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Jonathan Roxmouth: From South African Stages to Global Spotlight

Published

3 months ago

May 20, 2025

zaghrah

Musical Theatre / International Solo Performer / Showbiz Pianist /

Youngest English-Speaking Phantom in History / Exclusive Seabourn Cruises Guest Entertainer

Jonathan made his musical theatre debut in 2006 in his native South Africa and has been captivating audiences across the globe with his vocal and acting talents ever since.

This production was Grease at the Barnyard Group of Theatres, with Rock Me Amadeus (a show people STILL ask Jonathan to repeat) and The Buddy Holly Story soon following.

The live performance bug had bitten the young Jonathan, and most importantly, it introduced him to a director (Ian von Memerty) would play a pivotal role later in his career when Jonathan joined Roelof Colyn in A Handful of Keys – still one of South Africa’s most popular musical theatre productions and one that firmly entrenched Jonathan in the South African audiences’ hearts.

Jonathan soon became a favourite leading man in South Africa, from Beauty and the Beast (Gaston) to Cats (Munkustrap) to Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas Iscariot), proving that no challenge was too big for this artist. Sunset Boulevard (Joe Gillis), Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd) and West Side Story (Tony) were other stand-out performances.

It was the donning of the Phantom mask in Phantom of The Opera that firmly entrenched Jonathan in audience hearts locally forever and catapulted him onto global stages too.

As part of the world tour of Phantom of The Opera, Jonathan made history as youngest English-speaking Phantom yet and won the Philippines’ Broadway World Award for his performance. As part of both the 2012 and 2019 World Tour, Phantom of the Opera also took him to the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Israel, Dubai, South Korea and Taiwan.

Other local and international musical theatre highlights include Chicago (Billy Flynn) – New Zealand & China; Evita (Che) – South Africa, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoatt (Pharoah) – South Africa, New Zealand and Hong Kong and Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd) – South Africa.

Even while starring in leading musical theatre productions, Jonathan has always had a passion to create and fast became known not only for his vocal prowess but for his extensive skills at musical arranging and soon firmly entrenched himself as a showbiz pianist of note.

His favourites to date include Hats Off!; Topsy Turvy; the Broadway tribute Stage by Stage; Lenny, Andrew Steve & Me – the last show he did before Covid – and Back in Lights – the first show he created post-Covid.

Other original works credits include the ever popular Key Change (for his he has garnered a 2023 BroadwayWorld South Africa Award), Great Balls of Fire (which he admits was one of THE toughest roles to perform as Jerry Lee Lewis nightly), I’m Playing Your Song, We’re Still Standing (a tribute to Elton John) and Piano State of Mind (the Billy Joel Songbook).

There is constant demand for Jonathan to be the headliner in concerts – something that he revels in.

Highlights to date include Fantasia – performing to an 8000 sold out audience in Pretoria, SA; From the Footlights; The Musicals in Concert – 2017 & 2018; and Phantasm in Seoul, Korea.

His most recent local success was Swingle Bells at Johannesburg, South Africa’s most prestigious theatre; The Teatro at Montecasino, in December 2023, where over 12 000 audience members revelled in the Christmas spirit.

To date, Jonathan has released 11 studio albums in his native South Africa, and are now available for download worldwide. These albums are available at http://jonathanroxmouth.com/shop/

Jonathan is the recipient of multiple South African Awards:

Fleur Du Cap Awards:
Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar); Best Performance in a Musical (The Phantom in Phantom of the Opera); Best Performance in a Musical – Gaston in Beauty and the Beast); Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Pharoah in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Naledi Awards:
Best Actor in a Musical (The Phantom in Phantom of the Opera); Best Comedy Performance (Gaston in Beauty and the Best); Best Actor in a Musical (Gaston in Beauty and the Beast); Best Actor in a Musical (Jerry Lee Lewis in Call Me Lee); Best Actor in a Musical (Sweeney Todd in Sweeny Todd)

International Awards:
BroadwayWorld Philippines – Artes Legend Award for The Phantom in Phantom of the Opera

BroadwayWorld South Africa – Best Cabaret/Concert/Solo Performance for Key Change

For more information, head to Jonathan Roxmouth’s Website