Tony®-winning actor Gregory Jbara originates the role of "Jackie Elliot" ("Dad")
in the Broadway production of
Greg currently back home in LA,
during contracted leave of absence
from Billy Elliot, through May 2nd.
(Last show pre-leave was 1/24/10.) Phil Whitchurch (former London "Dad")
replaces him during this time. More @ cast page.
Gregory Jbara has won the following awards
for Best Featured Actor in a Musical
for his portrayal of "Jackie Elliot":
Outer Critics Circle • Drama Desk • Tony®
Also: 2009 BWW Theater Fans' Choice.
Greg plays "Les Hirsch" (husband to Lena Olin's "Diane Hirsch"; stepdad to Rob Pattinson's "Tyler Hawkins") in Summit Entertainment's feature film, Remember Me. Greg's shoot dates were June 18, 19; July 8, 9, 10, 2009. He was out of Billy Elliot performances July dates only.
Remember Me Saturday: "Remember Me Saturday, 3/13/10. This is a nationwide fan event in support of [the cast] and all the people who worked on Remember Me. Bring family, friends, and anyone you know to see Remember Me on Saturday, March 13. (More info at link above.)
L to R: Front and back of press card from distributors' screening
in LA on 2/27/08. Plus movie poster. Click a thumbnail for larger view.
Gregory Jbara stars as "Jerry Yarbro" in the Scott Ziehl directed action film Exit Speed from Producer/Writer Michael Stokes; Producer/UPM Sally Helppie, President of Sabbatical Pictures; Co-Producer Annie Biggs; Director of Photograhy Tom Callaway.
Cast includes (alphabetical order): Danielle Beacham, John Cade, John Cann, Jonny Cruz, Clay Dix, Alice Greczyn, Kelli Dawn Hancock, Desmond Harrington, Asante Jones, Denise Lee, Shanna Lynn, Julie Mond, Victor Quintero, Roy Samuelson, Everett Sifuentes, Jennifer Sipes, Nicholas Sowell, David Rees Snell, Lea Thompson, Fred Ward, Bryon Weiss,
and Wally White.
Principal Photography on Exit Speed wrapped Friday June 15, 2007.
Gregory Jbara stars as "Jack" [see photo] in the short film Out of Step, written / directed by Eileen Connors. A Blonde Rice Production. Steve Ackerman, Director of Photography. Filming completed March 26, 2007.
Synopsis:OUT OF STEP is the story of a father who goes to clean out his late daughter's home and discovers she was gay. He rejects the truth at first, until he discovers a lesbian who is struggling with coming out. Together they help each other heal. Gregory Jbara and Jamey Ketner turn in brilliant, heart-warming performances. The film features music by Melissa Etheridge, Jose Payo and Tommy the U.K. Cowboy and dance scenes by the L.A. Wranglers.
Greg's long time friend, multiple Tony® Award winning orchestrator Doug Besterman is composer for bothExit SpeedandOut of Step.
Hear clips Doug's Myspace.
Visit Doug's site: DougBesterman.com.
48 Hour Film Project: Los Angeles "Project: 96B" - Best Film in LA Winner!
Gregory Jbara played the part of "Thompson" in the TEAM SOAPBOX entry for the 48 Hr Film Project: LA (2007). Greg was invited by long time friend Marissa Messier (producer of this short film) to work with screenwriter Katie Alender, director Chis Alender and the Soapbox Films' crew along with actors Alice Ripley ("Gwen"), Meredith Bishop ("Kristen") and Chad McKnight ("Frederick").
Greg guest stars as "Oscar Newton" on episode #20015, "Brilliant Disguise," directed by Alex Chapple. First aired March 8, 10 PM ET NBC. Greg began shooting Jan. 5, finished Jan. 12. Video clip
Greg has recurred as the character "Director Greg" on Come on Over, the Emmy Award-winning children's program which first premiered Oct. 2006 on ABC channel WOTV4 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His most recent episode, "Mi, Mi, Mi," filmed July 2009. For more info on this and earlier episodes "Thespians" and "Storytelling," go to the "Greg on TV" Page. On Site Media:Photos | YouTube Embeds Off Site Links:ComeOnOver.com | Twitter | Facebook || IMDb
For the June 19, 2009 episode of All My Children, Greg reprised the "Courtroom Judge" role he portrayed over two episodes in 2006.
Greg voiced "Mr. Logan" for American Dad! - "Family Affair," which aired 02/15/09.
American Dad - "Escape From Pearl Bailey" premiered on FOX 11/9/08, with Greg voicing "Plastic Surgeon". Video clip.
Family Guy - "Road to Germany" premiered 10/19/08 on FOX, with Greg voicing several German characters: "Nazi Guard," "Nazi General" and "German Priest". Greg previously voiced characters for the 1999 Family Guy episode, "Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater."
Greg's voice at end of these commericals which initially ran heavily during Fall 2009 sports/college football on TBS, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX, ABC, and CBS. Video @ JohnHancock.com: Our Ads.
(John Hancock commericial voice over news first added 10/22/09.)
Greg did some spots for Pearle Vision Centers called "Stolen," for both on-camera (:30 & :15 sec. versions) and radio (two :60 & one :30 sec. version). Recorded Apr. 16, 2009; began airing approx. end of April.
(Pearle Vision radio spots news first added 4/16/09.)
Greg plays the dad of a college student in a commercial for Olive Garden (Mezzalunas special). It shot during the first week of July 2008 in NYC and first aired early in 2009.
Deborah Geffner and Greg portray a married couple, out for an evening of dinner and tango dancing with friends, who both tout the benefits of his having been using Caduet, a high blood pressure/high cholesterol medication. This national on-camera, print and internet campaign shot in mid-February 2008 on location at Sierra Madre's Villa del Sol d'Oro. The campaign launched April 2008. See embedded video of TV commercial.
On Feb. 18, 2010, Greg recorded "Bottom's Dream" from A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare for Glen Roven's poetry compilation CD, 100 Poems, 100 Performers. Scheduled release is April 2, 2010, for National Poetry Month. You can learn a bit more about the CD by reading recent entries at Glen Roven's Blog. Glen writes specifically about Greg's recording session in this entry of his blog. More info/reserve copies @ GPRrecords.com
3/2/10 articles: BWWTMPBEX See Greg's Poetic License interview
Gregory Jbara originates the role of "Jackie Elliot" (aka Dad") for the Broadway production of Billy Elliot at the Imperial Theatre. See what the critics are saying about Greg's portrayal of "Dad".
10/5/09 update: It's official -- Greg has signed on for another year. 1/20/10 update: Greg heads back to Los Angeles for a scheduled hiatus from Billy Elliot Jan. 25 to May 2. His last performance pre-hiatus: 7:30 PM on Sun. Jan. 24. Phil Whitchurch, who has portrayed "Dad" on the West End stage, replaces him. More at Cast & Press Pages.
Greg is back on familiar turf at the Imperial, where he originated the role of "Andre" in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels the Musical (January 2005 - July 2006). Also back at the Imperial, as Dance Captain for Billy Elliot: Greg Graham, who was Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' Dance Captain.
More credits at Official BE Broadway Site: Cast & Creative
Salon 2009 • Great Children's Read • The National Anthem at CitiField Broadway Barks 11 • If You're Good to Mama Concert
Judging "Best of the Buskers" • Florida Players Master Class at UF
ASTEP Cabaret Benefit for Shanti Bhavan • Broadway Flea Market
Kids' Town Hall Meeting • Broadway Artists Alliance
... plus ... Interviews: HuffPo • Journal News (Scarsdale High visit) • Something to Offer Natural Awakenings • The Cue • Regard en Coulisse • The Improper TDF • Steve on Broadway: "The Play That Changed My Life"
... and ... Video:
"Working Class Hero" Backstage @ BE
(Video Blogs #14 - #20)
Greg's "We Are Billy Elliot" • Artists for Workers Choice PSA Plus More Theatre/Live Clips @ Video-Audio Index
ALL legitimate, personal email, including fan mail, sent toGregoryJbara[AT]gregoryjbara.com (replace [AT] with @) is auto-forwarded to his private email address. Fan email is fine, always welcome, and very much appreciated, although Greg may not always have the time to send back a personal response.
Please remember that it is improper to publicly share (via web sites, boards, blogs, etc.) the contents of private emails from anyone - even celebrities - without first getting their permission to do so.
Please don't email autograph requests. See the contact page for autograph request info.