Bio

Quick listings BIO:
Name: Justin Eldrin Bell Guarini
Birthdate: October 28, 1978
Birthplace: Columbus, Georgia
Hometown: Doylestown, PA (Atlanta and Philadelphia)
Education: Central Bucks East, Doylestown, 1997; University of the Arts, Philadelphia, 1998; School for Film and Television, New York City, 1999-2000
BACKGROUND/HIGHLIGHTS:
1982
Atlanta Boys Choir, vocalist about
1993
Bucks County Music Festival, soloist
1997
The Zombie Prom, "Johnny" "Johnny"
1999
The Midnight Voices, a cappella vocalist
2000
Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival, Mid-Atlantic Region (2nd place, with The Midnight Voices)
2001
Cutting Edge Entertainment, party motivator
"Idol of a Philadelphia DJ Company": Article
2002
Runner-up on debut season (September 4) of "American Idol - The Search for a Superstar", in which there had been over 10,000 to audition. ( according to TV Guide re "Dancing with the Stars", Dec. 2005): Dancing's finale scores the biggest audience for a summer show since the Justin and Kelly matchup on Idol.
VIDEO - The JG Story: The JG Story Video
2003 - Justin's self-titled CD was released June 10
Movie: "From Justin to Kelly" - June 20
2004
Fiji, EW article, "Film Fakers" AMC, Habitat, New Management, cuts jinglets, creatively regrouping, role in the pre-Broadway New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater workshop/presentation of the musical Good Vibrations at Vassar College.
2005
May - Tilt-A-Whirl (2005) short/drama film , Los Angeles Dances with Films Festival
Spring - Frankie the Squirrel (Eagle Films, Inc.)--premiere 2007
CD : Stranger Things Have Happened - vocals, producer, released Dec. 6
2006
CD: Did You Know I Know Your Journey? (Hymn #14), words by His Holiness Guyana Cealo, vocals and music by Justin
2007
March - The Unknown Trilogy Premiere (Eagle Films, Inc. and Sal Mazaotta)
 Hired by TV Guide Network as co-host of Idol Chat and Idol Tonight
Fast Girl (indie film directed by Daniel Zirilli)
2008
CD - Foreign Shores by David Hughes, featured vocalist
May - EP: "Revolve" and new official website
Blogs and video blogs (Vlogs) for Comcast's FancastNews.com
summer - begins weekly broadcasts and live webcasts on Blog Talk Radio - "The Justin Guarini Show"
August - USO Tour - Afghanistan/Qatar
September - announced his engagement to hometown sweetheart, Reina Capodici
November 5-15 - taping "Gone Country" for CMT (to air January, 2009)
November 21 - recorded "Love Train" with legendary producers Gamble and Huff in their historic Philly studio
2009
February - Disney's American Idol Experience opens, Justin in featured video for AI Experience Disney park visitors
Jan.-Mar. - Justin in CMT's highest rated series, "Gone Country"; Finale at Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville on March 7
March 23 - industry reading for the new musical, "Awakening of Angel DeLuna" in NYC
April 28 - "I Can't Live" submitted for consideration on "New Moon" soundtrack.
July 9 - "What You Won't Do For Love" on Drivetime jazz CD Reflections
July 14 - premiere of "Sketched Out", FAUX Network on webtv
August 12 - Justin and Drivetime included on AirPlay Direct
September 26 - Wedding Day for Justin and Reina
2010
auditioning on Broadway, launched new website, published "Under the Covers" new music at website, working on new album during the summer, active schedule of appearances and concerts and continues red carpet hosting for TV Guide Network; streaming live web Chats on Justin.tv
late summer 2010 - auditioned for Broadway's "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" . It was announced on August 24 in the New York Times that Justin had been chosen to play "Carlos" in the new musical; previews Oct. 8; opens Nov. 4.
2011
March 1-April 24 - Broadway musical, "American Idiot" as "Will"
April 26, 2011 - baby boy William Neko Bell Guarini
May 28-June 19, 2011 - "Roger" in "Rent", Surflight Theatre, Beach Haven, NJ
September 28-November 6, 2011 - "Billy Flynn" in "Chicago", The Media Theatre of the Performing Arts, Philadelphia
2012
April 4-May 13 - "Drake" in the Stephen King and John Mellencamp musical,"Ghost Brothers of Darkland County", Alliance Theater-Atlanta
July 23-29, 2012 - "Joseph" in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", Muny Theatre, St. Louis
September 2012 - "Ghost Brothers" workshop in NYC
October 2012 - Old Navy commercial
December 13-30, 2012 - "Jake" in "It's a Wonderful Life:  A Live Radio Play", Bucks County Playhouse
2013
August 11 - Oprah's "Where Are They Now?"
September 19 opens, previews begin August 24 (ends December 8) - "Romeo and Juliet" on Broadway
2014
February 14 & 15 - debut of "Lovesick" self-styled production at Bucks County Playhouse
February 25 - begins run as "Fiyero" in WICKED on Broadway
2015
February 17 - begins playing 'Lil Sweet in national TV commercial ad for Diet Dr. Pepper
February 23 - "A Brave New World: A Brave New Musical" - AEA Lab presentation
March 18 - Julio in "Paint Your Wagon", New York City Centers Encores
May 29 - Bobby in "Company", Bucks County Playhouse
September 2-October 11 - "MOONSHINE: That Hee Haw Musical, Dallas Theater Center
2016
August - "Cake Off"
November 10 - Trent in "In Transit" Broadway
2017
July - "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" The Muny
November - Santuit in "The New World" Bucks County Playhouse
November - Philly Thanksgiving Parade
2018
February - SSB, Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Center Gala
March - Good Morning America; Dreams to Acts, A Change if Going to Come (recording)
April - From Broadway with Love:  A Benefit for Parkland, USA
June - We Are the World (recording) Broadway United
October - So Much to Say: Songs for Everytown (recording)
November - Orphaned Starfish Benefit Performance
2019
Audition Secrets by Justin Bell Guarini - The Warrior Alliance
June - Bucks County Playhouse's Oscar Hammerstein Festival
September - Idol Reunion - Kelly Clarkson Shiw
2020
April 14-May 17 - new musical- Once Upon a One More Time - Chicago

* * *
Illustrated Biography
JUSTIN GUARINI
- Singer, Dancer, Songwriter, Actor, Record Producer, Composer, TV/Radio Host and Correspondent -

Justin Guarini was born in Columbus, Georgia, on October 28, 1978.
Dad Eldrin Bell is a former Atlanta police chief and Clayton County (Ga.) Commission Chair.

Chief Bell is first cousins with acclaimed actor Samuel L. Jackson's wife, LaTonya.

Stepfather Jerry Guarini is a retired Navy physicist. Mom Kathy Pepino Guarini is a former TV journalist and anchor at CNN and is now a freelance broadcast journalist and realtor in Doylestown.

Then president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, called in--from Airforce One--his best wishes to KathyGuarini, whom he knew from her CNN association, upon hearing the news of Justin's birth(Justin'sgodparents are Prince Faisal and his former wife, Princess Azia of Saudi Arabia.)

Justin has a large family--he has nineteen brothers and sisters! It was reported in the Atlanta Journal Constitution that dad Eldrin has 13 children--nine of whom are adopted. Jerry Guarini reportedly has eight children, including Justin.

"We've been watching Justin since he was a little kid," says Kathy, "and he loves to entertain. It really is a natural God-given gift." Justin's mom has said, "I think the most special thing about Justin is his kindness and consideration and lack of conceit. He had the leads in practically all his high school and college plays, yet he always was a team player. In high school he took a lot of time listening to friends and their problems and trying to help them. He also treasures family, hopefully this will help him keep his priorities straight."

Raised in central Bucks County, Pennsylvania, by mom Kathy Pepino Guarini and stepdad Jerry Guarini, Justin was born in Columbus, Georgia, where his mom was an anchor for the local 'Action 9 News' on WTVM. Kathy also anchored news programs in Philadelphia and Atlanta (CNN), where she met Justin's father, Eldrin Bell, who rose through the ranks of the Atlanta police department to become its commissioner.

Justin was accepted into the Atlanta Boys Choir at four years old. The Choir generally does not accept  children under six years of age.

With a mother in the television industry, and a father always in the public spotlight, Justin's drive to entertain came naturally. His sister says that he imitated Michael Jackson's style and was known to 'moonwalk' around the house. His first concert was The Jacksons' "Victory Tour." (below with Jermaine Jackson)

Justin, as a youngster, had the privilege of meeting many interesting people and celebrities (below with Lena Horne, Nelson Mandela and Michael Douglas and Jack Nicholson), sometimes as a result of his father's position as Atlanta's Chief of Police.

                                           

At Lenape Middle School, Justin impressed Bucks County Music Festival director Donald Dumpson--a professor at Westminster Choir College and composer who has worked with notables like Patti LaBelle and Boyz II Men--so thoroughly that he cancelled the rest of the auditions. Justin's solo at the festival, "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child," won him a standing ovation.

"Everybody knew Justin had the potential to do something," says Debbie Thompson, theater director at Upper Dublin High School who directed him in the lead role of Johnny in a rock 'n' roll musical, "The Zombie Prom"  (photo below) when he was at Central Bucks East High School. Justin graduated from Central Bucks East High School in Doylestown, PA.

Justin attended University of the Arts, Philadelphia and the School for Film and Television, New York City (New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts) 1999-2000.  One of his classmates was Scott Holroyd, formerly Paul Ryan on "As the World Turns." A high school aquaintance was pop singer Pink (Alicia Beth Moore, below)

In 1996, Justin helped to form an a cappella group with school friends. "The Midnight Voices" was founded "to serenade their 'female friends' the night before high school graduation," but the group went on to burn a CD and take second at the 2000 Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival Mid-Atlantic Regional. The Midnight Voices CD profits are donated to a music scholarship fund at Central Bucks East High School.

Each CD is $18.00 (or 2 for $30) and can be purchased by sending a check or money order (made out to "Midnight Voices") to:
Midnight Voices
31 Valley Drive
Furlong, PA 18925)
Profits are donated to a music scholarship fund at Central Bucks East High School.

Justin directed amateur theater groups, including the Riverside Haunted Woods (where he first began growing the famous curls)               pre-AI days and had the lead role in many musicals during high school and college (Pirates of Penzance, Phantom of the Opera, Edwin Drood, etc.).

Immediately prior to American Idol, Justin was offered a seat in the prestigious master class program in "The Lion King" on Broadway; he auditioned for American Idol instead and couldn't take the offer from Lion King when he became an AI finalist. Justin was nationally voted runner-up on the debut season (2002) of "American Idol - The Search for a Superstar", in which there had been over 10,000 to audition. Post AI, he was given a standing offer to play the Emcee in "Cabaret" on Broadway (instead, he was required by management to do CD/movie promotion).

Justin met his idol, Stevie Wonder, at Quincy Jones' birthday party held at Spago restaurant in LA on March 15, 2003.

Justin has appeared and/or performed on numerous TV programs and other live venues and events and has had extensive media coverage on entertainment news programs, news segments, and in magazine and newspaper articles.

In early 2004, Justin announced he had severed ties with RCA and 19 Entertainment. He cut his signature curls early that same year. Justin has been sought after for many popular television programs, independent and theatrical films, and public as well as private events. He hired new management, launched his official website at http://www.justinguarini.com/  and created his own production company, JusticeEntertainment--now RevolutionaryEntertainment.

IMDb
Film: Fast Girl (Darryl), From Justin to Kelly (Justin), Tilt-A-Whirl, The Unknown Trilogy:  Frankie the Squirrel (Keith), "Romeo and Juliet" (Paris), "A Route Less Traveled" (Joe)
TV: “American Idol” season 1 runner-up (Fox), “Run of the House”-Paul Hanson (Fox), “Film     Fakers” (AMC), “Gone Country” (CMT season 3), TV Guide Network, host/correspondent; “Live With Regis and Kelly” (guest host, ABC); Justin Guarini Close-UP (TV Guide Network) "Celebrity Ghost Stories", BIO channel
 more credits
Other: Disney World’s The American Idol Experience, virtual host; Awakening of Angel DeLuna - a reading of new musical, Theater 80, Manhattan

Justin is with the ETM-LA (Education Through Music Los Angeles) which funds music programs in disadvantaged schools.

Justin made his Broadway debut as "Carlos" in "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" in 2010 and has since played "Will" in "American Idiot" on Broadway; "Roger" in "Rent" at Surflight Theatre on Jersey Shore; staged reading as "Priest" in Bill T. Jones' "Superfly the Musical" in New York; "Billy Flynn" in "Chicago" at The Media Theatre of Performing Arts in Philadelphia;"Drake" in John Mellencamp and Stephen King's "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" at Alliance Theatre in Atlanta; "Joseph" in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", Muny Theatre, St. Louis; "Drake" again in workshop of "Ghost Brothers" in NYC; the Bucks County Playhouse production of "It's a Wonderful Life:  A Live Radio Play" by Joe Landry with Justin cast as "Jake"; Justin was cast as "Paris" on Broadway in "Romeo and Juliet"; takes over male lead, "Fiyero" in Wicked on Broadway; played in "Brave New World: A Brave New Musical" (lab) and "Cake Off"; was "Julio" in "Paint Your Wagon", New York City Center; "Bobby" in Bucks County Playhouse's "Company" starred in "MOONSHINE:  That Hee Haw Musical "; "Sam" in "Mama Mia" at The Muny; Prince Charming in Once Upon a One More Time in Chicago.

Justin begins playing 'Lil Sweet in Diet Dr. Pepper TV ads February 2015.

Prince Charming, ONCE UPON A ONE MORE TIME 

Broadway - Marquis Theater - May 13, 2023

Justin married hometown sweetheart Reina Capodici September 26, 2009 with vows including step-daughter, Lola. Son, William Neko Bell, was born April 26, 2011; Asher Orion was born February 26, 2013.

My true and honest goal is to have as much fun as I can, and to do what I love. I love to be up on stage, to perform, to sing and dance, and if I can make one person smile and forget about their troubles in life, which most people don't realize are so temporary, then that's my job.--Justin