Jon Robyns

Infobox Actor
name = Jon Robyns


caption =
birthname =
birthdate = 1982
birthplace = Liverpool, UK
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
occupation = Actor, Singer, Musician
yearsactive = 2004 - present
spouse =
domesticpartner =
website = http://www.jonrobyns.co.uk

Jon Robyns (born in 1982) is a British stage actor, who is perhaps best known for playing the roles of Princeton and Rod in Avenue Q the musical in London's West End. He left the show in December 2007,cite web
url=http://www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk/news-and-reviews/news11.php
title=Avenue Q news
accessdate=2008-07-13
work=Avenue Q ] and now stars as Marius in the London production of Les Misérables.

Early life

Jon grew up in Liverpool, England. Moving to Bristol at the age of 10 he became involved with several local theatre and youth music groups. Performing in such varied shows as Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and Handel's Messiah to Kander and Ebb's Classic Musical Cabaret. He worked on new material with Playbox theatre performing NEWS and performed two new operas with MusicBox Youth Opera; Fox at the manger and Brundibar.In 1999 Jon moved to Cardiff becoming involved with Welsh National Youth Opera. With WNYO he performed The Beggars Opera, The Elixir of Love and Dido and Aeneas (again). Jon was also part of Black Mountain Male Voice Choir - the official Choir of the 1999 Rugby World Cup, singing at Wales games and the opening and closing ceremonies at Cardiffs Millennium Stadium. With his friends, Jon ran a weekly drama group and worked on a production of Berkovs West whilst studying Music, Theatre Studies and Sociology A Level.

During this time Jon was part of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain singing in venues around the country including Walton's Belshazars Feast at the Millennium Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

Training

In 2001 Jon attended the 3 year Musical Theatre course at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.cite web
url=http://www.mountview.org.uk/general_information_level2.asp?level2_ID=63
title=Mountview Alumni
accessdate=2008-07-13
work=Mountview Website ] During his final year Jon played Sweeney Todd in Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece musical. Other roles at Drama School include Teddy in Harold Pinter's The Homecoming, Banquo in Macbeth and Jesus in Godspell

Career

Graduating in 2004 Jon joined the UK touring company of Miss Saigon understudying the role Chris and playing the part on many occasions.cite web
url=http://www.miss-saigon.com/castandcreative/index.php
title=Miss Saigon cast
accessdate=2008-07-13
work=Miss Saigon tour Website ] After this he played the role of Mark Cohen in RENT with the English Theatre Frankfurt, Germany. In June 2006 Jon played the roles of Princeton and Rod in the original London cast of Avenue Q the musical in London's West End. He left the show in December 2007. Jon was part of the company for the concert version of Chess (musical) at the Royal Albert Hall on the 12th and 13th May 2008.cite web
url=http://www.chessinconcert.com/castlist.html
title=Chess concert
accessdate=2008-07-13
work=Chess in Concert Website ]

Currently Robyns plays the role of Marius in Les Miserables at the Queen's Theatre since June 23th 2008.cite web
url=http://www.lesmis.com/pages/about/cast.php
title=Les Miserables cast
accessdate=2008-07-13
work=Les Miserables Website ]

In 2008 John 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 October 2008 on Dress Circle Records.

References

* [http://www.jonrobyns.co.uk/biography.html Jon Robyns's Official Homepage]
* [http://www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk/homepage.php Avenue Q]