Gary Beach

Infobox actor
name = Gary Beach

---

imagesize = 180px
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = birth date and age|1947|10|10
birthplace = Alexandria, Virginia, USA
occupation = Actor
spouse = Jeff Barnett
yearsactive =
website = http://www.garybeach.com
tonyawards = Best Featured Actor in a Musical
2001 "The Producers"

Gary Beach (born October 10 1947) is an American actor, primarily in Broadway musical theatre.

Biography

Beach was born in Alexandria, Virginia and later went on to graduate from the North Carolina School of the Arts, the same school as Terrence Mann, his "Beauty and the Beast" costar.

Beach and his partner, Jeff Barnett, live in New York City.

Career

His television credits include the 2003 Kennedy Center Honors, "Recording the Producers" (a documentary for PBS), "Queer as Folk", "Murder, She Wrote", "Cheers", "Sisters", "Arli$$", and "Saved by the Bell".

He performed in the chorus of "Les Misérables: The Complete Symphonic Recording".

A familiar and popular Broadway performer, Beach has had several notable career highlights, including creating the roles of Lumiere (Tony Award nominee) in "Beauty and the Beast" in 1994, and Roger DeBris in "The Producers", for which he won the Tony in 2001. As Zaza/Albin in the 2004/5 revival of "La Cage aux Folles," he earned another Tony nomination. Beach returned to his role as Roger De Bris in "The Producers" while the movie version was in release, thus becoming the first artist to play the same part on Broadway and in a film at the same time.

Other Broadway credits include "Annie", "Doonesbury", "The Moony Shapiro Songbook", "Broadway Bash", "Sweet Adeline" (Encores), "Something's Afoot" and "1776".

He toured nationally with the James Kirkwood comedy "Legends!" starring Mary Martin and Carol Channing.

In addition to his Broadway credits, Beach is well known for his Summer stock theatre performances. For years he would return to Sacramento as a Music circus favorite. His last performance there was in the show "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum". After this production, he went into rehearsals for "The Producers".

Beach played Thénardier, the role that he originated in the original Los Angeles production, in the recent revival of "Les Misérables" on Broadway, at the Broadhurst Theatre. Beginning in March 2008, Beach assumed the lead role of King Arthur in the US national tour of "Spamalot" and will stay with the tour until late summer.

Awards and nominations

;Awards
*2001 Drama Desk Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical - The Producers"
*2001 Outer Critics Circle Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical - The Producers"
*2001 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical - The Producers";Nominations
*1994 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Beauty and the Beast"
*2004 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical - La Cage Aux Folles"

tage productions

*"Spamalot" (2008)
*"Les Misérables" (revival) (2006 - 2008)
*"La Cage aux Folles" (revival) (2004)
*"Funny Girl" (benefit concert) (2002)
*"The Producers" (2001)
*"Beauty and the Beast" (1994)
*"" (1983)
*"The Moony Shapiro Songbook" (1981)
*"Annie" (1977 - 1983)
*"Something's Afoot" (1976)
*"1776" (1969 - 1972)

;National tours
*"Annie"
*"Beauty and the Beast"
*"Les Misérables"
*"Legends!" (with Mary Martin and Carol Channing)
*"Spamalot"

References

External links

* [http://www.garybeach.com Gary Beach official website]
*
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* [http://www.americantheatrewing.org/downstagecenter/detail/gary_beach Gary Beach] - "Downstage Center" 2005 interview at American Theatre Wing.org