Recording artist Joanna “JoJo” Levesque is blending her pop roots with musical theater this spring as she makes her Broadway debut in the Tony-winning jukebox spectacular Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Levesque plays the star attraction of the show, “the one and only” Satine. Jojo made a name for herself at age 13 with her No. 1 single “Leave (Get Out).” NY1 News entertainment journalist Frank DiLella recently caught up with Jojo during a break from a performance to talk about her bucket-list moment.

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It’s your Broadway debut! Dream come true?

Yes! I grew up with all the musical tapes and CDs in the car and my Mom and me singing them. I’ve always wanted to do something like this. So it’s so exciting I’m living it out!

What were you listening to back then?

My shows were The Phantom of the Opera and Little Shop of Horrors. Little Shop is one of my favorite movies.

What was the first Broadway show that got you hooked?

[The revival of] Sweeney Todd with Patti LuPone. I had just put out my first single. I had seen shows before, but that was the one that impacted me the most. First, because of the song “Johanna”: I was like, Oh my God, this song has my name in it! I loved the story — the darkness and how twisted it was. And I recently saw the new version with Josh [Groban] and Jordan [Fisher] and Annaleigh [Ashford]. I’m obsessed!

Were you a fan of the film Moulin Rouge!? 

Definitely. I was 10 when it came out. It was the first Baz Luhrmann film I had ever seen, and it blew my mind. I loved the mash-up of it all, and the music, how it seamlessly blended with this gorgeous world he created.

Have you talked to Baz since getting this role?

Not yet. But it would be a dream to work with him.

Take me back to your opening night.… 

I was really just focused on what I’ve learned to call “doing your show.” Meaning, doing the show I practiced and learned and have prepared for. I tried to focus on that instead of the external things and thoughts inside my head. I just wanted to get into the muscle memory of what we had learned in the studio for the past few weeks. My nerves were bubbling up — my family came in from Boston, I had some friends in the audience. Once I came down from the swing and didn’t fall, I thought, OK, I got this.

Let’s talk about that entrance. It’s quite the entrance for a character.

What was going through my mind as I was coming down was, Just get the first line out. Hearing when you’re in the air is a very different experience than when you’re on the ground. The first night, the audience was incredible. So I just allowed that to delight me and delight Satine.

This show is the perfect blend for your Broadway debut. You come from the pop music world, and this is a show that highlights some of the great pop of our time. In your mind, why do you think we’re seeing more and more shows featuring pop music on Broadway?

This is a dream opportunity for me to play with so many different things that I have loved from a young age, which are singing, acting, and performing overall. I think this style of musical is just so exciting to be in the audience for. Whether or not you know or love or have experience with musical theater, the songs in Moulin Rouge! are a part of you. You grew up with them. You have some type of relationship with them. And it’s delightful to see how they’re seamlessly woven into the story.

Any advice from Ashley Loren, who played Satine before you?

Ashley is a dear friend. She’s given me so much support and advice. I’ve asked her every little thing, like were you scared, like when do you take a pee break? Or placement, or what did you find to be the most challenging, or what did you enjoy most? She’s been super generous and amazing through all of it. The best advice she gave me is to not push it.

Lots of celebrities have flocked to this show. Who are you hoping to see in the audience?

I want my girls Chloe x Halle to come, actually; I think they would have such a good time. Tori Kelly is a friend of mine — I think she’s coming soon. I would love for Nicole Kidman to come. And I definitely want to meet Baz Luhrmann.

You’re now a member of the Broadway community. How does it feel to be a member of this big family?

It does feel like a community experience that I have always longed for and never had in this type of way. Not only have I been a solo artist since I was a little tiny baby girl, but I’m also an only child, and I didn’t go to college. So this is that sense of “We’re all in this together” that I’ve always wanted to feel. And it’s so fun!