BILLY ELLIOT’S GREGORY JBARA On Being a Dad, Onstage and Off
By Tom Citrano
This month’s cover features the Broadway show, Billy Elliot. Audiences and critics alike have embraced this stage adaptation of the well-received movie. Billy Elliot is played by a rotating group of talented young dancer-actors. Pictured on the cover are Kiril Kulish, David Alvarez and Trent Kowalik, who each won Best Actor in a Musical Tony Awards for their portrayals of Billy.
The show won a total of ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Also winning a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical is Broadway veteran, Gregory Jbara, who continues to play Billy’s Dad in the Broadway hit. Gregory is familiar to stage audiences for his long roster of leading roles, which in addition to Billy Elliot, include Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Damn Yankees, Chicago and Victor/Victoria.
He’s a long-time New Yorker, a Juilliard graduate and has also guest-starred in many films and television series. Greg and his wife, Julie, are the proud parents of two sons, Zachary (8) and Aidan (5). When Greg’s not on stage, he lives with his family in Los Angeles. He made time between his Saturday matinee and evening performances to talk to Natural Awakenings New York City.
What would you normally be doing between your matinee and evening shows?
Most afternoons I race home and have dinner with my family. Some Saturday’s my wife comes down and we grab a bite between shows. On Wednesdays Julie and our boys meet me at the theater and then we go to the second floor of Sardis for dinner. On Wednesdays we get half off everything on the actor’s menu. It’s a great value and a social event. Everyone from all the shows is trying to save a buck and have a decent meal while hanging out with their friends.
What did winning the Tony Award mean to you?
It’s really profound. I’ve been aware of the Tony Awards since I was in junior high school. My family used to watch the awards when I was growing up in suburban Detroit. I can remember a long time ago having a fantasy acceptance speech. I guess it’s been buried in my psyche for a long time. I’m sure it morphed and grew as my life evolved. It’s a fantasy that’s been resonating in me for a long time.
Has being a real-life father to your
two sons informed your stage role as Billy Elliot’s Dad?
Without a doubt, I know that if I’d had the opportunity to play this role before I was an actual parent, I would not have had the profound understanding that was required to do honor to this character. The life experience of the amazing love you have for your child is something I didn’t know existed. It was definitely the fuel that’s helped me do this job every night.
Is your family here with you in New York?
My children go to school in Los Angeles, so they’re back in LA during the school year. It’s been great to have the family together in New York this summer. My wife and sons got out here in June 6, the day before the Tony Awards. They’ll go back to LA at the end of August to start school. We keep the coasts close together by doing IChat every night after the show. I rush home after the curtain and get online in time to read them a bedtime story and watch them fall asleep.
There are now four actors sharing the role of Billy Elliot. Do you respond differently to each of the actors?
The variety of boys playing the part keeps me on my toes and emotionally available. It actually makes my life easier.
You’ve been in Billy Elliot since last fall. Is the 8 show week starting to get to you?
I have to be honest with you. This might be the easiest job I’ve ever had. I try and not say that too loudly around my fellow cast members. I see them come offstage dripping in sweat. And many of them have had repetitive stress injuries from dancing on a raked stage. The only thing I have to watch is to pace myself from screaming, so I don’t lose my voice by the end of the 8 shows. But my amazing voice teacher, Joan Lader, has helped me figure out a way to do that. You’ll never hear me complain about how hard this show is. Because of the emotional journey the Dad has, by the end of the show I am vibrating with happiness and joy. I look forward to coming to work every night. By the end of the three hours I am actually rejuvenated.
Do you have a healthy-living regime while you’re doing a long Broadway run?
I gained thirty pounds before I started this show. I decided to put on a little weight to play Billy’s working-class Dad. I figured it’s not going to work as well if I’m 6’2” and 185, all lean and hungry-looking. Right now I hover between 215 and 220. At this point I can eat whatever I want. The only thing I stay away from is going out drinking at night, because it puts a strain on your voice. When my family is here with me, because of the world my wife creates for us, I end up taking better care of myself. We’re homeopaths and my wife is a certified holistic practitioner. All our foods are organic. My kids have never had antibiotics. We always have a healthy, whole grain, non-sugar lifestyle when she’s around to control what’s in the house. But when I’m by myself it’s all white flour and beer.
Are you concerned about losing weight once your run in the show is over?
Not at all, actually, I’m looking forward to it. In fact, I’ve already started and have lost about 7 pounds because my family is back in town and I’m eating better. The reality for me as an actor is that when I’m 185 pounds I don’t work as much on camera as when I’m over 200. It’s a curious parallel.
Do you miss New York when you’re living in Los Angeles?
I miss New York every waking moment of my life. I miss the entertainment community here in New York. There’s nothing like the Broadway community. And there’s nothing like New York City. When you’re in it, you’re a part of it. In LA you can feel completely disconnected. I started here in New York when I came here in 1982 to study at Juilliard. This is home. This is where it all started. I prefer NY to LA. New York is a living, breathing organism.
What’s the first thing you do when you get back here?
I go visit the boys at Times Square Barbers, because that’s where I used to get my hair cut. And I always visit my friend, Agron Metis, at Sardis. He’s been a fixture there for over 40 years. I’ve known him for as long as I’ve been in the business. I’ve been going to Sardis since 1982 and I was honored when they put my caricature from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels up on their wall. I’ll always go see Agron and update him with pictures of my family. And I never miss a chance to grab a burger at The Corner Bistro.
Do you have a special place where you find Serenity in the City?
On Friday afternoons my wife and I always have a date without the kids. We love to go down to the marina, by The World Financial Center. There are a couple restaurants there that ironically enough, remind us of Santa Monica and the West Coast. We’ll have dinner over there and watch the sunset. It’s a great place for us to escape.
Who’s your Natural Hero?
His name is Timothy J. Dyer. He was the Superintendent of the Wayne Westland Community School District, when I was going to school there, in the Detroit suburbs. Now he lives and works in DC and is involved in some committees that deal with education on a national level. Thanks to him, the arts were a huge priority from kindergarten through high school. So many people came through that school system and benefited from his giving so many opportunities in arts…Choirs, bands, gifted programs, even a working TV studio when I was in high school. I wouldn’t be where I am today, if it wasn’t for him. I won a Tony Award because of Timothy J. Dyer.
Billy Elliot continues at the Imperial Theatre, 249 W. 45th Street, New York. Information and tickets at BillyElliotBroadway.com. More information about Gregory Jbara at GregoryJbara.com.
BILLYsquared
3 Billys, 3 Tonys, 3 Questions
Favorite Thing To Do In NYC?
Kiril: Playing in Central Park. Visiting the MET. Playing my piano.
Trent: Hanging out at my apartment with friends, playing video games.
David: I love to visit the New York museums.
What You’ll Be Doing in 10 Years?
Kiril: professional ballet dancer.
Trent: Working as an actor.
David: I see myself dancing at the American Ballet Theater or another renowned ballet company, like The Royal Ballet or Opera de Paris. I also would love to act again in theater, cinema or TV.
Where’s Your Tony?
Kiril: On my piano.
Trent: In my room.
David: On my piano.
Popularity: 20% [?]
Marie B. Ray September 15th, 2009, 7:29 am
My dear Greg:
I was working in Washington and saw you on the Tony Awards. NO ONE could have been prouder than I was when I awakened to your name being announced (what’s with the Gregory?) and seeing you win. You deserve all that comes your way, period! I will always consider you a friend.
All my love to you and yours,
Marie