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Julie Benko

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BIO

Julie Benko is an actor, singer, and writer based in New York City. She recently marched her band out on Broadway as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, skyrocketing to fame and joining the annals of theatrical lore for her sensational understudy-to-star trajectory in the show. Between her tenure as the standby, alternate, and full-time Fanny, she played the role over 180 times (1 in every 3 performances!) and received numerous accolades for her interpretation, including Theatre World's Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theatre. She was also named the 2022 Breakout Star for Theater in the New York Times, honored as one of 40 Under 40 for Crain's New York Business, hailed by CBS Mornings as "Broadway's breakout star," and profiled in numerous national media outlets such as the New York Times and Time. This fall, she will originate her first role on Broadway, playing Ruth in the long-gestating Barry Manilow/Bruce Sussman musical Harmony.



Her recent album Hand in Hand (Club44 Records), a duo effort with her pianist-composer spouse Jason Yeager, won the BroadwayWorld Cabaret Award for Best Commercial Album and received a MAC Award nomination for Best Major Album. You can hear it wherever music is streaming and catch her debut jazz album Introducing Julie Benko on Spotify here! This December, she will join the ranks of many great Jewish artists before her, releasing her holiday EP Christmas With You, which will feature both the classic Yiddish folk song Tumbalalaika for Chanukah and one of Benko's original songs.
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She has played leading roles in many off-Broadway and regional productions and enjoys a vibrant concert career, having headlined sold-out shows at Birdland, 54 Below, and many other prestigious venues around the country. She has also performed as a guest soloist with numerous symphonies. She won first prize and the Johnny Mercer Award in the national American Traditions Vocal Competition and holds a BFA in Drama and an MFA in Acting (yes, both) from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
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As a writer, Julie has worked across mediums. In 2020, she wrote, directed, and starred in her first short, "The Newlywed's Guide to Physical Intimacy," a heartwarming comedy which follows a Hasidic Jewish couple on their wedding night. The film has since won praise in numerous international festivals. Her first full-length play, "The District," set in New Orleans' legal red light district prior to World War I, was named a semifinalist at the 2022 Eugene O'Neil National Playwrights Conference.
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She can often be found making music with Jason, picking up Yiddish on DuoLingo (she's on a streak of over 1,000 days!), or snuggling with her rescue cat, Thelonious Monk (aka Monkey). Incredibly, Julie has never even had one audition for any version of Law and Order.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2023
Ruth


[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2022
Fanny Brice (Saint Tome (Sao Tome) and Principe)

(St. Louis, MO (Regional))

(Standby)

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production at Actors Temple Theatre, 2018
Performer


[New York]
York Theatre Production, 2018
Lesley Green


[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2015
Performer (Swing)

Hodel (Understudy) [Replacement]

Chava (Understudy) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

Hodel (Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2014
Ensemble [Replacement]

[Replacement]

Cosette (Understudy) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

(Unknown) [Replacement]

[US Tour]
25th Anniversary Production, 2010
Performer


[US Tour]
National Tour, 2008
Ensemble


Movies

Les Miserables: The Broadway Musical
[ 2014 ] Ensemble

TV Shows

Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre

Awards and Nominations


winner
Theatre World Awards - 2023 - Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater

Julie Benko, Funny Girl

Videos

News


AT THIS PERFORMANCE… Returns to The Green Room 42 on Monday, July 21
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 2, 2025

Stephen DeAngelis will continue his AT THIS PERFORMANCE… concert series at The Green Room 42 on Monday, July 21 at 7 PM, celebrating Broadway and Off-Broadway standbys, understudies, and alternates with a new lineup of rising and established performers.
Laverne Cox, Beth Leavel & More in NYC'S Summer 2025 Top Concerts & Cabaret
by Rebecca Kaplan - Jun 30, 2025

Check out our top cabaret, comedy, jazz and more for Summer 2025 in New York with picks ranging from free comedy, jazz and a Deaf production of WAITRESS to OITNB star Laverne Cox's solo show.
Lewis Flinn to Perform Live in Concert at Laurie Beechman Theater with Guests Julie Benko and Susanna Phillips
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 17, 2025

Award-winning composer Lewis Flinn, along with special guests Julie Benko (Broadway's Funny Girl) and Susanna Phillips (Metropolitan Opera) will perform a one-night-only concert at the Laurie Beechman Theatre (407 W 42nd St) this Friday, June 20 at 7PM, doors opening at 5:30PM. 
Best Cabaret in June 2025: Tony Danza, Darren Criss, Bridgett Everett & More
by Rebecca Kaplan - Jun 1, 2025

We've put together a list of some of the biggest stars of the stage and screen and the biggest names in jazz, cabaret and Broadway with shows in NYC - at a range of budget points. Now's your chance to see these stars live in an intimate venue.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld May 23, 2025
by - May 23, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is May 23, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Raúl Esparza and More Join Theatre Aspen's MY FAIR LADY In Concert
by Stephi Wild - May 22, 2025

Joining the previously announced Julie Benko, four-time Tony Award nominee Raúl Esparza, Tony Award winner Shuler Hensley and Anne L. Nathan will join the company of Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady in Concert.
Spotlight: STANDBY, ME at Norwalk Concert Hall
by BWW Special Offer - May 20, 2025

Broadway phenom Julie Benko LIVE!
BWW Q&A: Julie Benko on STANDBY, ME: AN EVENING WITH JULIE BENKO at Curtain Call Inc.
by Joshua Wright - May 19, 2025

Julie Benko is an actor, singer, and writer based in New York City. She recently marched her band out on Broadway as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, skyrocketing to fame and joining the annals of theatrical lore for her sensational understudy-to-star trajectory in the show.
2025 Theatre World Awards Winners Announced
by Nicole Rosky - May 5, 2025

Theatre World Awards Board of Directors has just announced the Honorees for Theatre World Award for an Outstanding Debut Performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production. We have the full list of honorees!
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld April 17, 2025
by - Apr 17, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 17, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Julie Benko Will Lead Theatre Aspen's MY FAIR LADY
by Joshua Wright - Apr 16, 2025

The Aspen Music Festival and School and Theatre Aspen have announced their sixth annual co-production: the 6-time Tony Award®-winning Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady in Concert, for a one-night only performance directed by Maggie Burrows, starring Julie Benko as ‘Eliza Dolittle,’ and conducted by Andy Einhorn.
Julie Benko, Bobby Conte and More to Perform at New York Festival of Song Annual Gala
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 15, 2025

New York Festival of Song will host its annual spring gala, Easy to Love: NYFOS Does Cole Porter, featuring performances by Julie Benko and more. Learn more and see how to attend!
Review: Julie Benko's A STAR IS BORN at Café Carlyle Is Bright With Love & Jazz
by Rebecca Kaplan - Apr 3, 2025

The Funny Girl star plays nightly through 4/5, honoring her newborn daughter with stories of motherhood and clever jazz spins on classics. Joined by her husband on piano and a killer band, it's a night of tender love and showstopping music
BroadwayWorld Cabaret Upcoming Show Roundup â€" Mar. 31 to Apr. 6, 2025
by Rebecca Kaplan - Mar 30, 2025

Are you trying to plan your entertainment for the week or looking for a fun show to see this weekend? We have you covered with jazz, cabaret, comedy, and more! NYC has so many incredible events, but here are a few top picks to consider this week
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld March 25, 2025
by - Mar 25, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is March 25, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
DOWN THE LINE A New Play By Julie Benko To Receive Private Industry Presentations
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 24, 2025

Down the Line, the new play with music written by Julie Benko (Funny Girl, Harmony) and directed by Brandon J. Dirden (All the Way), will receive two private industry presentations on Thursday March 27 and Friday March 28, 2025, at Open Jar Studios (1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019).
World Premiere of Julie Benko's DOWN THE LINE Will Receive Private Industry Presentations
by Stephi Wild - Mar 19, 2025

Down the Line, the new play with music written by Julie Benko and directed by Brandon J. Dirden, will receive two private industry presentations this month. Learn more here!
LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE Announced for Cape May Stage 2025 Season
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 18, 2025

Cape May Stage has unveiled its 2025 season filled with stories of connections that shape our lives - friendships forged in youth, relationships tested by time, and the unexpected encounters that shift our perspectives.
BWW Q&A: Will Ray Talks THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL at Theatre Raleigh
by Joshua Wright - Mar 18, 2025

Horton Foote’s TONY-winning play The Trip to Bountiful tells the moving story of Carrie Watts, an elderly Southern woman who dreams of escaping the bustling city to return to rural Bountiful, Texas. She sets out on a risky journey to her beloved hometown with her family in hot pursuit. Along the way, she encounters kindness and compassion … and discovers the true meaning of home.
AT THIS PERFORMANCE... Returns To The Green Room 42 This Month
by Stephi Wild - Mar 4, 2025

AT THIS PERFORMANCE… will return to The Green Room 42 featuring Standbys, Understudies and Alternates from GYPSY; MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL; & JULIET; OH, MARY!; HADESTOWN; and more.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Julie Benko been in?

Julie Benko has appeared on Broadway in 4 shows.

How many West End shows has Julie Benko been in?

Julie Benko has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Julie Benko been nominated for?

and Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater (Theatre World Awards) for Funny Girl.

What awards has Julie Benko won?

Julie Benko won the Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater, which is part of the Theatre World Awards, for her performance in Funny Girl.

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