Audiences in Worthing will be taken on a mystical theatrical adventure when S Club 7 and West End singer Jon Lee stars in the title role of Aladdin in the Connaught Theatre’s traditional pantomime from December 5th 2014 to January 4th 2015.
Jon has most recently completed a season playing Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and released his debut solo album Fallen Angel last year, having first appeared in the title role of Oliver! opposite Jonathan Pryce at the London Palladium when at age 12 and risen to worldwide fame in 1999 when he joined S Club 7.
During Jon’s time with S Club 7, the band starred in Miami 7, LA 7, Hollywood 7 and Viva S Club; sold over 19 million albums; received two Brit Awards; had an audience of 90 million worldwide viewers for their TV series and movie, Seeing Double and had numerous sell-out arena tours with hits ranging from Never Had a Dream Come True and Reach to Don’t Stop Movin’.
Since his days with the band, Jon has starred as Marius in Les Misérables at the Palace Theatre and Queen’s Theatre, as well as appearing at the O2 in the 25th Anniversary performance of the award-winning production. He has performed at the Edinburgh Festival in Teen Scream, toured the country in Love Shack and been a guest for BBC Radio 4 on both The King and I alongside Barbara Cook and in Mame with Julia McKenzie. He played John in Tomorrow Morning at the Landor Theatre and the title role in Aladdin in Southampton opposite Paul O Grady’s alter ego Lily Savage, a role that Jon reprised last year at London’s O2.
Joining Jon will be Heart breakfast presenters Tom and Jack in the roles of PC Ping and PC Pong along with Britain’s Got Talent opera duo Kieran and Sarah making their pantomime debut as the Genie of the Lamp and Slave of the Ring. The duo won fans from across the country for their performance of Love Changes Everything.
Producer Paul Holman explains: “I was incredibly impressed with Kieran and Sarah’s performances on Britain’s Got Talent and am glad we have the opportunity to work with them on the next step of their careers. With their musical theatre trained backgrounds, I’m very excited by what is shaping up to be a pedigree production of top talent led by Jon at the Connaught Theatre.”
Aladdin appears at the Connaught Theatre, Union Place, Worthing. BN11 1LG from Friday December 5th to Sunday January 4th 2015 – times vary daily. Tickets (£12.00, £18.50, concessions £16.50, family of four £58.00, Friends of Worthing Theatres £16.75) are available from the box office on 01903 206 206 or online at www.worthingtheatres.co.uk