J. Harrison Ghee

Last updated

J. Harrison Ghee
J harrison ghee 2023 2.jpg
Ghee at the 76th Tony Awards in 2023
Born (1989-06-16) June 16, 1989 (age 34)
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Education American Musical and Dramatic Academy
Known forActing

J. Harrison Ghee (born June 16, 1989) [1] is an American actor, singer, and dancer, best known for their work on Broadway. [2] They [lower-alpha 1] first received recognition for their performance as Lola in Kinky Boots . In December 2022, they originated the role of Jerry/Daphne in Some Like It Hot , a stage musical based on the 1959 film of the same name. [3] They won the 2023 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for their performance, and Ghee, along with Alex Newell, became the first openly nonbinary performers to win Tony Awards. In 2024, they won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. [4]

Contents

They originated the role of Andre Mayem in Mrs. Doubtfire , a role they also played in the 5th Avenue Theatre at an out of town engagement in 2019. [5]

Early life

Ghee grew up the child of a Southern Baptist pastor and an educator in Fayetteville, North Carolina. [6] [7] They began playing cello in elementary school, later switching to play the bass. Ghee then learned to play trombone, so that they could be in the E. E. Smith High School marching band. After graduating high school in 2007, Ghee attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. [6] Ghee first tried drag in college when they played a female wrestler. [8]

Theatrical career

Ghee began working professionally at Tokyo Disneyland and on cruise ships. [9] While in Tokyo, Ghee began creating their drag persona, Crystal Demure. [6] When Ghee went to audition for Motown , they took the opportunity to share with the casting directors, who also worked on Kinky Boots , their story and connection with the Kinky Boots character Lola and were eventually cast as Lola in their Broadway debut. [8] Ghee was the first established drag performer to take on the role. Ghee eventually joined the national touring production of the show. [10]

Ghee joined the cast of Mrs. Doubtfire , [11] and began previews before the 2020 closing of Broadway. In 2021, Ghee performed as Velma Kelly in The Muny's production of Chicago , before originating the role of Andre when Mrs. Doubtfire opened.

In 2022, Ghee joined the cast of Some Like It Hot . They are playing Jerry/Daphne, the role played by Jack Lemmon in the film. [12] [13]

In 2023, Ghee and Alex Newell became the first openly non-binary actors to be nominated for and win Tony Awards. [13] [14] [15]

In 2023, they were named as one of OUT Magazine's Out 100. [16]

In 2024, it was announced they would lead as Lady Chablis in Jason Robert Brown and Taylor Mac's production of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. [17]

Personal life

Ghee is non-binary and pansexual, [18] [19] [20] and uses he/she/they pronouns. [19] [21]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018 High Maintenance CarlEpisode: "Globo"
2019"Heather Mae: Be Not Afraid"DancerMusic Video
2019 Raising Dion Kwame7 episodes
2021Over My Dead BodyJackéeShort Film
2023 Accused RobynEpisode: "Robyn's Story"

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef
2023 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical Some Like It Hot Won [22]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical Won [23]
Drama League Award Distinguished PerformanceNominated [24]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway MusicalWon [25]
Chita Rivera Award Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway ShowNominated [26]
2024 Grammy Awards Best Musical Theater Album Won

Notes

  1. ↑ Ghee uses she/her, he/him, and they/them pronouns. This article uses they/them pronouns for consistency.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Awards</span> Annual awards for Broadway theatre

The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in Manhattan. The ceremony is held on the second Sunday of June.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey Fierstein</span> American actor and playwright

Harvey Forbes Fierstein is an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter, known for his distinctive gravelly voice. He is best known for his theater work in Torch Song Trilogy and Hairspray and film roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, and as the voice of Yao in Mulan and Mulan II. Fierstein won two Tony Awards, Best Actor in a Play and Best Play, for Torch Song Trilogy. He received his third Tony Award, Best Book of a Musical, for the musical La Cage aux Folles and his fourth, the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, for playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, a role he revived in its live television event, Hairspray Live! Fierstein also wrote the books for the Tony Award-winning musicals Kinky Boots, Newsies, and Tony Award-nominated, Drama League Award-winner A Catered Affair. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne Brady</span> American TV host and actor (born 1972)

Wayne Alphonso Brady is an American television host, comedian, actor, and singer. He is a regular on the American version of the improvisational comedy television series Whose Line Is It Anyway? He was the host of the daytime talk show The Wayne Brady Show, was the original host of Fox's Don't Forget the Lyrics!, and has hosted Let's Make a Deal since its 2009 revival. Brady also performed in the Tony Award–winning musical Kinky Boots on Broadway as Simon—who is also drag queen Lola—from November 2015 to March 2016, and as James Stinson on the American TV series How I Met Your Mother.

<i>Kinky Boots</i> (film) 2005 British comedy-drama film

Kinky Boots is a 2005 British comedy-drama film directed by Julian Jarrold and written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth. Nominated at the 64th Golden Globe Awards, it is based on a true story. The film tells of struggling shoe factory owner Charlie, who forms an unlikely partnership with Lola, a drag queen, to save the business. Charlie develops a plan to produce custom footwear for drag queens, rather than the men's dress shoes that his firm is known for, alienating many in the process.

<i>Some Like It Hot</i> (musical) 2022 musical

Some Like It Hot is a 2022 musical comedy with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, and a book by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin. It is based on the 1959 MGM/UA feature film Some Like It Hot, which in turn was based on the 1935 French film Fanfare of Love. The musical, like the film, follows the story of jazz age musicians struggling during Prohibition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annaleigh Ashford</span> American actress, singer, and dancer (born 1985)

Annaleigh Amanda Ashford is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Her early roles on Broadway include in the musicals Wicked (2007), Legally Blonde (2007), and Hair (2010). She received the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for playing Essie Carmichael in You Can't Take It With You (2014–2015). Her other Tony-nominated roles include Lauren in Kinky Boots (2013) and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2023). She also starred in the Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George (2017).

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is an American nonprofit organization that raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States, headquartered in New York City. It is the theatre community's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS embarks on its 2024 grant-making, the philanthropic heart of Broadway announced $400,000 in emergency grants to organizations providing immediate, on-the-ground support to people in desperate need amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and across the Middle East. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, BC/EFA has raised over $300 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV, and other critical illnesses since its founding in 1988. The organization awards annual grants to over 450 AIDS and family service organizations across all 50 states, Puerto Rico & Washington D.C., and is the single largest financial supporter of the social service programs of The Actors Fund.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Porter</span> American actor and singer (born 1969)

William Ellis Porter II is an American actor and singer. Porter gained notice performing on Broadway before starting a solo career as a singer and actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Newell</span> American actor and singer (born 1992)

Alex Eugene Newell is an American actor and singer. They are known for their role as Unique Adams on the Fox musical series Glee and Mo on Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. Newell also starred as Asaka in the Broadway revival of Once on This Island at the Circle in the Square Theatre in 2018. For their role in Shucked, they won the 2023 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Along with J. Harrison Ghee, they became the first openly nonbinary performers to win a Tony Award in an acting category.

<i>Kinky Boots</i> (musical) Stage musical

Kinky Boots is a musical with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">67th Tony Awards</span> 2013 awards ceremony

The 67th Annual Tony Awards were held June 9, 2013, to recognize achievement in Broadway productions during the 2012–13 season. The ceremony returned to Radio City Music Hall in New York City, after two years at Beacon Theatre, and was broadcast live on CBS television. Neil Patrick Harris hosted for the third consecutive year, his fourth time as host. Awards in four of the eight acting categories, were given to African-American performers. Furthermore, it is the second time in Tony history that both directing prizes went to women. Garry Hynes and Julie Taymor had previously won in 1998. Kinky Boots had a season best 13 nominations and 6 awards. Cyndi Lauper, composer of the score for Kinky Boots, is the first solo female winner for Best Original Score.

E. E. Smith High School is a high school in Fayetteville, North Carolina. A part of Cumberland County Schools, it is named for Ezekiel Ezra Smith and is home of the Golden Bulls.

<i>Kinky Boots</i> (Broadway cast album) 2013 cast recording by Various

A Broadway original cast album for the musical Kinky Boots was released on May 28, 2013, less than two months after the show opened on Broadway. It was produced by Cyndi Lauper, who wrote the songs, Stephen Oremus, the orchestrator and conductor, and William Wittman. On release it premiered at number one on the Billboard Cast Albums Chart and number fifty-one on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the highest charting Broadway cast recording since The Book of Mormon's album was released two years earlier. Vocalists on the album include Stark Sands, Billy Porter and Annaleigh Ashford,.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew López (writer)</span> American playwright and screenwriter

Matthew López is an American playwright, director and screenwriter. His play The Inheritance, directed by Stephen Daldry, premiered at London's Young Vic in 2018, where it was called "the most important American play of the century." It transferred to the West End later that year, and opened on Broadway In 2019. The Inheritance is the most honored American play in a generation, sweeping the "Best Play" awards in both London and New York including the Tony Award, Olivier Award, Drama Desk Award, Evening Standard Award, London Critics Circle Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League Award, WhatsOnStage Award, and the Southbank Sky Arts Award.

<i>Mrs. Doubtfire</i> (musical) American stage musical

Mrs. Doubtfire is a musical based on the 1993 film Mrs. Doubtfire, which in turn is based on the 1987 novel Alias Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine, with music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell. The musical is set in the city of San Francisco, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">76th Tony Awards</span> Awards ceremony

The 76th Tony Awards recognized the achievements in Broadway productions during the 2022–23 season. The ceremony was held at the United Palace in New York City on June 11, 2023. Ariana DeBose served as the host for the second year in a row, with Skylar Astin and Julianne Hough co-hosting a pre-show on Pluto TV prior to the main telecast on CBS.

<i>Shucked</i> 2023 musical comedy

Shucked is a 2022 musical with music and lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and a book by Robert Horn. The Broadway production began previews at the Nederlander Theatre on March 8, 2023, before opening on April 4. The show received positive reviews and went on to receive nine nominations at the 76th Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Cast member Alex Newell became one of the first two openly non-binary performers to be nominated for and win a Tony Award, with their win for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

Jim Kierstead is a Tony Award, Olivier Award, Drama Desk, and Daytime Emmy Award-winning American theatre producer, film producer, and writer. He is best known for his work on Broadway.

References

  1. ↑ "J. Harrison Ghee – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  2. ↑ "J. Harrison Ghee, Inside the Playbill" . Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  3. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 20, 2022). "Christian Borle, J. Harrison Ghee, Adrianna Hicks to Star in Some Like It Hot on Broadway". Playbill.
  4. ↑ Paulson, Michael (June 12, 2023). "In Historic Night for Nonbinary Performers, J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell Win Tony Awards". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  5. ↑ "J. Harrison Ghee Full Biography". www.broadwayworld.com. Broadway World. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Kyles, Akira. "'Drag really helped me live out loud:' 'Kinky Boots' star and Fayetteville native hopes to inspire others". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  7. ↑ "AMDA - AMDA News - Kinky Boots National Tour Takes on J. Harrison Ghee as Leading Lola". www.amda.edu. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  8. 1 2 McPhee, Ryan (June 25, 2017). "How a Real-Life Lola Became the Star of Kinky Boots on Broadway".
  9. ↑ Cox, Gordon. 2022. “The Great White Way’s Bright New Talent.” Variety 357 (14): 110–15.
  10. ↑ Shulman, Randy (June 30, 2016). "Exclusive Interview: "Kinky Boots" star J. Harrison Ghee on the power of drag". Metro Weekly . Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  11. ↑ Maude, Samuel (February 14, 2023). "J. Harrison Ghee Is Bringing Queer, Black Joy to Broadway's Some Like It Hot". Elle . Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  12. ↑ Pogrebin, Robin (May 10, 2023). "In 'Some Like It Hot,' J. Harrison Ghee Brings Their Whole Self". The New York Times . Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Zornosa, Laura (May 31, 2023). "J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell on Making Tony History Together". Time . Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  14. ↑ Huston, Caitlin (May 2, 2023). "J. Harrison Ghee, Alex Newell Break Down Gender Barriers as Nonbinary Tony Acting Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  15. ↑ Lee, Benjamin (June 12, 2023). "Tony awards 2023: Leopoldstadt and Kimberly Akimbo win big in historic night for non-binary actors". The Guardian . Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Fayetteville's J. Harrison Ghee named LGBTQ+ trailblazer by Out Magazine". The Fayetteville Observer. October 28, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Full Casting Set for Jason Robert Brown and Taylor Mac's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - TheaterMania.com". April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  18. ↑ "J. Harrison Ghee Brings His Heat to Broadway's 'Some Like It Hot'". EDGE Media Network. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  19. 1 2 Kumar, Naveen (January 24, 2023). "Broadway Star J Harrison Ghee: 'Drag Is Such a Tool of Freedom'". The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  20. ↑ "My name is J. Harrison Ghee". Facebook . December 29, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2023. As a nonbinary pansexual black artist, I hope that in my daily life I can be an example of freedom and fabulousity and inspire someone else to walk in their truth.
  21. ↑ "J. Harrison Ghee • Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  22. ↑ Sherman, Rachel; Cohn, Gabe (May 2, 2023). "Tony Awards Nominations 2023: The Complete List". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  23. ↑ "And The Winners of The 2023 Drama Desk Awards Are ……… - Times Square Chronicles". t2conline.com. May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  24. ↑ Evans, Greg (May 19, 2023). "Broadway's 'Leopoldstadt' And 'Some Like It Hot' Take Drama League Awards For Outstanding Play & Musical". Deadline. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  25. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 26, 2023). "New York, New York, Some Like It Hot Lead 2023 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations".
  26. ↑ Cristi, A. A. "A BEAUTIFUL NOISE, DANCIN', NEW YORK, NEW YORK and More Win 2023 Chita Rivera Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.