Michael K. Lee (born June 5, 1973) is an American actor and singer who is based inSeoul, Korea.
Lee was born inBrooklyn, New York to Susie and Won Yub Lee. He was raised inSalamanca, a small Native American reservation town nearBuffalo, where his father, a surgeon, set up his practice.[1] Theirs was the only Asian American family in the town. He played both violin and piano, and performed in the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra.[2] He is a graduate ofStanford University,[1][3] where he studied psychology on apre-med track and sang with theStanford Fleet Street Singers.[4]
Lee's career began in 1995, when he was cast in the second national tour ofMiss Saigon. He auditioned for the show on three occasions before he was cast.[2][4] Lee went on to join the Broadway production ofMiss Saigon (Thuy). His other Broadway credits includeJesus Christ Superstar (Simon Zealotes),Pacific Overtures (Kayama), andRent.[2]
From 2015 to 2016, Lee starred in themusicalAllegiance onBroadway,[5] a show aboutGeorge Takei's life experiences (who starred in the musical alongside Lee). In the show, Lee reprised the role of Frankie Suzuki, a character based on real-life political activistFrank S. Emi.[6] The role had won him the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle's Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in 2012, during theAllegiance's run at theOld Globe there.[7]Allegiance began Broadway previews on October 6, 2015, and opened on November 8, 2015,[8] running through early 2016.
Lee has starred in numerous productions in Seoul, includingJesus Christ Superstar (Jesus),Miss Saigon (Chris),Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Tick),Notre Dame de Paris (Gringoire),Amour (Dusoleil), andGone with the Wind (Ashley). His other international credits includeWhere Elephants Weep inPhnom Penh, Cambodia,They’re Playing Our Song inManila, Philippines (oppositeLea Salonga), andA Twist of Fate in Singapore (opposite Laura Michelle Kelley).
Lee portrayed Tommy inThe Who's Tommy, winning a Seattle Footlight Award for Best Actor in a Musical;[9] Judas and Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar,[10]Aladdin inDisney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular; and Jamie Willerstein inThe Last Five Years.
As of 2013, he lives in Seoul, Korea. He is married to actress Kim Varhola.[11]
| Year | Title | Role | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-2001 | Miss Saigon | Thuy - Replacement | Broadway |
| 1999 | Beijing Spring | LA | |
| 2000 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Simon Zealotes | Broadway |
| ... | They’re Playing Our Song | ... | Manila, Philippines |
| 2001 | The Last Five Years | Jamie Willerstein | |
| ... | A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum | Hero | ... |
| 2003 | Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular | Aladdin | Disneyland |
| 2004-05 | Pacific Overtures | Kayama | Broadway |
| 2005 | A Twist of Fate | ... | Esplanade Theatre, Singapore |
| 2006 | Miss Saigon(South Korea debut) | Chris | South Korea |
| 2007 | The Who's Tommy | Tommy | |
| 2008 | The King and I | ... | Village Theatre, Issaquah, WA |
| ... | Where Elephants Weep | ... | Phnom Penh, Cambodia |
| 2010 | Miss Saigon | Chris | South Korea |
| 2011 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Jesus Christ / Judas Iscariot | Village Theatre, WA |
| 2012 | Allegiance (musical) | Frankie Suzuki | Old Globe Theatre, San Diego |
| 2013 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Jesus Christ | South Korea |
| 2013 | Notre Dame de Paris | Gringoire | South Korea |
| 2014 | Priscilla, Queen of the Desert | Tick | South Korea |
| Amour | Dusoleil | South Korea | |
| Seopyeonje | Dongho | South Korea | |
| The Devil | X | South Korea | |
| 2015 | Gone with the Wind (musical) | Ashley | South Korea |
| Jesus Christ Superstar | Jesus Christ | South Korea | |
| 2015-16 | Allegiance (musical) | Frankie Suzuki | Broadway |
| 2016 | Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe | Edgar Allan Poe | South Korea |
| 2016 | Notre-Dame de Paris (musical) | Gringoire | South Korea |
| 2017 | Rocky Horror Show | Dr. Frank N. Furter | South Korea |
| Napoleon | Napoleon | South Korea | |
| Hedwig and the Angry Inch (musical) | Hedwig | South Korea | |
| 2018 | The Phantom of the Opera | Raoul | South Korea |
| Notre-Dame de Paris (musical) | Gringoire | South Korea | |
| Rocky Horror Show | Dr. Frank N. Furter | South Korea | |
| 2019 | Hedwig and the Angry Inch (musical) | Hedwig | South Korea |
| 2020 | Something Rotten! | Nostradamus | South Korea |
| Eyes of Dawn | Jang Ha-rim | South Korea | |
| 2021 | Blue Helmet : A Song of Meissa | Commander | South Korea |
| Jesus Christ Superstar | Jesus Christ | Japan | |
| 2022-23 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Jesus Christ | South Korea |
| 2023 | The Devil | X-White | Japan |
| 2024 | Notre-Dame de Paris (musical) | Gringoire | South Korea |
| Next to Normal | Dan | South Korea |
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