Media Monday: Raymond Lee
April 19th, 2010 | Published in Media Monday
While not as high-profile as film or television roles, theater both on- and off-Broadway is a ripe training ground for young actors who might not otherwise fit the current “look” that Hollywood seeks.
Currently performing the role of Eddie in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia is Raymond Lee, a Korean American actor who has made an impression in his Broadway debut. He first got into performing while studying pre-med chemistry at Northwestern University. However, he decided to switch majors and was eventually accepted into the Musical Theatre Certificate Program. He came to a national audience when he preformed in the NBC talent contest Fame in 2003.
From there he was cast as Simba for Disney Cruse lines and also preformed in an off-Broadway production of Two Gentlemen of Verona put on by The Public.
In an interview with A A Risings, Lee had this to say about his experience working as an actor since moving to New York in 2005 – and about landing the role of Eddie in one of Broadway’s most diverse casts:
I landed the role of Eddie through a series of auditions as well. They had originally seen me for the show when I first moved to New York in 2004 but I guess timing worked best for me two years later. My agents, Nicolosi & Co, have always worked so diligently to get me seen for all sorts of parts and not just Asian specific roles, and the fact that they were able to get me into the round of auditions that allowed me to book the role of Eddie just shows how awesome they are.
Not just performing, Lee has also produced and directed performances for the Mamma Mia cast to perform in the annual Easter Bonnet show for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fundraiser.
He is just beginning to branch out into film work, he has been both in 2008′s Ghost Town
NBC’s Fame is still his highest profile television role, although he did make a YouTube video as an audition for the hit TV show GLEE.
