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Julie Benko

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Julie Benko 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.

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.

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.

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.

Julie Benko Photos

Julie Benko STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2023
Ruth

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2022
Fanny Brice (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]

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2014
Ensemble [Replacement]

Cosette (Understudy) [Replacement]

[US Tour]
25th Anniversary Production, 2010
Performer

[US Tour]
National Tour, 2008
Ensemble


Julie Benko Movies

Les Miserables: The Broadway Musical
[ 2014 ] Ensemble

Julie Benko Awards and Nominations


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

Julie Benko, Funny Girl

Julie Benko Videos

Julie Benko News


Video: Bradley Dean Performs 'Be Italian' at Broadway Backwards 2024


Watch Bradley Dean perform “Be Italian” from Nine at this year's Broadway Backwards.

AT THIS PERFORMANCE… Returns To The Green Room 42 This Month


Join the much-anticipated return of AT THIS PERFORMANCE at The Green Room 42 on Monday, April 22, 2024. Experience an unforgettable night of Broadway magic.

Photos: Bonnie Milligan, Julie Benko, and More at Classic Stage's CLASSICS GONE MAD!


Classic Stage Company presented Classics Gone Mad! earlier this week. The event took on the iconic theater-writing duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein with an event that was part show, part party, all unscripted, and created with the help of the audience. Check out photos here!

Julie Benko Will Star in Theatre Raleigh's Production of JANE EYRE


Award-winning Broadway performer Julie Benko, who recently appeared as Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of 'Funny Girl,' will star as Jane Eyre in Theatre Raleigh's upcoming production from May 29, 2024 to June 9, 2024.

Julie Benko Returns to the Venetian Room in April


Julie Benko will return to the Venetian Room in her new hit cabaret show, Standby, Me, an evening of spectacular vocals, theatrical lore, and inspiration for all the greatest stars-to-be. 

Photos: Karen Mason Returns To Birdland With Celebration Of Jule Styne


Broadway and cabaret star Karen Mason returned to Birdland on Monday, March 25, to share love for one of her favorite songwriters: Jule Styne. See photos from the concert!

Interview: FUNNY GIRL's Stephen Mark Lukas's the Go-To Nick Arnstein for Six Fanny Brices


The North American tour of Funny Girl lands in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson April 2, 2024, and later at Segerstrom May 28. 2024. Tony Award winner Michael Mayer directs the cast of Melissa Manchester, Katerina McCrimmon, Stephen Mark Lukas, Izaiah Montaque Harris, Walter Coppage. Leah Platt, Cindy Chang, Eileen T’Kaye, David Foley Jr., Vinny Andaloro, Lamont Brown, Kate E. Cook, Julia Grondin, Jackson Grove, Alex Hartman, Dot Kelly, Ryan Lambert, Kathy Liu, Meghan Manning, Bryan Charles Moore, Sami Murphy, Emily Anne Nester, Hannah Shankman, Jordon Taylor, Rodney Thompson, Sean Thompson and Annaliese Wilbur. I had the chance to chat with Stephen (Nick Arnstein to Katerina’s Fanny Brice) over the phone during his stint at the Connor Palace Playhouse Square in Cleveland.

Review: VENETIAN EVENINGS - A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO THE FAIRMONT'S VENETIAN ROOM At Venetian Room


What did our critic think of VENETIAN EVENINGS - A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO THE FAIRMONT'S VENETIAN ROOM at Venetian Room?

Video: Watch Alex Newell Sing 'Back to Before' at BROADWAY BACKWARDS


Watch Alex Newell's performance of Back to Before at Broadway Backwards 2024.

From La Jolla Playhouse to Broadway - A Brief History


Learn more about some of the Broadway productions that you may not have realized began their journey at La Jolla Playhouse! 

Claybourne Elder, Elad Kabilio & Jessica Vosk Join CLASSICS GONE MAD


Classic Stage Company has revealed additional performers for Classics Gone Mad!. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets.

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld March 14, 2024


Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is March 14, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Video: Julie Benko Performs 'Luck Be A Lady' at BROADWAY BACKWARDS


On Monday night, Julie Benko opened the 2024 edition of Broadway Backwards with a flirty and fierce rendition of “Luck Be a Lady” from Guys and Dolls. She rolled the dice alongside an ensemble of women, for a fun and empowering dance number. Check out the video here!

Photos: Alex Newell, Shoshana Bean, and More Perform at BROADWAY BACKWARDS


Tony Award winners, Broadway legends and newcomers alike spectacularly shared LGBTQ+ stories through show tunes at Broadway Backwards at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre on March 11, 2024. Check out photos from the event here!

Setlist Revealed for BROADWAY BACKWARDS Featuring Shoshana Bean, Tituss Burgess & More


The setlist has been revealed for Broadway Backwards! See who is performing.

Photos: Go Inside Opening Night of QUEEN OF HEARTS From Company XIV


Company XIV opened their newest show “Queen of Hearts” at Theatre XIV in Bushwick with a glam Broadway crowd that came down the rabbit hole in attendance. See photos below.

Limited Tickets Remain for BROADWAY BACKWARDS Hosted by Jenn Colella


Only a few seats remain for Broadway Backwards, the star-studded annual evening of reimagined show tunes that share LGBTQ+ love stories. Learn how to purchase tickets.

AT THIS PERFORMANCE... Returns To The Green Room 42 Next Month


The show will feature standbys, understudies, and alternates from various Broadway hits like DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, BACK TO THE FUTURE-THE MUSICAL, and more.

Julie Benko, Norbert Leo Butz, Joshua Henry and More Set For BROADWAY BACKWARDS


Stars of Broadway and beyond have joined the lineup for this year's Broadway Backwards. Learn more about who is joining the event, set for March 11!

Len Cariou & Peter Filichia To Be Honored at 78th Annual Theatre World Awards


The Theatre World Awards Board of Directors has announced two of the individuals to be honored at 78th Annual Theatre World Awards to be held on Monday evening, June 10, 2024 beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Julie Benko FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Julie Benko next theatre project?

Julie Benko's next show will be Harmony which opens on 11/13/2023 on Broadway.

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?

Julie Benko has been nominated for the Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater (Theatre World Awards) for her performance in Funny Girl.

What awards has Julie Benko won?

Julie Benko has won the Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater (Theatre World Awards) for her performance in Funny Girl.

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