In late 2007, he performed the role of Sydney Carton in a pre-Broadway musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. In 2008, Barbour reprised his role in the Broadway production of "A Tale of Two Cities", which closed after 60 performances. In the "New York Times," critic Ben Brantley wrote that he disliked both the production and Barbour's performance in it. Barbour was nominated for the Drama League, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards in the Best Actor in a Musical category for his role in "A Tale of Two Cities".