Biography
Dynamic musical theatre, film and commercial actor, Gary Paul Bowman, was born and raised in Voorhees, NJ right outside of Philadelphia. (Go Birds!) Touring both Nationally and in Canada for most of 2023 through 2025, his most recent credits include Lead Vocalist in "Dirty Dancing in Concert" (US & Canada Tour with Quatro Entertainment), Cher's infamous "Bagel Boy" boyfriend, Rob Camilletti and her second husband and rock star, Gregg Allman in the First Broadway National Tour of "The Cher Show" (with Big League Productions), and Alex the Lion in the first U. S. National Tour of "Madagascar the Musical" (with Showtown NYC).
You can also catch Gary in a national commercial for TD Bank and regional spot for Wawa.
A graduate of Drexel University with a BS in Entertainment and Arts Management with minors in Business Administration and Theatre, Gary got his start in the acting business when his mom forced him to participate in his middle school's drama club. While there he ended up performing in three main stage productions, The Sound of Music (Friedrich Von Trapp), Oliver! (The Artful Dodger), and Footloose (Ren McCormack). He clearly caught the acting bug (Thanks, Mama!), as he continued to perform in plays and musicals after he left middle school and was very involved in community theatre, as well as his high school theatre club. His most memorable shows in high school were Hairspray! (Corny Collins), Amadeus (Antonio Salieri), Evita (Che), James and the Giant Peach (Old-Green-Grasshopper), and Les Miserables (Jean Valjean).
Gary has been nominated for three Greater Philadelphia Cappie Awards (Best Supporting Actor in a Musical as 'Corny Collins', Best Lead Actor in a Play 'as Antonio Salieri', and Best Male Vocalist 'as Jean Valjean'). He also received a nomination for the Montclair State University Foxy Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama 'as Antonio Salieri'. He was also nominated for the 2015 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance as Corny Collins in Hairspray!
He then attended the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Conservatory to study acting, dance, and the performing arts and, he was nominated for, and won, the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as Jean Valjean. Camden County honored him as the Best Male Artist of his graduating class. He was also presented with the Viking's Best Male Artist Award from his High School, Eastern Regional.
Notable college credits are The Diary of Anne Frank (Van Dann), Godspell (John the Baptist/Judas), Tartuffe (Valere), She Kills Monsters (Miles), Be More Chill (The SQUIP), and Peter and the Starcatcher (Lord Leonard Aster). The rest of his college theater career was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Thanks to their artists in residency program, Gary had the privilege of working with esteemed Philadelphia Theatre Companies, such as Mauckingbird Theatre Co., Ignition Arts, as well as artists Bill Fennelly, Jesse Bernstein, Peter Andrew Danzig, K.C. MacMillan, and Nick Anselmo. He also played the role of "Orion" in a workshop production of a mental health musical called "We Have Apples" written by Ms. Rachel (Rachel Griffin) of YouTube fame, and composed by Broadways' Aladdin conductor Aron Accurso.
His first career theater booking was a Swing contract in the John W. Engeman Theater's production of "Rock of Ages," where he covered the roles of Lonny*, Dennis, and the Male Ensemble*. They then asked him back to swing their summer production of "Kinky Boots," where he covered the roles of Harry*, Mr. Price*, and Richard.
In the following fall, Gary booked the role of Roger in The Media Theater's production of RENT, and upon completion of the run, was offered to come back for their production of Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Aspects of Love," in which he appeared in the ensemble as Johnny LeJeune (and others) and covered the leading role of Alex Dillingham.
