Introducing: Lee Stephen Mead
On entering the
competition "Any Dream Will Do"......
From: Southend-on-Sea
Age:
26
Birthday: 14th July
Occupation:
Singer/Actor
Why should you be
Joseph?
I feel I should be Joseph as this is something I truly
want. I am passionate about this character and like many people, I have a
part of my youth connected with the show. This was a touring production,
and all I can remember is how involved I was with watching the show. I
also believe I can give the public and the show the Joseph they know and
love but with a new, fresh, individual stamp.
Career highlight so
far?
My career highlight so far would have to be without doubt
the moment when I had the phone call for my first job. Until this point I
never knew if I was going to be good enough to work professionally, it was
a great feeling. The job was as a singer/dancer on a cruise ferry, and it
was my first break.
Dream role?
Other
than Joseph, I would like to play Chris in 'Miss Saigon'. I think it's an
all round great leading role for a man. A great story, strong challenging
songs and beautiful music. To play the Phantom would also be amazing.
Hobbies?
Cooking,
playing football and various sports. I love going to the cinema and eating
out with friends and family too.
Previous
Experience
Lee attended the Whitehall Performing Arts College
where he left, of his own accord, before graduating.
His first job was 5 years ago on a
cruise ship where he sang and danced.
His first professional job was in the
Joseph touring production (Pharaoh and Brother Levi) where he was doing 12
shows a week. He did get the chance to perform in the West End version to
fill in for the Pharoah twice out of 700 shows.
Since then he has performed
professionally in 'Phantom of the Opera' (understudy Raoul), 'Tommy'
(understudy) and 'Miss Saigon' (understudy for Chris).
He has toured with 'Abigail’s Party'
and had a small part in the BBC drama Murder in Mind. He’s also danced in
Geri Halliwell’s 'It’s Raining Men' video.
Source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/joseph/josephs/lee.shtml
Career update since
WINNING !! "Any Dream Will Do"......
Following his triumph in ADWD, Lee embarked on a highly successful run as
Joseph. His preparations for the role were documented in an hour-long TV
special, The Winner’s Story, which was broadcast in December 2007. Advance
ticket sales for Joseph were so strong that the first extension to his run was
announced before the show had even opened, and several more extensions were to
follow until he finally decided to bow out on 10th January 2009 after
more than 600 performances.
Despite his hectic schedule, Lee has also found the time to appear at a wide
range of one-off concerts. The first (and biggest) of these, the Concert for
Diana at Wembley in July 2007, took place a few days before the show opened.
Subsequently, Lee took part in the Andrew Lloyd Webber Gala Concert, Covent
Garden Kids’ Week, and Children in Need (a charity for which he became a patron)
in 2007. He was the winner of the Variety Club Award for Outstanding Newcomer in
2007, as well as releasing two solo albums:
‘Lee Mead’ in November 2007 and
‘Nothing Else Matters’ in March 2009
the first of which he launched at HMV in Oxford Street and which went on to sell
enough copies to qualify for a gold disc. Lee was chosen to unveil the advent
calendar for 20th December 2007 at St Pancras and was also the proud
winner of the coveted ‘Rear of the Year’ Award in the same year. He rounded off
the year in style by appearing alongside some of his former housemates at the
2007 Christmas special, When Joseph Met Maria, during which he performed
a duet, All I Ask of You, with Connie Fisher.
During 2008, Lee was invited to perform at the Dutch Musical Awards as well as
West End Live. He also recorded two tracks (‘Somebody Help Me’ and ‘You Got a
Friend’) for the soundtrack of the British film, Three and Out.
On 17th
July, the Joseph run celebrated its first anniversary, and a month later, Lee
appeared at the Don Black ‘Lyrics’ Concert, performing Some of us Belong to
the Stars and Love Changes Everything. He went on to perform
alongside some of the greats of musical theatre at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
Birthday in the Park in September 2008
and was also chosen as an ambassador for the national Anti-Bullying Week. In
this role, Lee appeared on GMTV to raise awareness of bullying in all walks of
life.
Subsequent appearances in late 2008 included the Ian Fleming Tribute and the
Future Dreams Concert, before Lee handed over his dreamcoat to Ricky
Rojas and then to Gareth Gates and bowed out of the role of Joseph. On an
emotional day at the Adelphi, Lee was given a send-off to remember before a
packed audience of family, friends and fans who had travelled from far and wide
to thank him for an unforgettable 18 months.
Since finishing his Joseph run, Lee married his fiancée Denise Van Outen at an
intimate ceremony in the Seychelles in April 2009.
He also found time to appear at the Australian Bushfire Benefit Concert in March
2009 and as a special guest at one of Rhydian’s concerts in early May. In
addition, he was chosen to present one of the British Soap Awards in May 2009.
Lee studied at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Institute in New York during the
summer of 2009 before returning to Britain and appearing at Longleat alongside
Hayley Westenra and the TOGs in September, performing the Frog Chorus for
Children in Need. In the same month, he also took part in recording the Beatles
classic All You Need is Love at Abbey Road Studios for Children in Need.
On Saturday 3rd October 2009, Lee appeared at the inaugural White
Sapphire Ball in Belfast, in aid of Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. He
performed ‘Holding on to Letting Go’ and ‘Nothing Else Matters’, the title track
of his second album. In addition, Lee is scheduled to appear at the Helping the
Heart of Music Concert at the Royal Albert Hall on October 25th
before teaming up once more with Hayley Westenra at her Christmas Concert at the
Barbican on 21st December 2009.
