PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Original Mary Poppins Star Gavin Lee | Playbill

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Cue and A PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Original Mary Poppins Star Gavin Lee Gavin Lee, currently starring on Broadway as Bert in Mary Poppins, fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire with random facts, backstage trivia and pop-culture tidbits.

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Gavin Lee

Lee originated the role in London and on Broadway, for which he received Drama Desk and Theatre World Awards as well as Tony and Olivier Award nominations.

West End work includes roles in Crazy for You, Peggy Sue Got Married, Me and My Girl, Over My Shoulder, Oklahoma! and Contact.

Lee's other professional credits include Singin' in the Rain, Snoopy, Noel Coward's Masterpieces, Of Thee I Sing, Saturday Night and Ayckbourn's Whenever.


Full given name: Gavin Lee


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Where you were born/where you were raised: Born in London, UK. Raised two hours east of London in the beautiful small riverside town of Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Current audition song/monologue: If I'm stuck for an appropriate song I always fall back on my standard "I Got Rhythm," sung in whatever accent is required. It got me thru the first audition for Mary Poppins!
Special skills: Not a lot of special skills. I can still do a bit of "roping" from being in Oklahoma! And, I guess I can say "tap dancing upside down," which will be super useful in the future, I'm sure.
Something you're REALLY bad at: Warming up before a show. L-A-ZEE.
First West End show you ever saw: Singin' in the Rain at the London Palladium in 1982. Loved it. Especially the title number.
If you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show, what would it be? The original Chicago. And the original flop production of Chess. The London production is my FAVOURITE show.
Current show other than your own you have been recommending to friends: Haven't seen anything for over a year because I have a one-year-old daughter! So no recommendations!
Favorite showtune of all time: "Unexpected Song" from Song and Dance
Some favorite musicals: Chess
Metropolis
Chicago
Crazy for You
The one performance – attended - that you will never forget: Elena Roger as Evita in London, 2006.
MAC or PC? MAC
Most played song on your iPod: Sadly it's Laurie Berkner's "Boots." My daughter loves it. (Actually so do I. Great kids album!)
Most-visited websites: YouTube
Last book you read: "The Hunger Games." The movie is out next year. Cant wait!
Must-see TV shows: "American Horror Story"
"Happy Endings"
Last good movie you saw: Mike Leigh's "Another Year"
Some films you consider classics: "Waiting for Guffman"
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
"Life Is Beautiful"
Performer you would drop everything to go see: Meryl Streep
Pop culture guilty pleasure: Watching "The Biggest Loser." They get SO thin by the end!!!!!
Favorite cities: New York, of course.
London, of course.
Minneapolis.
First CD/Tape/LP you owned: A compilation album of 80's hits called "Disco Double." Not cool.
Favorite non-theatre musician: Seal
First stage kiss: Crazy for You
Favorite or most memorable onstage role as a child/teenager: Seymour Scoop in Bugsy Malone. It was all of four lines, but it was my West End debut when I was 11.
How you got your Equity card: Princess Cruises.
Favorite pre-/post- show meal: It ain't fancy but a takeaway Maoz salad bowl is the healthiest, best tasting thing EVER. (corner of 7th and 40th)
Favorite liquid refreshment: Coke Zero
Most challenging role you have ever played: The President of the United States in Of Thee I Sing
Worst costume ever: Dressed as a bat, dancing to Michael Jackson's "Bad" in pantomime.
Leading man role you've been dying to play: Wanted to play J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed but seeing as Daniel Radcliffe is doing a fine job in the role on Broadway I guess I'm just a little too old for it now!
Something you are incredibly proud of: Not having a Facebook page.
Something you're embarrassed to admit: Not having a Facebook page.
Three things you can't live without: Wife. Daughter. iPhone.
Words of advice for aspiring performers: Do as much community theater/performing as you can. Experience is everything.
View Lee's Playbill Video Cue & A:

 
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