Michael K. Lee
Michael K. Lee born (June 5, 1973, in Brooklyn, New York) to Won Yub and Suzie Lee, is an American theater actor and singer who lives in Seoul, Korea. Lee is a graduate of Stanford University. Acting career. Michael K.Lee's career began when he was cast in 1995 in the second national tour of "Miss Saigon". At the time, he was not Equity, and he had never taken a singing lesson in his life; he auditioned for the show on three occasions before he was cast. Michael went on to join the Broadway production of "Miss  Saigon" (Thuy). Other Broadway credits include "Jesus Christ Superstar" (Simon Zealotes), "Pacific Overtures" (Kayama), and "Rent". In 2015–2016, Lee starred in the musical "Allegiance" on Broadway, a show about George 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 activist Frank S. Emi. The role had won him the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle's Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in 2012, during the "Allegiance"'s run at the Old Globe there. "Allegiance" began Broadway previews on October 6 , 2015 and opened on November 8, 2015, running through early 2016. Lee has starred in numerous productions in Seoul, including "Jesus Christ Superstar" (Jesus), "Miss Saigon" (Chris), "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" (Tick), "Notre Dame de Paris" (Gringoire), "Amour" (Dusoleil), and "Gone with the Wind" (Ashley). Lee's other international credits include "Where Elephants Weep" in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, "They’re Playing Our Song" in Manila, Philippines (opposite Lea Salonga), and "A Twist of Fate" in Singapore (opposite Laura Michelle Kelley). Lee portrayed Tommy in "The Who's Tommy", winning a Seattle Footlight Award for Best Actor in a Musical ; Judas and Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Aladdin in ""; and Jamie Willerstein in "The Last Five Years". Personal life. Lee was born in Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in Salamanca, a small Native American reservation town near Buffalo, where his father (a surgeon) set up his practice. Theirs was the only Asian-American family in the town. He learned to play both violin and piano, ultimately playing in the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra. At Stanford, Lee studied psychology on a pre-med track; he also sang with the Stanford Fleet Street Singers. As of 2020, he lives in Seoul , Korea. He is married to Kim Varhola.