Gregory Jbara Biography

Jbara will be originating the role of 'Jackie Elliot' ('Dad') for the Broadway production of BILLY ELLIOT, opening Fall 2008. Jbara originated the roles of 'André Thibault' in the Broadway musical DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, 'Squash Bernstein' in VICTOR/VICTORIA, starring Julie Andrews and the role of the dimwitted catcher,'Sohovik' in the Broadway revival of DAMN YANKEES! starring Bebe Neuwirth, Victor Garber and Jerry Lewis. Jbara was the second actor to star on Broadway as 'Billy Flynn' in the Tony Award winning revival of CHICAGO. Off-Broadway credits include 'Chick Clark' in WONDERFUL TOWN for City Center Encores!, the Broadway revival of BORN YESTERDAY with Ed 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!.

Mr. Jbara received the BackStageWest Garland 2000 Award for his performance in the West Coast Premiere of George Furth's PRECIOUS SONS with Nora Dunn under the direction of Daniel Henning. Other Los Angeles stage credits include 'Mr. Bunder' in the West Coast Premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's LITTLE FISH, the title role in Jason Connor's THERE'S SOMEONE LIVING IN THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, 'Vinnie' in the Geffen Playhouse Premier of Neil Simon's FELIX & OSCAR, 'Ike/Bess Truman' in the West Coast Premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's FIRST LADY SUITE, 'Clark Gable' in The Blank Theatre Company's 'the living room series' presentation of Mark Saltzman's new play, MR. SHAW GOES TO HOLLYWOOD.

Mr. Jbara's film credits include: OUT OF STEP, written and directed by Eileen Connors; EXIT SPEED, produced and written by Michael Stokes, produced and unit production managed by Sally Helppie, and directed by Scott Ziehl; ENCHANTED, from Disney, directed by Kevin Lima; IRA & ABBY, with Chris Messina and Jennifer Westfeldt, written and directed by Westfeldt; PROJECT: 96B with Alice Ripley, Meredith Bishop, and Chad McKnight, produced by Marissa Messier, written by Katie Alender, and directed by Chris Alender; THE FIRST 20 MILLION IS ALWAYS THE HARDEST directed by Mick Jackson for 20th Century FOX and the indie feature THE SURE HAND OF GOD. Adrian Pasdar's feature directorial debut, CEMENT, also starring Chris Penn, Sherilyn Fenn, Titus Welliver & Jeffrey Wright; THE OUT OF TOWNERS starring Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin; and Michael Hoffman's film adaptation of Shakespeare's, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM with Michelle Pfeiffer, Kevin Kline, Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart, Stanley Tucci, Bill Irwin, among others. Mr. Jbara co-starred in the Paul Rudnick comedy screenplay IN AND OUT, directed by Frank Oz. He is featured as 'Angelique', the preoperative transsexual lesbian in the film version of Paul Rudick's hit play JEFFREY.

Mr. Jbara can be seen regularly in his recurring role as next door neighbor 'Dan O'Keefe' on GROUNDED FOR LIFE reruns on ABC Family. Additional film and TV credits: MONK, THE UNIT, TWENTY GOOD YEARS, CONVICTION, AMERICAN DAD, COME ON OVER, WORLD TRADE CENTER, ALL MY CHILDREN, THE PIED PIPER, ONE FINE DAY, MARRIED TO IT, THE HOUSE ON CARROLL STREET, CROCODILE DUNDEE II, FRIENDS, CENTURY CITY, THE WEST WING, WITHOUT A TRACE, TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, CROSSING JORDAN, PROVIDENCE, ALLY McBEAL, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, YES DEAR, THAT'S LIFE, FRASIER, SUDDENLY SUSAN, THE DREW CAREY SHOW, FAMILY GUY, ROCKET POWER, CYBILL, THE CLOSER, THE YOUNG INDIANA JONES CHRONICLES and NEWHART.

Jbara sings the role of "Willie 3" and sings the title song in the Alan Menken animated musical HOME ON THE RANGE for Disney. 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. He sang a tribute medley to the late Mr. Rogers for the second TELEVISION NIGHT AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL concert at which he was joined onstage by the 16 member Carousel Kids and David Newell with Glen Roven conducting the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

Recordings include the Broadway cast recordings of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, VICTOR/VICTORIA and DAMN YANKEES!; FIRST LADY SUITE on PS Classics; BRIGADOON and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN on EMI; LITTLE FISH on Ghostlight; A BROADWAY CHRISTMAS, UNSUNG MUSICALS II, UNSUNG BERLIN, PETER PAN and DRAT THE CAT! on Varese/Sarabande; ENCHANTED and HOME ON THE RANGE for Disney. Jbara can also be heard as the narrator for the syndicated TV series "Ripley's Believe it Or Not".

Born and raised in suburban Detroit, Mr. Jbara transferred from the University of Michigan School of Music musical theatre program to complete his BFA in acting at the Juilliard School. He resides with his wife Julie and sons Zachary and Aidan in New York and Los Angeles.