"Love Who You Are and What Makes You, You." - Chatting with the Wonderful Justine Moral!
It is my complete joy and honor to introduce you to the one and only Justine "Icy" Moral. Justine is a professional singer and actress who has performed onstage all over the country as well as on television in the US and in the Philippines! She is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University where she studied Vocal Performance. Her career began in theatre when she performed the role of young Ngana on the National Tour of South Pacific. She also she became a Recording Artist with SonyBMG Philippines at age 14 where she released her Pop album titled Dream Away. Justine has performed Off-Broadway at The New Victory Theatre and regionally with companies such as: The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Olney Theatre Center, Ford's Theatre, Dallas Summer Musicals, Flatrock Playhouse, and many others!
I first met Justine back in 2005. Justine and I went to the same high school (Northwest High School, Germantown, Maryland). She began right after I graduated. Everyone I knew there and everyone since have had nothing but glowing things to say about this talented actress. I had the privilege of seeing her in Ragtime at Ford's Theatre, and all the things I have heard throughout the years were completely spot on. The sky truly is the limit for Ms. Moral, and when you see her name on the playbill, I will strongly attest that this proud member of Actors Equity is truly, and will always be, worth the price of admission! I am very thankful to finally have the chance to interview this amazing artist!
How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a performer on the stage?
I knew super early on that I wanted to perform! My dad’s side of the family is very musical. Everyone either sings or plays an instrument, and my mom used to perform Tahitian dancing as a child. I know my parents have early footage of me trying to commandeer the microphone from my mom as a toddler and trying to sing Carpenter songs. I also remember belting out “I Will Always Love You” on the Karaoke machine before I could even really pronounce the words correctly!
Are there any mentors in your life who truly helped you become the amazing performer you are today?
I have had some wonderful teachers throughout my life that have taught me so much, and I thank each and every one of them, just to name a few, Richard, Bonnie, Sherion, Shawn, Marianna, thank you, thank you. And dearest to me is my mother who has always been my coach and manager ever since I started working professionally when I was 11. She has been there every step of the way from when I was on tour as a child to my career in the Philippines to helping me prep for auditions, concerts, performances, interviews. Through it all she had the perfect balance of guiding me and letting me make my own decisions, to be my own artist. I love her and am so grateful for everything she has done to support me and shape me into the performer I am today.
We are living in some unprecedented times in the world. For all artists (especially actors) it is definitely a time of uncertainty. What has your everyday routine been like during Quarantine and what are some things you do to keep your spirits up?
Haha! Well, I feel like my everyday routine kind of changes day by day which I actually like! I find having a check list of things for the day, and being able to do them in any order I like as long as it gets done, is very helpful! Some things on that list include allowing time for exercise/yoga, setting aside some productivity time, and setting a point in the day where I put down my phone, make sure I put work/busy stuff aside, and focus on spending some quality time with my family or even taking a walk by myself for myself. I recently have also been designing and hand making mask necklaces for my mother’s online boutique! Mask Necklaces are cute accessory chains you can attach to your mask so that when you take off your mask you can basically wear it around your neck. It has been a super fun creative outlet for me, especially during Covid times.
I have loved following your amazing career which has been so wonderful and inspiring! Are there any shows, performances, or experiences in your wonderful career that will always stick out and be near and dear to your heart?
Ah, thank you so much! I have had so many wonderful, fantastic experiences! I would say performing in the Philippines, performing in Ragtime, Beauty and the Beast, and being in Elephant and Piggie’s We’re in a Play Off- Broadway are all experiences I hold dear to my heart.
In the Philippines, I made guest appearances on many tv shows, did radio interviews, and traveled to do concerts all over to promote my album I released there all at the age of 14! It was a crazy schedule. I learned so much, and I feel that that experience has really prepared me as an artist to be ready for anything, to have stamina, the ability to pace myself. and to always be up for a challenge. Another experience I loved was Ragtime at Ford’s Theatre.
As a Filipino American, I never thought there was any place for me in that show, but with their concept that the show was to represent the people of America today, I was able to play the role of Evelyn Nesbit. I was grateful for the chance to play her and to be a part of one of my favorite musicals. Playing Belle in Beauty and the Beast at Wheelock Family Theatre also gave me some amazing memories and some forever friends. From the moment I landed in Boston to do that show, all I felt was love, warmth, and teamwork. And of course, Elephant and Piggie’s We are in a Play, which brought me to my off-Broadway debut right in the middle of Times Square at the New Victory Theatre! I will never forget performing there doing such a fun piece and walking right out on to the hustle and bustle of NYC.
What advice would you give any young aspiring artists in these challenging times?
Be you. Love who you are and what makes you, you. If you can do this, you will have the spark you need inside to be confident in what you can bring to a role, a song, or whatever you are working hard to do. You are going to experience a lot of criticism on this path, and you are going to have to be strong and believe in yourself, in your ability, and in your superpower. Everyone has their own path. There is no wrong way to become an artist! And of course, remember to always have an open heart and open mind.
To learn more about Justine make sure you visit her website at - https://msha.ke/justineicymoral/