Julie Benko Explained

Julie Benko
Birth Date:24 March 1989
Birth Place:Washington, D.C., U.S.
Alma Mater:New York University Tisch School of the Arts (BFA, MFA)
Years Active:2008–present
Known For:Funny Girl

Julie Benko (born March 24, 1989) is an American actress and singer. Benko portrayed Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl (2022) and originated the role of Ruth Stern in the Broadway musical Harmony (2023).

Early life and education

Benko was born on March 24, 1989, in Washington, D.C.[1] [2] When she was three years old, her family moved to Fairfield, Connecticut. She attended Fairfield Ludlowe High School, in Fairfield, Connecticut. When Benko was 14, she was cast as Hodel in the musical Fiddler on the Roof which was her first theatre production, organized at a local Jewish Community Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Her parents and sister were also cast.[3] In 2007, she portrayed Lizzie in Baby, alongside her father at the Curtain Call Theater in Stamford, Connecticut.[4] Benko graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2013 and 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama (CAP21) and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting, respectively.[5]

Career

Benko first began her professional acting career in 2008 when she understudied five roles in the national tour of Spring Awakening. She later joined the 25th anniversary tour of Les Misérables as an ensemble member and the understudy of Cosette, ultimately taking over the role of Cosette full time. Benko has also played multiple Off-Broadway and regional roles, such as Girl in Once and Emily Webb in Our Town.[6] [7] [8] From 2015 to 2016, she was the understudy of both Hodel and Chava and covered six other roles in the Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. In 2017, she won the gold medal at the national American Traditions Vocal Competition in Savannah, Georgia.[9]

Benko released her debut jazz album Introducing Julie Benko on October 20, 2017, which includes "Tomorrow Is A Day For You," a song celebrating the legalization of same-sex marriage in the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges.[10] [11]

Benko made her debut as a director and writer for the short film The Newlywed's Guide to Physical Intimacy in 2020, which is about a Hasidic Jewish couple on their wedding night. The film received honorable mentions and awards from the New Faces New Voices Audience Choice Award[12] and the Online New England Film Festival Award.[13]

Benko was the standby for the role of Fanny Brice in the 2022 Broadway revival of Funny Girl, with her first performance on April 29, 2022.[14] Starting on August 2, 2022, she became a replacement for Beanie Feldstein following her leave from the show, and became Fanny Brice alternate on September 6, 2022 once Lea Michele took over the role.[15] Her performance was met with positive reviews, with The New York Times naming her as the "2022 Breakout Star" for Theatre.[16] She was listed as one of Crain's New York Business "2022 40 Under 40",[17] and The New York Sun called her "[t]he Fanny Brice of our time."[18]

In late 2022, it was announced that Benko would play the role of Ruth Stern in the musical Harmony, which opened November 13, 2023.[19]

Benko released the song "Start With a Bang" on February 13, 2023, written by Dan Mertzlufft and Kate Leonard with accompaniment by the Broadway Sinfonietta.[20] In the episode "The Many Saints of Springfield" in The Simpsons, Benko's name was mentioned on a car.[21]

Personal life

Benko is Jewish.[22] Benko met musician Jason Yeager at a Starbucks in 2013, and they got married in 2021.[23] The pair released an album named Hand in Hand in 2022.[24]

Theatre credits

TitleYear(s)Role(s)TheatreNotes
Spring Awakening2008–2010Ensembleu/s Wendla, Ilse, Anna, Thea, Martha1st national tour[25]
Les Misérables2011–2013Ensembleu/s Cosette25th anniversary tour
2014CosetteNorth Carolina Theatre
2014-2015Ensembleu/s CosetteBroadway revival
The Golem of Havana2014RebecaBarrington Stage[26]
Fiddler on the Roof2015–2016u/s Hodel, Chava, Shprintze, Bielke, Shaindel, RivkaBroadway TheatreBroadway revival
Rags2017BellaTheaterWorks Silicon Valley[27]
Bar Mitzvah Boy2018LesleyYork TheatreOff-Broadway[28]
Once2018GirlMason Street Warehouse
Our Town2018Emily WebbWeston Playhouse
The Fantasticks2019Luisa[29]
Once2021GirlHangar Theatre
Funny Girl2022Broadway revival [30]
2022–2023Fanny Brice (Alternate)
Harmony2023–2024Ruth SternEthel Barrymore TheatreOriginal Broadway production
Jane Eyre2024Jane EyreTheatre Raleigh

Discography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cooke . Bruno . How old is Julie Benko? Age and career of Funny Girl's Fanny Brice . January 21, 2022 . The Focus.
  2. Web site: Julie Benko on TikTok . 2023-06-03 . TikTok . en.
  3. Web site: Morga . Adriana . May 2, 2022 . CT actress debuts in Broadway production of 'Funny Girl' as Beanie Feldstein's standby . January 21, 2022 . CT Insider.
  4. Web site: Father and daugther [''sic''] share stage in Stamford ]. January 21, 2023 . Stamford plus.
  5. Web site: August 4, 2022 . Julie Benko '13/'21 Stars as Fanny Brice in Broadway's 'Funny Girl' . January 21, 2023 . . en.
  6. Web site: Vaynberg . Liba . August 4, 2022 . Up Close and Personal With the New "Funny Girl"—Julie Benko . January 21, 2023 . . en-US.
  7. Web site: Merrell . Sue . August 19, 2018 . 'Once' is never enough for this love story at Mason Street Warehouse . January 21, 2023 . Encore Michigan.
  8. Web site: Brown . Alex . July 12, 2017 . Theater Review: 'Once,' Weston Playhouse . January 21, 2023 . Seven Days . en.
  9. Web site: February 25, 2017 . Julie Benko takes home top prize at 2017 American Traditions Vocal Competition . January 27, 2022 . Savannah Morning News . en-US.
  10. Web site: Wexler . Matthew . September 3, 2022 . Julie Benko on her 'Funny Girl' star turn, sexy co-star, and fav queer composers . March 1, 2023 . Queerty.
  11. Web site: August 31, 2017 . Vocalist Julie Benko Announces the Release of her Debut Album "Introducing Julie Benko" . March 1, 2023 . JazzCorner.
  12. Web site: Durrell . Brad . October 2, 2020 . Fairfield actress Julie Benko makes directorial debut with new short film . January 21, 2023 . The Ridgefield Press . en-US.
  13. Web site: Online New England Film Festival Award Winners . January 21, 2023 . Online New England Film Festival Awards . en-US.
  14. Web site: Bowling . Suszanna . May 1, 2022 . Funny Girl Makes Julie Benko a Star . January 30, 2023 . Times Square Chronicles.
  15. Gutterman . Annabel . August 11, 2022 . Julie Benko on Embracing the 'Funny Girl' Spotlight . 2023-01-21 . Time . en.
  16. News: Salam . Maya . December 16, 2022 . The Breakout Stars of 2022 . en-US . The New York Times . January 21, 2023 . 0362-4331.
  17. Web site: October 24, 2022 . 40 Under 40 - Julie Benko . January 24, 2023 . Crain's New York Business . en.
  18. Web site: Friedwall . Will . September 9, 2022 . At Birdland and on Broadway, Julie Benko Establishes Herself . January 21, 2023 . . en.
  19. Web site: September 15, 2022 . Julie Benko Joins Cast of Broadway-Bound HARMONY From Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman . May 13, 2022 . Broadway World . en.
  20. Web site: Harms . Talaura . February 13, 2023 . Watch Julie Benko and the Broadway Sinfonietta 'Start With a Bang' . February 18, 2023 . Playbill.
  21. Web site: Major . Michael . February 22, 2023 . VIDEO: Lea Michele & Julie Benko Featured on THE SIMPSONS . March 1, 2023 . . en.
  22. News: Jacobs . Julia . August 3, 2022 . Julie Benko Was the 'Funny Girl' No One Had Heard of, Until Now . en-US . . January 21, 2023 . 0362-4331.
  23. News: Libbey . Peter . July 2, 2021 . A Dynamic Duo, on and Off the Stage . en-US . . January 21, 2023 . 0362-4331.
  24. Web site: Hall . Margaret . May 10, 2022 . Funny Girl Standby Julie Benko to Release Duets Album Hand in Hand . January 21, 2023 . Playbill.
  25. Web site: Benko . Julie . Julie Benko: Résumé . January 21, 2023 . en.
  26. Web site: Burns . Gail M. . Murray . Larry . July 25, 2014 . "The Golem of Havana" – the mystical musical from the Barrington Stage Musical Theatre Lab . March 1, 2023 . Berkshire on Stage . en-US.
  27. Web site: Kane . Karla . April 12, 2017 . 'Rags' is rich with history, music . March 1, 2023 . Mountain View Voice . en.
  28. Web site: Musbach . Julie . February 1, 2018 . Julie Benko, Ben Fankhauser & More Announced for the York's Bar Mitzvah Boy . March 1, 2023 . . en.
  29. Web site: Brown . Alex . June 26, 2019 . Theater Review: 'The Fantasticks,' Weston Playhouse . March 1, 2023 . Seven Days . en.
  30. Web site: Julie Benko at Playbill Vault . January 21, 2022 . Playbill Vault.