Gregory Jbara

Born and raised in suburban Detroit, Gregory Jbara transferred from the University of Michigan School of Music musical theatre program to complete his BFA in acting at the Juilliard School. Jbara won the 2009 Tony®, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Best Featured Actor in a Musical originating the role of "Jackie Elliot" in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot. He also starred on Broadway as "Billy Flynn" in the Tony Award winning revival of Chicago. He originated the role of "Andre Thibault" in the Broadway musical comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, also starring John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz, Sherie Rene Scott, Joanna Gleason, and Sara Gettelfinger. Other Broadway musical roles originated by Jbara are "Squash Bernstein" in Victor/Victoria, starring Julie Andrews, and that of dimwitted catcher "Sohovik" in the Damn Yankees revival starring Bebe Neuwirth, Victor Garber, and Jerry Lewis. Jbara received the BackStageWest Garland 2000 Award for his performance in the West Coast Premiere of George Furth's Precious Sons with Nora Dunn. Other stage credits include: "Mr. Bunder" in the West Coast premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's Little Fish at the Blank Theatre, "Vinnie" in the Geffen Playhouse Premiere of Neil Simon's Felix & Oscar; "Ike/Bess Truman" in the West Coast Premiere of LaChiusa's First Lady Suite; "Clark Gable" in The Blank Theatre Company's Living Room Series presentation of Mark Saltzman's new play, Mr. Shaw Goes To Hollywood; "Chick Clark" in Wonderful Town for City Center Encores; the Broadway revival of Born Yesterday with Edward Asner and Madeline Kahn; Serious Money with Alec Baldwin and Kate Nelligan; Privates On Parade with Jim Dale and Simon Jones; Forever Plaid, Das Barbecu, and Have I Got A Girl For You!. Additional film and TV credits include: The Pied Piper and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. Jbara is the voice of the animatronic radio newscaster in Epcot Center's Spaceship Earth. Disney animated feature credits include "Bruiser/Thug Chorus" in Tangled, featured chorus in Enchanted and "Willie 3/Chorus" in Home On The Range. He also sang Randy Newman's, "You've Got a Friend In Me" from Toy Story for U.S. Olympic Ice Skater, Michelle Kwan's 75 Years Of Disney Music/TV Special. Jbara appeared as "Kenny" in the Carnegie Hall concert version of Very Warm For May with Jon Lovitz for conductor/director John McGlinn. Recordings include the Broadway cast recordings of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Victor/Victoria and Damn Yankees!; Little Fish on Ghostlight Records; First Lady Suite on PS Classics; Brigadoon and Annie Get Your Gun on EMI; A Broadway Christmas, Unsung Musicals II, Unsung Berlin, Peter Pan, and Drat The Cat! on Varese/Sarabande; Enchanted, Tangled and Home On The Range for Disney. Jbara was the narrator for Ripley's Believe it Or Not on TBS, and his voice is featured on the Best Of Ripley's DVD release. Jbara resides with his wife Julie and their sons Zachary and Aidan in Los Angeles.