J. Harrison Ghee

J. Harrison Ghee (born June 16, 1989) is an American actor, singer, and dancer, best known for their work on Broadway. They 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. They won the 2023 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical at the 76th Tony Awards for their performance, and as such Ghee and Alex Newell became the first openly nonbinary actors to be nominated for and to win a Tony Award. In 2024, they won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

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

Early life

J. Harrison Ghee grew up the child of a Southern Baptist pastor and an educator in Fayetteville, North Carolina. 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. Ghee first tried drag in college when they played a female wrestler.

Career

Ghee began working professionally at Tokyo Disneyland and on cruise ships. While in Tokyo, Ghee began creating their drag persona, Crystal Demure. 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. Ghee was the first established drag performer to take on the role. Ghee eventually joined the national touring production of the show.

Ghee joined the cast of Mrs. Doubtfire, 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 Mayem 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. In 2023, Ghee and Alex Newell became the first openly non-binary actors to be nominated for and win a Tony Award when Ghee won Best Actor in a Musical and Newell won Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Shucked at the 76th Tony Awards. In 2023, they were named as one of OUT Magazine's Out 100. In 2024, it was announced they would lead as the Lady Chablis in Jason Robert Brown and Taylor Mac's production of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.