Barbara Minkus
About Barbara
Barbara Minkus began her show business career in NYC in Julius Monk’s review, BITS AND PIECES. She went on to receive rave reviews touring as Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL throughout the United States. She played Lucy in the original NY recording cast of YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. On Broadway, Barbara starred in THE EDUCATION OF HYMAN KAPLAN directed by the great George Abbott.
On television, she was a regular for six seasons on LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE played Gittel the Witch in ABC’s CURIOUSITY SHOP, and was the voice of Ms. Pacman in the ABC cartoon series, PACMAN. She had numerous television appearances over the years on THE DANNY KAYE SHOW, THE TONIGHT SHOW, and made a record 20 appearances on THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW.
After taking time out to raise her family, Barbara returned to the stage at The Santa Monica playhouse to appear in FUNNY, YOU DON’T LOOK LIKE A GRANDMOTHER.. She then brought PICON PIE to the Playhouse, playing Molly Picon – a role she helped research – and later reprised the role Off-Broadway. In both LA and Florida, she starred as Jennie Grossinger in the musical SATURDAY NIGHT AT GROSSINGER’S.
Barbara presented FROM THIS MOMENT ON–MINKUS SINGS PORTER at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, and returned to present THE SONGS OF IRVING BERLIN. Other musical theatre performances include Miss Lynch in GREASE at the Muni Theatre in St. Louis, as well as Yente in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at both the Muni and the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City. She also starred in the LA and Off-Broadway musical, DON’T LEAVE IT ALL TO YOUR CHILDREN.
Along with frequent collaborator Susan Morgenstern, Barbara co-wrote and starred in I’M NOT FAMOUS: A MUSICAL JOURNEY WITH BARBARA MINKUS at the Santa Monica Playhouse for a 5-month run, which was later re-worked and re-titled, 18 MINUTES OF FAME: A MUSICAL JOURNEY WITH BARBARA MINKUS.. This one-woman show was presented at The Pico Playhouse and had its New York debut at the Triad Theater in 2018, before returning to LA for performances at The Braid in 2019.
In 2020, Barbara launched her own YouTube channel and created her ABOUT LIFE shows, a video series featuring stories and songs from her distinguished career. Barbara will resume touring with 18 MINUTES OF FAME for the 2022-23 theatrical season.
MTG Show Credits
Fun Facts
I'm proud to be an MTG member because
I've wanted to be a part of this company for a long time!
Dream Role
I'd love to play Mrs. Brice in "Funny Girl" since I played Fanny Brice a long time ago.
Favorite Role I Have Played
Playing Molly Picon in "Picon Pie" in LA, Florida, and Off-Broadway was a special time for me because she was such an incredible legend to portray.
My Favorite Musical
"Fiddler On The Roof". It's a classic that is important to keep presenting.
Favorite MTG Show I Have Been In
I was in "70, GIRLS, 70" playing the tap dancing Grandmother.
Funniest / Most Memorable Thing That's Happened to Me on Stage
The funniest moments on stage for me involved my feet and "the unexpected". I was doing "FUNNY GIRL" at The Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale singing "Don't Rain On My Parade" just before the end of Act One. I sang "Nobody's gonna rain on my..." and when I got to "parade", I kicked my foot up and my shoe went flying out into the audience! It was so funny. Everyone in the theatre was laughing and the usher found my shoe during intermission. Another funny moment happened years later, when I was an opening act for Don Ho at the Greek Theatre. I walked off the runway while singing and landed in the trombone player's lap! He lifted me up, put me back on stage and I kept singing without missing a note. Again, the audience couldn't stop laughing. It was a fun moment.
Languages Spoken
English
Pronouns ?Click here to learn more about personal gender pronouns and why they're important.
she/her/hers
Special Skills
Yiddish, Singer – 3 Octave Range, New York Accent
Contact Info