy that my mom tried to funnel into a multitude of activities. Baseball, soccer, football, basketball, Boy Scouts, Tae Kwon Do, you name it and I did it. It wasn’t until 6th grade when my favorite teacher Mrs. Middleton encouraged me to audition for her production of Arsenic and Old Lace that I discovered my true passion. For the next 6 years, my life revolved around art in all forms. I played trumpet in the marching band, sang in every choir and performed in every school play and musical until I graduate high school.

After I graduated high school in 2018, I began attending community college in my hometown with the goal of getting my bachelor’s in Pre-Med to eventually make my family proud and become a doctor (wouldn’t they be shocked later). Here my passion was reignited through RVC Starlight Community Theatre, where I performed from 2018 to 2021 with a break during 2020 (you can assume why). I pretty much lived in this theatre as I also worked in their shop, building and designing set pieces and props before heading right to rehearsals. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, I realized I could not live without theatre and decided once and for all to pursue this full time.

Big Man on Campus

In 2021, I transferred to Rockford University in Rockford, IL to get my BFA in Acting/Directing. Thanks to already completing my gen-eds as a Pre-Med major, I was able to focus solely on the arts for the next 2 years. Here I had the education and training I so badly needed. With the help of my peers, voice teacher and acting mentor, I was able to become the performer I am today. The friends I made here were my introduction to the professional world, I owe so much of my career to these people. In only 2 years, I gained immense experience in directing, vocal technique, and hands on technique in 7 mainstage productions. Nothing prepared me better for a career in the arts than Rockford University, and RU was where I made the connections for my first ever professional contract.

Indomitable Spirit

One of my proudest achievements while at RU was my senior seminar, a self written one-man play titled Indomitable Spirit. The piece chronicles a pivotal moment for the legendary Filipino hero Ninoy Aquino as he reflects on the horrors of the Marcos Regime and Martial Law during a historic speech in Los Angeles. As a Filipino-American, this piece was highly important to me, connecting to a history I’ve long been away from. Aquino’s story is especially personal, as like other Filipinos, my family was directly affected by the Marcos Regime. When Martial Law began in 1972, my Lolo (grandfather) was arrested as a member of the free press, before being released to my family hours later. He was one of the lucky ones, as they saw many people taken away to never return until Marcos fled in 1986. Link to watch here.

All of Me

As a performer, I tend to make my entire life revolve around the theatre, but it barely scratches the surface of who I am. I am made up of all the people that love me, my mom, brother, the family that refers to themselves as my “fan club”, my friends, colleagues and my devoted partner, Holly. Without them, I wouldn’t be anything and without my career I wouldn’t have half of them. Every one of them placed a brick that made me, and I owe everything to them.

Thankfully, I have hobbies outside of theatre and have been lucky to also devote myself to cooking, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and attempting to keep my plants alive.