Jonathan Lee(born 26 April 1982) is an English singer and actor. Lee is the youngest member of pop groupS Club,who disbanded in April 2003, before reuniting in March 2023. With a long career in musical theatre, he has taken on roles in more than 17 productions, including theWest EndshowsLes MisérablesandJersey Boys.
Jon Lee | |
|---|---|
 Lee in Jersey Boys 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jonathan Lee |
| Born | 26 April 1982 Croydon,London, England |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Formerly of | S Club |
Early life
editLee was born inCroydon,London, England.[1][2]Lee grew up in south Devon and attended Decoy Primary inNewton Abbot,but the family moved to the village ofIpplepenwhen he was seven. Although he did not attend a theatre school, Lee was "always doing plays". He joined a drama club and later didamateur dramatics.He moved up toCoombeshead College,a comprehensive school in Newton Abbot, where arts and drama were encouraged. The school had a drama wing with adance studioand also a recording studio.[2]
At the age of 13, Lee won a scholarship to theSylvia Young Theatre Schoolin central London, a private school with about 150 pupils.[2]
Career
edit1994–1998: stage
editWhile still 13, Lee played the leading role in the West End production ofOliver!at theLondon PalladiumTheatre, alongsideJonathan Pryce,and laterGeorge Layton,asFagin.In 1997, Lee played the role of Julian in the premiere ofFamous Five Smuggler's Goldthe musical.[citation needed]
1999–2003: S Club
editLee was a member of pop group S Club 7, who rose to fame by starring in their ownBBCtelevision series,Miami 7,in 1999. Over the five years they were together, they had four UK No.1 singles, one UK No.1 album, hits throughout Europe, and a top-ten single in the United States, Asia, Latin America and Africa. They recorded four studio albums, released eleven singles and sold over fourteen million albums worldwide.[3]In 2001 the group earned theRecord of the Yearaward. Group memberPaul Cattermoledeparted the group in 2002, and the group changed its name from S Club 7 to simply S Club. On 21 April 2003, during a live onstage performance, S Club announced that they were to disband.[4]
2004–present: acting
editIn 2004 Lee played the role of Marius inLes Misérablesat thePalace Theatrein London, and continued the role following the show's move to the smallerQueen's Theatre.In 2005 Lee toured the UK with the new musical,Love Shack,featuring disco classics and hit dance songs from the charts, starring alongsideSteps'Faye TozerandHear'Say'sNoel Sullivan.In August 2006 Lee starred in The Heather Brothers' production ofTeen Screamat the Assembly Rooms at theEdinburgh Festival Fringe.He returned to the London stage in 2010 in the musicalTomorrow Morning.Lee worked on a number of other musical projects before returning to the stage, including BBC's "The Sound of Musicals".In 2008 he recorded a song for the CDAct One – Songs From The Musicals Of Alexander S. Bermange,an album of 20 new recordings by 26 West End stars. It was released in November 2008 on Dress Circle Records.
In 2008 Lee voiced the part of Max, in the BritishDisney Channelcartoon seriesFamous 5: On the Case.Over Christmas and New Year's 2008–09 he appeared at The White Rock Theatre,Hastings,performing the leading role in thepantomimePeter Pan.[5]Both Lee and the show were well received.[6]Later in 2009 Lee appeared asBilly FuryinNick Moran's new filmTelstar.On 22 May 2010 he appeared in BBC One'sCasualtyas Craig, who is diagnosed withmotor neurone disease.[7]He played John in the internationally acclaimed musicalTomorrow MorningbyLaurence Mark Wytheat the Landor Theatre in London. Over the following Christmas and New Year's, Lee appeared at theNew Victoria Theatre,Woking asPrince CharminginCinderella.[8]
In October 2012 Lee announced his debut solo album,Fallen Angel.The first track on the album, "My Father's Son", was premiered on 4 November byBBC Radio 2'sPaul O'Grady.The album was released on 4 March 2013. Lee took on the part ofFrankie ValliinJersey Boysat thePrince Edward Theatre,London, from 15 March 2011 until 7 March 2014. At the end of 2012, while maintaining hisJersey Boyscommitments, Lee took the lead role inAladdinatThe O2in London and acted alongside O'Grady, who revived his alter-egoLily Savage.[9][10]
In August 2016, Lee appeared at theLytham Festival'sWest End Proms.[11]In March 2017, Lee appeared onLet's Sing and Dancefor Comic Reliefas part of Boys Allowed withGareth Gates,Duncan James,Ritchie NevilleandBen Ofoedu.[12]In March 2018, he appeared on ITV'sDinner Date.[13]
Personal life
editIn August 2010, Lee revealed that he isgayin an interview withGay Timesmagazine. He added that he hadcome outto family and friends at a young age, and that "it's never needed to be a huge change that I've had to tell everyone about."[14]
Stage
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1994–1995 | Oliver! | Oliver Twist |
| 1997 | The Famous Five: Smuggler's Gold | Julian |
| 2003–04 | Les Misérables[15] | Marius |
| 2004–2005 | Love Shack[16][17] | Evan |
| 2005–06 | Les Misérables[18] | Marius |
| 2006 | The Sound of Musicals[19] | (various) |
| 2006–2007 | Teen Scream[20] | Joe |
| 2008–2009 | Peter Pan[21] | Peter Pan |
| 2010 | Tomorrow Morning[22] | John |
| Cinderella[23] | Prince Charming | |
| 2010 | Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary | Sailor |
| 2011–2014 | Jersey Boys[24] | Frankie Valli |
| 2012 | Aladdin: A Wish Come True[25] | Aladdin |
| 2014 | Copacabana[26] | Tony Starr |
| 2016 | Forever Plaid[27] | Jinx |
| 2016–2017 | Peter Pan[28] | Peter Pan |
| 2017–2018 | West End Proms[29] | Jon |
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Seeing Double | Jon | Main role |
| 2008 | Telstar: The Joe Meek Story | Billy Fury |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Swamp Thing | Robert Niedman | Episode: "Patient Zero" |
| 1995 | Law & Order | Robert | Episode: "Angel" |
| 1997–98 | EastEnders | Josh Saunders | Main role |
| 1997 | The Mill on the Floss | Tom (Young) | Television film |
| 1999 | Miami 7 | Jon | Main Role |
| Back to the '50s | Television film | ||
| Boyfriends & Birthdays | |||
| The Greatest Store in the World | Himself | ||
| 2000 | L.A. 7 | Jon | Main Role |
| S Club 7 Go Wild! | Himself | Reality television | |
| Artistic Differences | Jon | Television film | |
| Christmas Special | |||
| 2001 | Hollywood 7 | Main role | |
| S Club Search | Judge / Mentor | Reality television | |
| 2002 | Viva S Club | Jon | Main role |
| 2006 | The Sound of Musicals | Various roles | |
| 2008 | Famous 5: On the Case | Max (voice) | Main role |
| 2010 | Casualty | Craig Robbins | Episode: "Mum's the Word" |
| 2018 | Celebrity Dinner Date | Contestant | Episode: "3" |
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Fallen Angel[30] |
|
Singles
edit| Song | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "My Father's Son"[31] | 2013 | Fallen Angel |
References
edit- ^"Jon Lee currently plays 'Aladdin' in Aladdin-A Wish Come True".London Theatre.8 June 2016.Retrieved26 April2023.
- ^abcParkinson, Judy (26 September 2003)."Mr McIntyre was one of those teachers you could have a laugh with".tes.com.Retrieved1 May2023.
- ^"She's movin' on up".The Times.13 February 2005.Retrieved21 October2008.[dead link]
- ^"S Club to split up".BBC News.BBC. 21 April 2003.Retrieved25 August2007.
- ^"Peter Pan" at The White Rock Theatre, HastingsArchived18 December 2008 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Peter Pan at The Stage.co.uk".
- ^"Jon Lee (Casualty) interview at lastbroadcast.co.uk".
- ^"Panto review: Cinderella at New Victoria Theatre Woking".23 December 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 5 May 2013.Retrieved12 February2022.
- ^Akbar, Arifa (17 December 2012)."Aladdin: A Wish Come True, O2 Theatre, London – Reviews – Theatre & Dance".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 14 June 2022.Retrieved26 August2013.
- ^"This Morning Big Fat Panto Quiz with Sonia, Jon Lee, Chico & Les Dennis – 19th December 2012".19 December 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 13 December 2021.Retrieved26 August2013– via YouTube.
- ^"MORE STARS ADDED TO THE BILL FOR WEST END PROMS | Lytham Fes".Archived fromthe originalon 22 October 2016.Retrieved14 September2016.
- ^"BBC – More celebrities confirmed to strut their stuff on Let's Sing and Dance for Comic Relief – Media Centre".
- ^"S Club 7's Jon Lee looks for love on Dinner Date – but he isn't recognised".3 March 2018.
- ^Sanders, James (11 August 2010)."S Club 7 performer Jon Lee talks to GT magazine".Pink Paper.London: Millivres Prowler. Archived fromthe originalon 16 July 2011.Retrieved11 August2010.
- ^"S Club star Jon Lee in Les Miserables 28 July 03".London Theatre.8 June 2016.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"Love Shack".Designer Magazine.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"Love Shack: a new kind of musical".BBC.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"Jon Lee".Official London Theatre.
- ^"The Sound of Musicals".BBC. 12 January 2006. p. 52.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"Teen Scream review at Assembly".The Stage.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"White Rock Hasting".Panto Archive.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"Photo Flash: Jon Lee and Julie Atherton Set for TOMORROW MORNING".Broadway World.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"CINDERELLA PANTO PRODUCTION PHOTOS".Ianolsson.16 December 2009.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"My First: Interview With Jon Lee, Star Of Jersey Boys".West End Theatre.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"Jon Lee currently plays 'Aladdin' in Aladdin-A Wish Come True".London Theatre.8 June 2016.Retrieved26 April2023.
- ^"Barry Manilow musical Copacabana tours UK starring Jon Lee".Musical Theatre Review.18 August 2014.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"Forever Plaid – Jon Lee, Keith Jack, Matthew Quinn and Luke Striffler cast".Musical Theatre Review.7 March 2016.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"Jon Lee Ready for Neverland".Sclubility.9 November 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 10 October 2018.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"Henshall, Prenger and Salonga lead line-up at Lytham's West End Proms".Musical Theatre Review.August 2017.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"Fallen Angel – Jon Lee".iTunes Store. 30 May 2011.Retrieved4 June2011.
- ^"JON LEE'S NEW VIDEO FOR MY FATHER'S SON".S Club Bility. 30 May 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 3 September 2014.Retrieved4 June2011.
External links
edit- Jon LeeonMyspace
- Jon Leeon YouTube
- Can't Take My Eyes Off You – Jon LeeonYouTube– at theLytham Festival,2016