Jason Forbach

{{Infobox person

| name = Jason Forbach

| birth_name = Jason Thomas Forbach

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|46|2025|03|25}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Joseph Spieldenner|2016}}

| alma_mater = University of Missouri {{Small|(BM)}}
New England Conservatory {{Small|(MA)}}

| known_for = Into the Woods
Les Misérables
The Phantom of the Opera

| occupation = Actor, singer, playwright, filmmaker

| years_active = 2006–present

}}

Jason Thomas Forbach (born {{Circa|1978/1979}}) is an American actor, singer, playwright and filmmaker. He is known for his Broadway portrayals of Rapunzel's Prince and the Baker in Into the Woods,{{Cite web |last=Gioia |first=Michael |date=2022-07-19 |title=When Into the Woods' Lead Actor Was Out on Opening Night, It Was an Understudy's Time to Shine |url=https://people.com/theater/into-the-woods-lead-actor-out-opening-night-understudy-jason-forbach-time-to-shine/ |website=Peoplemag}} Enjolras in Les Misérables,{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/person/jason-forbach-vault-0000124902|title=Jason Forbach (Performer) | Playbill}} and Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera.{{Cite web |last=Moynihan |first=Caitlin |date=2022-11-22 |title=Meet Jason Forbach, the Understudy Doing Double Duty in The Phantom of the Opera & Into the Woods |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/202848/meet-jason-forbach-the-understudy-doing-double-duty-in-the-phantom-of-the-opera-into-the-woods/ |website=Broadway.com}}

Early life

Forbach graduated with his Bachelor of Music in 2000 from University of Missouri where he was the recipient of the Chancellor's Emerging Artist Award that year. He went on to complete his Masters with academic distinction at New England Conservatory in Boston.{{cite web | url=https://gulfcoastsymphony.org/artists/jason-forbach/ | title=Jason Forbach }}{{cite web | url=https://music.missouri.edu/notable-alumni | title=Notable Alumni | School of Music - School of Music }}

Career

In 2006, Forbach joined the Las Vegas cast of The Phantom of the Opera understudying the roles of Raoul and Monsieur Reyer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/312112-jason-forbach|title=Jason Forbach theatre profile|work=AboutTheArtists}}

In 2009, Forbach played the dual role of Rapunzel's Prince and The Wolf in Into the Woods at the Wells Fargo Pavilion.{{Cite web |last=Blank |first=Matthew |date=2009-07-29 |title=PHOTO CALL: Into the Woods, with Denman and Lewis, in Sacramento |url=https://playbill.com/article/photo-call-into-the-woods-with-denman-and-lewis-in-sacramento-com-163156 |website=Playbill}}

In 2012, Forbach joined the 25th Anniversary national tour cast of Les Misérables as Feuilly and an understudy for Enjolras. He later took over the role of Enjolras playing opposite his real-life husband Joseph Spieldenner as Grantaire until the tour closed.{{Cite web|url=http://stagedoordish.com/jason-forbach-and-joseph-spieldenner-on-the-rigors-of-touring-enjolras-and-grantaires-relationship-and-goofy-moments-on-the-set-of-the-les-miserables-tour/|title=Welcome stagedoordish.com |website=stagedoordish.com}} In 2013, he received acclaim for his performance as Chris Scott in the North Shore Music Theatre production of Miss Saigon.{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=2013-10-04 |title=Jennifer Paz, Jason Forbach, Francis Jue, Rodrick Covington and More Cast in North Shore Miss Saigon |url=https://playbill.com/article/jennifer-paz-jason-forbach-francis-jue-rodrick-covington-and-more-cast-in-north-shore-miss-saigon-com-210252 |website=Playbill}}

In March 2014, Forbach returned to Les Misérables in the second Broadway revival. Once again playing Feuilly and understudying Enjolras. He briefly took over the role of Enjolras again in October 2014 and left the role in November of that same year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/jason-forbach-assumes-the-role-of-enjolras-in-les-mis|title=Jason Forbach assumes the role of Enjolras in Broadway's revival of Les Misérables at the Imperial Theatre through to 30 November 2014, whilst original cast member Kyle Scatliffe is on leave.|first=Tom|last=Millward|date=October 19, 2017|website=New York Theatre Guide}} He continued with the production playing Feuilly and the Factory Foreman.

Forbach appeared as Captain Albert Lennox in the 2016 and 2017 Shakespeare Theatre Company and 5th Avenue Theatre productions of The Secret Garden.

Forbach is also an award winning playwright having placed in the 2019 New Works of Merit Playwriting Competition with his play Heathen Hill, which received an industry reading directed by Kevin Newbury with Dan Amboyer starring.https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/Dan-Amboyer-Tapped-For-Reading-Of-Jason-Forbachs-Play-HEATHEN-HILL-20190904https://playbill.com/article/youngers-dan-amboyer-to-lead-industry-reading-of-new-play-heathen-hill In 2020, his one-hour period drama TV pilot Brooklyn Pansy was named a Grand Prize Winner in the WeScreenplay Spring 2020 Diverse Voices Screenwriting Lab.https://www.wescreenplay.com/blog/spring-2020-diverse-voices-winners/

In 2022, Forbach joined the New York City Center Encores! production of Into the Woods as the male swing. He would end up going on for Rapunzel's Prince for a majority of the run when Jordan Donica was sick. He moved with the production to the St. James Theatre for the second Broadway revival understudying the roles of the Baker, the Wolf/Cinderella's Prince, Rapunzel's Prince, and the Narrator/Mysterious Man. He opened the production as the Baker when Brian d'Arcy James was sick, and also went on for the Wolf/Cinderella's Prince many times including when Gavin Creel and Cheyenne Jackson were both unavailable for 3 days in August. He also played Rapunzel's Prince many times during the production's run on Broadway.

On November 21, 2022, Forbach returned to The Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway for a limited run through December 5 playing the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. He had been a vacation swing in Phantom at the Majestic Theatre for several years, primarily understudying the roles of Raoul, Reyer, Marksman, and Hairdresser.

In 2023, Forbach went on tour across the United States to ten cities with the Broadway production of Into the Woods playing Rapunzel's Prince and understudying the Baker. He starred opposite Gavin Creel, Stephanie J. Block, Montego Glover, and Sebastian Arcelus all reprising their Broadway roles.{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Margaret |date=2023-01-17 |title=Complete Casting Revealed for Into the Woods Tour |url=https://playbill.com/article/complete-casting-revealed-for-into-the-woods-tour |work=Playbill}} On February 23, he went on for the Baker last second for the second act of the production's preview performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., he would then proceed to open the show's engagement as the Baker that weekend and play the role for the majority of the performances at the Kennedy Center while Arcelus was recovering from an injury. Andy Karl and understudies Sam Simahk and Eddie Lopez played Rapunzel's Prince in his place. On February 28, Forbach announced on his Instagram stories he'd be playing the Baker during the 6-day absence of Arcelus at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. Simahk played Rapunzel's Prince in his place. He also played the Baker during the production's closing weekend at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville, Tennessee with Lopez playing Rapunzel's Prince in his place.

In 2024, it was announced that Forbach will make his film directorial debut with the short thriller film The Delicate Medium from a screenplay he wrote, with his Into the Woods co-star Sara Bareilles executive producing alongside filmmaker Max Hechtman. Production is set to begin in the summer of 2025.{{Cite web |last=Tedesco |first=Lisa Marie|title=Y'all are so crazy! I love it! Massive shout out to Max Hechtman for jumping on board as an Executive Producer for The Delicate Medium!|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10229901082925740&set=a.2163418519538|date=2024-11-18|access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Facebook}}{{Cite web |last=Higgins |first=Molly |date=2024-09-26 |title=Jason Forbach Will Make Film Directorial Debut With The Delicate Medium |url=https://playbill.com/article/jason-forbach-will-make-film-directorial-debut-with-the-delicate-medium |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Playbill}}{{Cite web |last=Tedesco |first=Lisa Marie|title=YES IT'S TRUE! Sara Bareilles is now part of the producing clan!|url=https://www.facebook.com/lisa.tedesco.9/posts/pfbid0DpU6bjb6UZE9yqSRRQsXPuB8KWFb2g6muVKRwMDyw4myiq2c5nSGG1rSerFmmJ8jl|date=2024-11-29|access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Facebook}}

Personal life

On February 9, 2016, he married actor Joseph Spieldenner.{{Cite news |date=February 14, 2016 |title=Jason Forbach, Joseph Spieldenner |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/14/fashion/weddings/jason-forbach-joseph-spieldenner.html |access-date=February 22, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ As a filmmaker
Year	Title	Role	Notes
TBA	The Delicate Medium	writer and director	Short film

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ As a filmmaker

Year

Title

Role

Notes

TBA

The Delicate Medium

writer and director

Short film

= Television =

class="wikitable" \|+ As an actor
Year(s) !Production !Role !Notes
2011 \|America's Got Talent \|Feuilly \|1 episode
rowspan=2\|2024 \|Law & Order: Special Victims Unit \|Sam McKenzie \|1 episode
FBI: Most Wanted \|Governor of Missouri \|1 episode

class="wikitable"

|+ As an actor

Year(s)

!Production

!Role

!Notes

2011

|America's Got Talent

|Feuilly

|1 episode

rowspan=2|2024

|Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

|Sam McKenzie

|1 episode

FBI: Most Wanted

|Governor of Missouri

|1 episode

= Stage =

Source:

class="wikitable"

!Year(s)

!Production

!Role

!Location

!Notes

2006

|The Music Teacher

| Jim / Chronilos

|Minetta Lane Theatre

|Off-Broadway

2006–2009

|The Phantom of the Opera

|Ensemble;
u/s Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny
u/s Monsieur Reyer

|The Venetian Las Vegas

|The Las Vegas Spectacular

2006

|A Christmas Carol

|Dick Wilkins;
u/s Narrator
u/s The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come / Young Scrooge

|North Shore Music Theatre

|rowspan=2|Regional

2009

|Into the Woods

|The Wolf / Rapunzel's Prince

|Wells Fargo Pavilion

2010–2012

|rowspan="2" | Les Misérables

| Feuilly;
u/s Enjolras

|U.S. National Tour

|rowspan="2" | 25th Anniversary

2012–2013

|Enjolras

| U.S. National Tour
April 6, 2012 - June 9, 2013

2013

|Miss Saigon

| Chris Scott

|North Shore Music Theatre

|Regional

rowspan=2|2014

|rowspan=3|Les Misérables

|rowspan=2|Enjolras

|Saroyan Theater

|Fresno Grand Opera

Imperial Theatre
October 28 – November 30

|rowspan=2|Broadway

2014–2015

|Feuilly;
u/s Enjolras

|Imperial Theatre
March 23 – October 26, 2014
December 9, 2014 – May 24, 2015
June 23–29, 2015
September 7 – December 21, 2015

rowspan=1|2015

|My Fair Lady

|Freddy Eynsford-Hill

|Wells Fargo Pavilion

|Regional

2015–2016

|rowspan=1|Les Misérables

|Feuilly / Factory Foreman;
u/s Enjolras

|Imperial Theatre
June 30 – September 6, 2015
December 22, 2015 – September 4, 2016

|rowspan=1|Broadway

rowspan=2|2016–2017

|rowspan=2|The Secret Garden

|rowspan=2|Captain Albert Lennox

|Sidney Harman Hall

|rowspan=2|Shakespeare Theatre Company

5th Avenue Theatre

rowspan=2|2017

|Evita

| Agustin Magaldi

|Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

|Regional

The Secret Garden

|Captain Albert Lennox

|Sarofim Hall

|Presented by Shakespeare Theatre Company / 5th Avenue Theatre

rowspan=1|2018-2019

| rowspan=3|The Phantom of the Opera

|Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny (Alternate)

| Majestic Theatre
December 6–8, 2018
January 9–12, 2019
May 31 – June 1, 2019
June 15, 2019
July 6–7, 2019

| rowspan=3|Broadway

rowspan=2|2018–2022

|Monsieur Reyer, Marksman, Hairdresser, Jeweler, Fireman, Porter, Passarino
(Swing)
u/s Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny

|Majestic Theatre
February 5 – November 11, 2018
November 18 – December 5, 2018
December 9, 2018 – January 8, 2019
January 13 – May 30, 2019
June 2–14, 2019
June 16 – July 5, 2019
July 8 – August 4, 2019
August 11, 2019 – March 12, 2020
October 22, 2021 – May 3, 2022
May 16 – June 12, 2022

Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny

|Majestic Theatre
November 12–17, 2018
August 5–10, 2019
November 21 – December 5, 2022

rowspan=2|2022

| rowspan="5" |Into the Woods

|The Baker, The Wolf / Cinderella's Prince, Jack, Rapunzel's Prince, The Narrator / The Mysterious Man
(Swing)

|New York City Center
May 4–15

|Encores!
Played Rapunzel's Prince for a majority of the run when Jordan Donica was sick

The Wolf / Cinderella's Prince

|St. James Theatre
August 3–5{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=David |date=July 12, 2022 |title=Cheyenne Jackson, Jason Forbach to Fill In for Gavin Creel in Into the Woods on Broadway |url=https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/cheyenne-jackson-jason-forbach-to-fill-in-for-gavi_94028.html/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=TheaterMania}}

|rowspan=2|Broadway

2022–2023

|u/s The Baker
u/s The Wolf / Cinderella's Prince
u/s Rapunzel's Prince
u/s The Narrator / The Mysterious Man

|St. James Theatre
June 28 – August 2, 2022
August 6 – November 20, 2022
December 6, 2022 – January 8, 2023

rowspan=3|2023

|Rapunzel's Prince;
u/s The Baker

|U.S. National Tour
February 18–23
March 11–26
April 4 – May 25
June 6 – July 30

|rowspan=2|Ten city engagement

The Baker

|U.S. National Tour
February 23 – March 11
March 28 – April 2
May 26–28

The Rocky Horror Show

|Brad Majors