James Dybas

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Early life
Dybas was born in Chicago, Illinois. He studied at H.B. Studios with Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof, dance wth Edna L. McRae and Anna Sokolow. members who included which included Mariclare Costello, Cathryn Damon, Cliff Gorman, Leonard Frey, Erin Martin, Julia Migenes, James Mitchell, Barry Primus and Gerome Ragni, who was at that time writing the musical Hair during that time.
Career
Dybas made his Broadway debut when he was 21 year old in the Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents’s Do I Hear a Waltz?
In 1976, Dybas appeared in many roles in a musical by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman called Pacific Overtures, which was about Japan's entrance to the western world after years of isolationism. The show, which had a cast that included Mako in his Broadway debut, incorporated traditional Japanese Noh and Kabuki theater techniques. Dybas originated the Sondheim songs, "Someone in a Tree" and “Detente."
Dybas appeared on the CBS Sunday morning show, "Camera Three," to sing Sondheim songs. In addition to his work in roles in Broadway productions, he has appeared as an understudy seven times on Broadway.
In the 1980s, Dybas worked regularly as a character actor in small roles in TV shows like Kojak, The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, and Miami Vice. During this time, Dybas worked regularly in Los Angeles theater in roles in The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit (Pasadena Playhouse), Drood, a musical based on the unfinished Charles Dickens novel The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and in the role of Tristan Tzara in Travesties.
In 1997, during the period before the opening of The Scarlet Pimpernel on Broadway, Dybas kept an online journal of his experience for Playbill.
In addition to acting, Dybas has taught at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy as well as master classes and workshops for the Kennedy Centers College Theater Festival. A collection of his correspondence with the dancing instructor and Chicago icon, Edna L. McRae, are held at The Newberry Library in Chicago.
He has won six Los Angeles Drama-Logue Awards. Dybas is also active in the non-profit organization, Dancers Over 40, which focuses on supporting dancers and actors who have worked in theater. He is on their Board of Directors.
Credits
Regional theater
* 1977: Jesus Christ Superstar as King Herod - Paper Mill Playhouse
* 2015: The Drowsy Chaperone as Underling - The Cape Playhouse
Broadway
* 1965: Do I Hear a Waltz? as Vito
* 1968-1969: ' in the roles of Louie, Dog Trainer, Stagehand, Louie, Congressman, Actor
Television
* 1966: ABC Stage 67 as Chuck Roast (1 episode: "On the Flip Side")
* 1966: Hawk as Jingo (1 episode: "Wall of Silence")
* 1976: Pacific Overtures as Second Councillor / Old Man / French Admiral (TV broadcast of theatrical musical)
* 1976: Kojak as Dr. Winkler (1 episode: "A Summer Madness")
* 1980: Knots Landing as AA Member (1 episode: "Remember the Good Times")
* 1981: The Music Shoppe (1 episode: "Breaking Into Show Business")
* 1982: The Greatest American Hero as Medical Expert (1 episode: "Plague")
* 1983: The A-Team as Doorman (1 episode: "The Rabbit Who Ate Las Vegas")
* 1983: Tucker's Witch as Reporter: John Dawson (1 episode: "Psych-Out")
* 1987: Miami Vice as IAB Det. Stroh (2 episodes: "Amen... Send Money," "Knock, Knock... Who's There?")
* 1998: Sins of the City as Willie Indiana (1 episode: "Blind Eye for Hire")
Film
* 1966: Step Out of Your Mind as Harry
* 1980: Private Benjamin as Photographer
* 1991: Guilty as Charged as Juan
* 1992: Somebody's Daughter as Crazy man
* 2015: Valedictorian as Monte

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