November Featured Actor - Bryan Lee

Bryan Lee joined the Shakespeare Tavern with the 2006-2007 Apprentice Company in August, 2006. Since then, Bryan has graced the Tavern’s stage in Romeo and Juliet, Troilus and Cressida, and Cabaret. Now Bryan is playing Arthur in King John, a young prince who is caught in a tug-of-war for the throne of England.

Bryan grew up in Bleckley County in Middle Georgia. He majored in Theatre with an emphasis in Music at Northwestern State University in Louisiana. He is an accomplished singer and often worked with NSU’s music department

When Bryan came to the Tavern as an Apprentice, he found his favorite thing was being completely immersed in theatre. To him, it felt like an extension of his college training.

You may also have seen Bryan in The Lost Colony at Roanoke Island, The Andrew’s Brothers at ART Station, and several other productions around the South East.

Bryan told me that he always finds the role he is currently working on to be his favorite. He says that he would love to play Puck in A Midsummer Nights Dream, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, and Iago in Othello. Outside of Shakespeare, his dream roles include Chris in Miss Saigon and Sweeney Todd.

When seeking inspiration and looking up to actors, Bryan looks to the work of Alan Cumming and Sir Ian McKellen. He also likes the work of Julianne Moore.

When I asked Bryan to tell me something different and unusual about himself, he told me that he really likes to fish. He likes the ritual of getting ready and going to buy junk food and beer beforehand, and then how peaceful it is on the water.

As far as Bryan’s acting career goes, he says that he feels happy and fulfilled in Atlanta. He wants to be part of making the Atlanta Theatre Community great and he is having fun and being challenged here,

In King John, Bryan is playing Arthur, the nephew of Richard the Lionheart and heir to the throne. When Richard changes his mind on his deathbed, the throne passes to Richard’s younger brother John. Arthur, who is very young, gets caught in the middle between opposing factions. Bryan says that in his personal interpretation of the role, Arthur is very young and does not want to be King. His favorite scene is what he calls the “Eyeball Scene” with Hubert, played by Jeff Watkins.

-Redd