Jenna Lee-James
Encyclopedia
Jenna Lee-James is a British
actress who has played the part of Scaramouche in the West End
version of the hit musical We Will Rock You
. She also appeared in West End at Home which played at a variety of theatres including the Mayflower Theatre
, Southampton
. She appeared as the Narrator in Joseph at the Adelphi Theatre
, London
alongside Gareth Gates.
Jenna was born in Clydebank, where she started her career at the age of 10 in pantomime at the King's Theatre
. She also played July in Annie
, Maisie in The Boy Friend
and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz
, all at the Kings.
She began her professional career on a tour of Bobby Davro
's Rock with Laughter. Other theatre credits have included Tiger Lily in Peter Pan
at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle with Leslie Grantham
and Joe Pasquale
, Lorraine in the UK tour of Boogie Nights
with Shane Ritchie, principal singer in the tour Money Money Money - The Real ABBA Story and Peter Pan at the Grand Theatre Swansea
with Dora Bryan
, John Challis
and Mike Doyle
.
Jenna was runner-up in the Voice of Musical Theatre 2005 competition held at the New Theatre, Cardiff.
Despite her father wishing her to train to become an accountant, Jenna's determination to be a performer has seen her (without any formal training) finish as Runner-up in the BBC's Voice of Musical Theatre 2005.
In 2008 Jenna recorded a song for the CD Act One - Songs From The Musicals Of Alexander S. Bermange
, an album of 20 brand new recordings by 26 West End stars, released in November 2008 on Dress Circle Records.
(BBC
), Party in the Palace (BBC), Party in the Park (Channel 5) & Children in Need
(BBC).
She is the voice for a number of kids clubs characters for the leading holiday entertainment provider TEDGroup
in London.
After 5 and a half years, she said goodbye to the Dominion and Scary Bush on 29 September 2007.
She played Scaramouche for one-and-a-half years, Meatloaf for another one-and-a-half years and for two-and-a-half years she was in the ensemble. She played the part as the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre
in London, until the show closed in May 2009.
She toured with a Queen tribute show in Scandinavia, with, among others, Anders Ekborg
, and other West End performers, in November 2007.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actress who has played the part of Scaramouche in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
version of the hit musical We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You (musical)
We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical, based on the songs of Queen and named after their hit single of the same name. The musical was written by British comedian and author Ben Elton in collaboration with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor...
. She also appeared in West End at Home which played at a variety of theatres including the Mayflower Theatre
Mayflower Theatre
The Mayflower is a Grade II listed theatre, in the city centre of Southampton, United Kingdom, with a capacity of 2,300. It features West End theatre shows when they tour the UK. The theatre opened on the 22 December 1928, as The Empire Theatre, part of the Moss Empire theatre group...
, Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. She appeared as the Narrator in Joseph at the Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
alongside Gareth Gates.
Jenna was born in Clydebank, where she started her career at the age of 10 in pantomime at the King's Theatre
King's Theatre, Glasgow
The King's Theatre is located in Glasgow, Scotland. It was built for Howard & Wyndham Ltd under its chairman Baillie Michael Simons as a sister theatre of their Theatre Royal in the city and was designed by Frank Matcham, opening in 1904. The theatre is primarily a receiving house for touring...
. She also played July in Annie
Annie (musical)
Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years with a blonde Annie as the poster...
, Maisie in The Boy Friend
The Boy Friend
The Boy Friend is a musical by Sandy Wilson. The musical's original 1954 London production ran for 2,078 performances, making it briefly the third-longest running musical in West End or Broadway history until it was surpassed by Salad Days...
and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, which has been adapted into several different works, the most famous being the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland...
, all at the Kings.
She began her professional career on a tour of Bobby Davro
Bobby Davro
Bobby Davro is a British actor and comedian. He is mainly known for his work as an impressionist...
's Rock with Laughter. Other theatre credits have included Tiger Lily in Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle with Leslie Grantham
Leslie Grantham
Leslie Michael Grantham is an English actor best known for his role as "Dirty" Den Watts in the soap opera EastEnders. He is also a convicted murderer, having served 10 years for the killing of a German taxi driver, and he generated significant press coverage as the result of an online sex scandal...
and Joe Pasquale
Joe Pasquale
Joseph Ellis "Joe" Pasquale is an English comedian from Grays, Essex, arguably most famous for his high-pitched voice, use of visual gags and more recently being crowned "King of the Jungle", on the reality TV show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!...
, Lorraine in the UK tour of Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights (musical)
Boogie Nights is a British musical, based upon the pop music of the 1970s, written by Jon Conway with Shane Richie and Terry Morrison.-Plot:...
with Shane Ritchie, principal singer in the tour Money Money Money - The Real ABBA Story and Peter Pan at the Grand Theatre Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
with Dora Bryan
Dora Bryan
Dora May Bryan OBE is an English actress of stage, film and television.-Early life:Bryan was born as Dora May Broadbent in Southport, Lancashire, England. Her father was a salesman and she attended Hathershaw County Primary School in Oldham, Lancashire...
, John Challis
John Challis
John Challis is an English actor.-Career:He is probably best known for his role as Terrance Aubrey "Boycie" Boyce in the long running comedy show Only Fools and Horses, and its 2005 spin-off, The Green Green Grass....
and Mike Doyle
Mike Doyle (comedian)
Mike Doyle is a Welsh comedian, vocalist and broadcaster born in Carmarthen, but he is now based in Bridgend. Doyle made his debut television back in 1988, winning the BBC's Opportunity Knocks....
.
Jenna was runner-up in the Voice of Musical Theatre 2005 competition held at the New Theatre, Cardiff.
Despite her father wishing her to train to become an accountant, Jenna's determination to be a performer has seen her (without any formal training) finish as Runner-up in the BBC's Voice of Musical Theatre 2005.
In 2008 Jenna recorded a song for the CD Act One - Songs From The Musicals Of Alexander S. Bermange
Alexander S. Bermange
Alexander S. Bermange is an English musical theatre composer and lyricist. He has often served as musical director and pianist for his own productions. He is also a regular broadcaster on UK radio.-Career:...
, an album of 20 brand new recordings by 26 West End stars, released in November 2008 on Dress Circle Records.
Television credits
Her television credits include: ParkinsonParkinson (TV series)
Parkinson is a British television talk show that was presented by Sir Michael Parkinson. It was first shown on the BBC from 1971 to 2004, and on ITV from 2004 to 2007.-Background:...
(BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
), Party in the Palace (BBC), Party in the Park (Channel 5) & Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
(BBC).
She is the voice for a number of kids clubs characters for the leading holiday entertainment provider TEDGroup
Theatre credits
She played the leading role of Scaramouche in We Will Rock You after playing an ensemble role and first understudy for the roles Scaramouche and Meat at the Dominion TheatreDominion Theatre
The Dominion Theatre is a West End theatre on Tottenham Court Road close to St Giles Circus and Centre Point Tower, in the London Borough of Camden.-History:...
in London.
After 5 and a half years, she said goodbye to the Dominion and Scary Bush on 29 September 2007.
She played Scaramouche for one-and-a-half years, Meatloaf for another one-and-a-half years and for two-and-a-half years she was in the ensemble. She played the part as the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
in London, until the show closed in May 2009.
She toured with a Queen tribute show in Scandinavia, with, among others, Anders Ekborg
Anders Ekborg
Anders Ekborg is a Swedish actor and singer who has performed the roles of Karl Oskar in Kristina från Duvemåla and Freddie Trumper in Chess, two musicals that were written by former ABBA members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus...
, and other West End performers, in November 2007.