Justin Guarini

Justin Guarini

Guarini playing with fellow musicians at the Atlanta Hard Rock Cafe in 2012.
Background information
Birth name Justin Eldrin Bell
Born (1978-10-28) October 28, 1978
Columbus, Georgia
Origin Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instruments
Years active 2002–present
Labels
  • RCA
  • Justice Entertainment
Website JustinGuarini.com

Justin Guarini (born Justin Eldrin Bell; October 28, 1978) is an American singer/musician, actor, host and producer, who in 2002 was the runner-up on the first season of American Idol.

Early life

Guarini was born in Columbus, Georgia. His father, Eldrin Bell, is African-American and is a former Atlanta, Georgia, Chief of Police, and former Chairperson of Clayton County Commission (Georgia). His mother, Kathy Pepino Guarini is Italian American, and was a journalist for WTVM TV in Columbus, and later for CNN. Guarini was primarily raised by his mother and stepfather, physicist Jerry Guarini, in Philadelphia's suburb of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He attended Central Bucks High School East.

Career

Beginnings

Guarini's musical experience started at age four when he was accepted by the Atlanta Boy Choir.[1][2] After moving to Pennsylvania in 1985, he joined the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Boys Choir.[3] Throughout his school years Guarini sang in school choirs, and from 1996-2000 was the lead soloist in an award-winning a cappella group named The Midnight Voices. The group released an independent album in 1999 with proceeds benefiting a music scholarship fund at Guarini's alma mater, Central Bucks High School East in Buckingham, Pennsylvania. He was a director/performer at the Riverside Haunted Woods in Bridgeton, Pennsylvania in 2001.

His high school and college theater credits include the lead roles in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Little Prince, The Pirates of Penzance, The Taming of the Shrew, and Once on This Island. In addition to singing and stage performing, Guarini plays the piano, guitar, and banjo.

After studying vocal performance and theater studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Guarini later moved to New York City where he attended the School for Film and Television. He worked in New York nightclubs, and auditioned for New York Theater before successfully auditioning for American Idol in April 2002. Shortly after being chosen for American Idol, he was offered a role in the Broadway production of The Lion King. Guarini wrote about his decision between the two offers in his exclusive 2008 blog for the television site, Fancast, stating, "I had attended master classes… I learned Zulu and Sotho phrases, as well as the music from the show. It was a dream almost come true at the time. But, now I knew I was onto something, and I wasn’t letting go. I politely declined the offer of a role...". He was also considering a contract offer from an independent record label, but the show's rules prohibited participants from having existing record contracts.

American Idol

Idol judge Simon Cowell praised Guarini's performance in the show's first season, at one early audition telling him "Justin, you know, occasionally you're very privileged when you do a competition like this to hear somebody undiscovered who has a voice like yours", with Guarini ultimately becoming the runner-up to winner Kelly Clarkson in September 2002. Soon after, Guarini signed with American Idol's 19 Management and secured a record deal with RCA. Prior to the American Idol Tour, he was the only contestant asked to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show, on which Oprah Winfrey told him, "Justin, you have it."

Justin leaping down stairs as he sings on the American Idol Tour in Atlanta, Georgia (2002).

Reviews during the American Idol Tour described Guarini as a "revelation" (Los Angeles Times), and "easily the best performer"(Boston Herald).

American Idol performances

Week Theme Song Sung Artist Order Result
Top 30 Semifinal Group 2 "Ribbon in the Sky" Stevie Wonder 10 Advanced
Top 10 Motown "For Once in My Life" Stevie Wonder 6 Safe
Top 8 1960s "Sunny" Bobby Hebb 7 Safe
Top 7 1970s "Someday We'll All Be Free" Donny Hathaway 4 Bottom 2
Top 6 Big Band "Route 66" Nat King Cole 2 Safe
Top 5 Burt Bacharach Love Songs "The Look of Love" Dusty Springfield 4 Safe
Top 4 1980s
1990s		 "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
"Get Here"		 Michael Jackson
Brenda Russell		 4
8		 Safe
Top 3 Idol's Choice
Judges' Choice		 "Let's Stay Together"
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"		 Al Green
Elton John		 2
5		 Safe
Top 2 Finale "Before Your Love"
"Get Here"
"A Moment Like This"		 Justin Guarini
Oleta Adams
Justin Guarini		 1
3
5		 Runner-Up

2003–04: Justin Guarini

JustinGuarini concert screencap

His self-titled album, Justin Guarini, debuted in June 2003, coinciding with the single releases of the current second season American Idol top two finalists and the movie From Justin to Kelly, in which Guarini co-starred with Kelly Clarkson. The film was critically panned,[4] while the album sold 146,000 copies. In December 2003 Guarini was dropped from RCA Records.[5]

Guarini had a role in the 2004 pre-Broadway New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater workshop/presentation of the musical Good Vibrations at Vassar College. His performance (which included singing, dancing, acting, and playing guitar) landed Guarini an offer to continue the role in the original Broadway production, which he eventually declined.[6]

2005–07: Stranger Things Have Happened

Guarini co-produced his second album Stranger Things Have Happened, independently released in December 2005 through his own production company, Justice Entertainment, Ltd.. The album of reinvented jazz standards was described by Allmusic as "a successful reinvention... where his natural skills shine", The Philadelphia Inquirer said that "Guarini displays an agile, attractive voice with good phrasing, supported by a sophisticated and funky backing ensemble."

Guarini wrote, co-arranged and recorded a benefit song released with H.H. Gayuna Cealo, and a song for the documentary series Project Everlasting, in August 2006 and featured on the Today Show. The title track from his album Stranger Things Have Happened was also used in the documentary.

From 2007-2011, TV Guide Network signed Guarini as permanent co-host for Idol Wrap and Idol Tonight. On-air duties with the network expanded to include guest hosting/appearances on other TV Guide Network shows, hosting movie premiere specials, and serving as a member of TV Guide Network's awards show team with on-air coverage of awards shows such as the Grammy Awards and Emmy Awards.

2008–09: Revolve

Guarini in The American Idol Experience motorcade at Walt Disney World in 2009.

In May 2008, Guarini released an acoustic EP titled Revolve comprising three songs ("Sweet Time", "Rock Bottom", and "When She Cries") co-written and co-produced with Shaun Ingram. Versions of the songs are planned to be included on a future solo album.

While stepping out to support the opening of The American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios[7] in February 2009, Guarini confirmed his impending marriage to his fiancee, Reina Capodici. In an exclusive pictorial of the wedding, People reported that the couple married on September 26, 2009.[8]

2010–present: Acting, hosting and performing

'Wicked' with Justin Guarini as Fiyero.

Guarini became a part of the Broadway community with his 2010 Broadway debut as Carlos in a musical adaptation of Pedro Almodovar's film, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.[9] Critics called Guarini's debut "surprisingly charming", "captivating" and "extremely likeable".[10][11][12]

Guarini played Will, one of the three male leads in Green Day's rock musical American Idiot performing March 1, 2011 through the show's closing night, April 24, 2011.[13]

On April 26, 2011, his first child with Capodici, William Neko Bell Guarini was born.[14] His second child, Asher, was born on February 25, 2013.[15]

In 2013, Guarini was cast in a modern Broadway production of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet as Paris. After its Broadway run, the live-filmed stage play was released in movie theatres.[16] Guarini joined the Broadway production of Wicked, in the role of Fiyero from February 25 to December 14, 2014.[17][18]

Other stage work includes lead roles in regional reproductions of Rent, Chicago, Comapny and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Original regional productions include Ghost Brothers of Darkland County as one of two feuding brothers in 2012 at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.[19][20] In It's a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play Guarini voiced George Bailey in a 2015 on-stage comedic production.[21]

In 2015, he starred in the New York City Center Encores presentation Paint Your Wagon. Praised by critics,[22][23] Guarini played the outcast Mexican miner. Guarini starred in the 2015 original musical "Moonshine: The Hee Haw Musical" premiering at the Dallas Theater Center on September 2 through October 11,[24][25][26] and Mamma Mia! in 2016.[27] Also in 2016, Guarini was cast in Broadway's new In Transit, the first a capella musical with book, music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez.[28]

Guarini participates in Equity staged readings of The Awakening of Angel DeLuna,[29] hosts and/or performs for various Broadway and stage-related benefits,[30][31] and other industry-related events including Broadway on the Hudson,[31][32] the Times Square Tony Awards Simulcast in 2014 and 2015,[33] adding executive producer duties in 2015.[34] He was an executive producer for the 2015 revival of the musical Side Show.

In 2016 Guarini attended the Tony Awards, and co-hosted backstage coverage of the live broadcast in conjunction with BroadwayHD.com.[35][36]

He's also acted in independent film projects such as the drama and action film Fast Girl, The Unknown: Frankie The Squirrel, Mafioso II: The Son and short film Tilt-a-Whirl for the Dances With Films festival.

Starting in 2015, Guarini stars as Lil' Sweet in Diet Dr Pepper television commercials, and web marketing.[37][38][39] In 2016, Dr. Pepper "promoted" tunes for a Lil' Sweet "album" with video clips, promotional pictures of the character, and the character's own Twitter page.[40][41] All commercials and clips are available on Dr. Peppers' YouTube channel.

Guarini has been a recurring commentator for Today, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, Style Channel, Comcast and Larry King Live.

Discography

Albums

An EP of original music will be released by Guarini approximately July 30, 2016.[42]

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
1999 The Midnight Voices
  • As lead vocalist
    •
  • Released: 1999
 —
  • US sales: N/A
2003 Justin Guarini 20
  • US sales:146,000[43]
2005 Stranger Things Have Happened
  • Released: December, 2005
    •
  • Label: Justice Entertainment, Ltd
 —
  • US sales: N/A
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other contributions

EPs

Songs

Filmography and theater

Films

Year Title Role
2003 From Justin to Kelly Justin Bell
2008 Fast Girl Darryl K. Sands
2014 Romeo and Juliet Paris

Theater roles

References

  1. ↑ "Atlanta Boy Choir to perform at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit | News". Rockdalecitizen.com. 2011-11-24. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  2. ↑ "Justin Guarini in world premiere of Stephen King musical". Philly.com. 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  3. ↑ "A Comeback for Justin Guarini". TV Fanatic. 2007-07-23. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  4. ↑ "From Justin To Kelly (2003)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  5. ↑ Moss, Corey (2003-12-02). "Where's Justin Guarini These Days? Not On RCA Records, Apparently - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  6. ↑ "Idol Star Guarini Leaves Company of Good Vibrations". Broadway.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  7. ↑ "'American Idol' Alumni Justin Guarini Planning Summer Wedding | Access Hollywood - Celebrity News, Photos & Videos". Access Hollywood. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  8. ↑ "American Idol's Justin Guarini Marches Down the Aisle". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  9. ↑ Justin Guarini Joins Broadway's Women on the Verge; Casting Complete Playbill.com, August 19, 2010
  10. ↑ "Justin Guarini's 'Breakdown' getting a beatdown from theater critics". Content.usatoday.com. 2010-11-09. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  11. ↑ Marks, Peter (5 November 2010). "Broadway's 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown' lacks an edge" – via washingtonpost.com.
  12. ↑ "Theater review: 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown' at the Belasco Theatre | Culture Monster | Los Angeles Times". Latimesblogs.latimes.com. 2010-11-04. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  13. ↑ "Davey Havok, Justin Guarini, Van Hughes Will Be New Leads of Broadway's American Idiot". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  14. ↑ "Justin Guarini Welcomes Son William Neko – Moms & Babies – Moms & Babies - People.com". Celebritybabies.people.com. 2011-06-24. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  15. ↑ "Justin Guarini Welcomes Son Asher – Moms & Babies – Celebrity Babies and Kids - Moms & Babies - People.com". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Broadway s Romeo and Juliet with Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad Coming to Fathom Events Network of Movie Theaters Nationwide". The Gilmer Mirror. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  17. ↑ Amabile Angermiller, Michele (February 5, 2014). "Justin Guarini Nabs Lead in 'Wicked' on Broadway". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  18. ↑ Gioia, Michael (November 20, 2014). "Caroline Bowman and Kara Lindsay Will Be Broadway's New Wicked Witches; Robin De Jesus, Matt Shingledecker to Also Join Cast". Playbill. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  19. ↑ Bert Osborne. ""Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" a musical horror story that t". Accessatlanta.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  20. ↑ "Emily Skinner, Shuler Hensley, Justin Guarini Set for GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY Workshop, 12/5". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  21. 1 2 "Photo Flash: First Look at Justin Guarini, Lauren Molina, Jill Paice and More in Bucks County's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Review: 'Paint Your Wagon,' Starring Keith Carradine, Opens at Encores!". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  23. ↑ "Theater Review: At Encores!, Paint Your Wagon". Vulture. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  24. ↑ "First Look! Take a Gander at Broadway-Aimed Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical | Broadway Buzz". Broadway.com. 2015-09-17. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  25. ↑ "Photo Flash: Meet the 'MOONSHINE' Cast & Creative Team, Beginning Previews Tonight in Dallas!". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  26. ↑ Blank, Matthew (2015-09-17). "Drink Up! See Justin Guarini and Rose Hemingway Go Country in Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical". Playbill. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  27. 1 2 Hayley Levitt (2016-05-31). "Justin Guarini Joins the Muny Cast of Mamma Mia!". TheaterMania.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  28. 1 2 Viagas, Robert (2016-08-30). "Telly Leung, Justin Guarini Among Cast of A Cappella Broadway Musical In Transit". Playbill. Retrieved 2016-09-09.
  29. ↑ Eddie Varley. "Justin Guarini's 'AWAKENING'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Wicked Star Justin Guarini and More Join NYCLU's Broadway Stands Up for Freedom". TheaterMania.com. July 11, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  31. 1 2
  32. ↑ "Justin Guarini & Krysta Rodriguez to Host BROADWAY ON THE HUDSON on 9/27". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Justin Guarini and Kerry Butler to Host Times Square Tony Awards Simulcast". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Justin Guarini and Deborah Cox Will Host Times Square Simulcast of Tony Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  35. ↑ "News: 38". BroadwayHD. 2016-06-06. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  36. ↑ Writer, Matt Smith2; Theatre, Specialties Include; Entertainment, Other Forms of (24 June 2016). "16 Fun Facts We Learned on the Tonys Behind-the-Scenes Livestream Show". Huffingtonpost.com.
  37. ↑ "Diet Dr Pepper – Lil' Sweet Self Employed". youtube.com. 2015-02-19.
  38. ↑ Diet Dr Pepper – Lil’ Sweet ‘Birthday’ (2015). YouTube. March 20, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  39. ↑ Beltrone, Gabriel (2016-01-25). "Diet Dr Pepper's Lil' Sweet Is Back, and Sweet-Talking All Over Your House, in New Ads". Adweek. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  40. ↑ "Lil' Sweet". Diet Dr Pepper. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  41. ↑ "Lil' Sweet (@DietDrPepper)". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  42. ↑ "Justin Guarini: New EP on PledgeMusic". Pledgemusic.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  43. ↑ Lisa de Moraes (23 May 2011). "American Idol finale: After 10 years, the beat goes on". Washington Post. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  44. ↑ David Clarke. "BWW CD Reviews: Broadway Records' WHERE THE SKY ENDS: THE MUSIC OF MICHAEL MOTT Awakens Dreamers". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  45. ↑ "USATODAY.com - Guarini to star in 'Good Vibrations'". usatoday.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  46. ↑ Eddie Varley. "Justin Guarini's 'AWAKENING'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  47. ↑ Brian Scott Lipton (2010-11-10). "Justin Guarini Is Happy on the Verge". TheaterMania.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  48. ↑ "Ask a Star: Justin Guarini of American Idiot | Videos". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  49. ↑ "Full Cast Announced for Justin Guarini-Led RENT at Surflight". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  50. ↑ "American Idiot's Justin Guarini Will Star in Media Theatre's Chicago". Playbill. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 16, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
  52. ↑ "Justin Guarini Will Star in Muny Production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 4, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  54. ↑ "Christine Dwyer, Jenni Barber, Justin Guarini & More to Join Cast of WICKED in February". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  55. ↑ "Highlights From Paint Your Wagon With Keith Carradine, Alexandra Socha and Justin Guarini". Playbill. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  56. ↑ "First Look at Keith Carradine, Alexandra Socha, and Justin Guarini in Paint Your Wagon". TheaterMania.com. March 18, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  57. ↑ "Photo Call: First Look at Justin Guarini in Bucks County Playhouse Production of Company". Playbill. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  58. ↑ "Justin Guarini, Rose Hemingway & More Will Star in MOONSHINE: THAT HEE HAW MUSICAL at Dallas Theater Center". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  59. ↑ Andy Lefkowitz (June 18, 2015). "Justin Guarini Leads Cast of Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical". TheaterMania.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  60. ↑ Gans, Andrew (2016-02-10). "Justin Guarini, Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Rupert, Sally Struthers Set for Reading of First Gentleman Musical". Playbill. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  61. ↑ "Justin Guarini, Michele Ragusa and Euan Morton to Lead New Musical CAKE OFF at Bucks County Playhouse". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  62. ↑ Derschowitz, Jessica (2016-08-30). "In Transit on Broadway: Justin Guarini joins a capella musical cast". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2016-09-09.
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