A LIFE IN SHOW BUSINESS
Born into a Chinese Australian family, Yvette Lee’s path into show business began long before she ever set foot on a stage. Her family has deep roots in the industry, her mother was a showgirl at Melbourne’s iconic Tivoli Theatre on Bourke Street, and her grandfather was an actor there too. Her parents and grandfather even lived above the theatre until the night it burned down. With that kind of history, it’s no surprise the stage was always in her blood.
Yvette’s early performance career included a strong presence on live variety television, one notably the Chanel 9 show, Starstruck. It was there that a chance meeting with legendary Australian choreographer Ross Coleman would change the course of her career.
Ross introduced Yvette to the world of musical theatre, taking her on as a performer and his assistant on major productions including Dusty, Shout and Sweet Charity. Under his mentorship, she learned the craft of turning story into movement, a process that would become the foundation of her creative identity. Yvette worked closely with Ross until his passing in 2009.
Determined to build a career in choreography, Yvette continued performing while beginning to develop her own creative voice. In 2015, she was invited by The Squared Division to join them as their assistant in Asia as part of Asia’s Got Talent, marking another major learning opportunity. Assisting them, she learned the tools of creative production & direction. That collaboration continued as she took on the role of Assistant Creative Director on The Masked Singer Australia, deepening her skills in, staging, and creative design for television.
Both Ross Coleman and The Squared Division played pivotal roles in shaping Yvette’s evolution as a choreographer and creative, influences she continues to credit as foundational to her success.
Yvette’s mother, Wendy (center) at the Tivoli Theatre, Dancing for the Tommy Steele Show
In 2017, a new chapter began when Yvette met Travis Hogan from Mushroom Group.
He saw her potential in choreographing large scale live events, and soon she became a key creative collaborator across some of the country’s biggest productions, including the AFL Grand Final and Dreamtime at the G. From there, Yvette’s career expanded rapidly, moving into full time choreography across television, tours, and arena shows. In more recent years, she has stepped into full creative and show direction, bringing together all of her experience to lead teams and design shows from the ground up.
With Yvette’s early performance career beginning at the Channel 9 Studios in Melbourne, teamed with her introduction to musical theatre by Ross, her exposure to the inner workings of the commercial industry through The Squared Division, and her introduction to the formidable Mushroom Group by Travis, this combination of experience and lessons provided the groundwork for her to develop into the artist she is today.
Yvette remains committed to acknowledging those who have helped shape her path. She believes in the value of mentorship, collaboration, and giving credit where it’s due, a reminder that no creative journey is ever built alone.
Importantly, Yvette has embraced the tools and teachings of her mentors and used them as a foundation to build something uniquely her own. She believes the true value of mentorship lies in passing on knowledge that can evolve, inspiring the next generation to develop their own creative voice. Her career is a reflection of that philosophy, honouring those who came before her while forging a distinct path that reflects her individual brand and vision.