Wikipedia

Julie Benko

Julie Benko (born March 24, 1989) is an American actor 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).

Julie Benko
Born (1989-03-24) March 24, 1989 (age 37)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Alma materNew York University Tisch School of the Arts (BFA, MFA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active2008–present
Known forFunny Girl
Spouse
Jason Yeager
​
(m. 2021)​
Children1

Early life and education

edit

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.

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 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama and again in 2021 with a Master of Fine Arts in Acting.[5]

Career

edit

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.[6] Benko has also played multiple off-Broadway and regional roles, such as Girl in Once and Emily Webb in Our Town.[7][8][9] From 2015 to 2016, she was the understudy for Hodel and Chava and covered six other roles in the Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof.[6]

In 2017, she won the gold medal at the American Traditions Vocal Competition in Savannah, Georgia.[10] 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 case Obergefell v. Hodges.[11][12]

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 an honorable mention from the New Faces New Voices Audience Choice Award[13] and the Audience Award for Comedy from the Online New England Film Festival.[14]

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.[15] Starting on August 2, 2022, she became a replacement for Beanie Feldstein following Feldstein's exit from the show, and became the Fanny Brice alternate on September 6, 2022, once Lea Michele took over the role.[16][17] Her performance was met with positive reviews, with The New York Times naming her as the breakout star for theatre in 2022.[18] She was listed as one of Crain's New York Business's 2022 "40 Under 40"[19] and The New York Sun called her "[t]he Fanny Brice of our time."[20]

In late 2022, it was announced that Benko would play the role of Ruth Stern in the musical Harmony, which opened November 13, 2023.[21][22]

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.[23] Benko was referenced in The Simpsons episode "The Many Saints of Springfield".[24]

In 2024, Benko took on the title role of Jane Eyre in the Theatre Raleigh chamber version of the musical of the same name by Paul Gordon.[25] Also in 2024, Benko was part of the Carnegie Hall concert production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's musical Follies.[26]

Benko played the role of Emma Goldman in Ragtime from January 6 to March 29, 2026.[27]

Personal life

edit

Benko is Jewish.[6] Benko met musician Jason Yeager in 2013 and they got married in 2021.[28] The pair released an album named Hand in Hand in 2022.[29] The two have a daughter who was born on November 28, 2024.[30]

Theater credits

edit
Title Year(s) Role(s) Theatre Notes Ref(s)
Spring Awakening 2008–2010 Ensemble

u/s Wendla, Ilse, Anna, Thea, Martha

 N/a 1st national tour [citation needed]
Les Misérables 2011–2013 Ensemble

u/s Cosette

 N/a 25th anniversary tour [citation needed]
2014 Cosette North Carolina Theatre
2014-2015 Ensemble

u/s Cosette

 Imperial Theatre Broadway revival
The Golem of Havana 2014 Rebeca Barrington Stage [31]
Fiddler on the Roof 2015–2016 u/s Hodel, Chava, Shprintze, Bielke, Shaindel, Rivka Broadway Theatre Broadway revival [citation needed]
Rags 2017 Bella TheaterWorks Silicon Valley [32]
Bar Mitzvah Boy 2018 Lesley York Theatre Off-Broadway [33]
Once 2018 Girl Mason Street Warehouse [8]
Our Town 2018 Emily Webb Weston Playhouse [9]
The Fantasticks 2019 Luisa [34]
Once 2021 Girl Hangar Theatre [35]
Funny Girl 2022 s/b Fanny Brice August Wilson Theatre Broadway revival [16]
Fanny Brice
2022–2023 Fanny Brice (Alternate)
Harmony 2023–2024 Ruth Stern Ethel Barrymore Theatre Original Broadway production [21]
Jane Eyre 2024 Jane Eyre Theatre Raleigh [25]
My Fair Lady 2025 Eliza Doolittle Aspen Music Festival [36]
Guys and Dolls 2025-2026 Sarah Brown Sidney Harman Hall Shakespeare Theatre Company [37]
2026 Aspen Music Festival Concert [38]
Ragtime Emma Goldman Vivian Beaumont Theatre Broadway revival [27][39]

Filmography

edit
Year Title Role Notes
2020 The Newlywed's Guide to Physical Intimacy Bride Also director and writer

Discography

edit
  • Introducing Julie Benko (2017)[12]
  • Hand in Hand (with Jason Yeager, 2022)[29]
  • Christmas With You (EP) (2023)[40]

Awards and nominations

edit
Year Award Category Nominated work Results
2024 Broadway.com Audience Award Favorite Featured Actress in a Musical Harmony[41] Nominated

References

edit
  1. ↑ "Julie Benko". IBDB. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  2. ↑ Benko, Julie (2023-06-03). Wikipedia, the problematic oracle. #wikipedia #broadway #research #theatre #musicals #harmony #funnygirl (Video) – via TikTok.
  3. ↑ Morga, Adriana (May 2, 2022). "CT actress debuts in Broadway production of 'Funny Girl' as Beanie Feldstein's standby". CT Insider. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Father and daugther [sic] share stage in Stamford". StamfordPlus.com. 2007-06-02. Archived from the original on 2023-01-21.
  5. ↑ "Julie Benko '13/'21 Stars as Fanny Brice in Broadway's 'Funny Girl'". NYU Tisch. August 4, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Jacobs, Julia (August 3, 2022). "Julie Benko Was the 'Funny Girl' No One Had Heard of, Until Now". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  7. ↑ Vaynberg, Liba (August 4, 2022). "Up Close and Personal With the New 'Funny Girl'—Julie Benko". Lilith Magazine. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Merrell, Sue (August 19, 2018). "'Once' is never enough for this love story at Mason Street Warehouse". Encore Michigan. Archived from the original on 2021-07-24.
  9. 1 2 Brown, Alex (July 12, 2017). "Theater Review: 'Once,' Weston Playhouse". Seven Days. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  10. ↑ "Julie Benko takes home top prize at 2017 American Traditions Vocal Competition". Savannah Morning News. February 25, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  11. ↑ Wexler, Matthew (September 3, 2022). "Julie Benko on her 'Funny Girl' star turn, sexy co-star, and fav queer composers". Queerty. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Vocalist Julie Benko Announces the Release of her Debut Album 'Introducing Julie Benko' out 10/20". Lydia Liebman Promotions. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  13. ↑ Durrell, Brad (October 2, 2020). "Fairfield actress Julie Benko makes directorial debut with new short film". The Ridgefield Press. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Online New England Film Festival Award Winners". New England Film. Archived from the original on 2020-10-07. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  15. ↑ Bowling, Suszanna (May 1, 2022). "Funny Girl Makes Julie Benko a Star". Times Square Chronicles. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  16. 1 2 "Julie Benko". Playbill Vault. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  17. ↑ Gutterman, Annabel (August 11, 2022). "Julie Benko on Embracing the 'Funny Girl' Spotlight". Time. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  18. ↑ Salam, Maya (December 16, 2022). "The Breakout Stars of 2022". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  19. ↑ Elstein, Aaron (October 24, 2022). "40 Under 40 - Julie Benko". Crain's New York Business. Archived from the original on 2022-11-16.
  20. ↑ Friedwall, Will (September 9, 2022). "At Birdland and on Broadway, Julie Benko Establishes Herself". The New York Sun. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  21. 1 2 "Julie Benko Joins Cast of Broadway-Bound HARMONY From Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman". Broadway World. September 15, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  22. ↑ Russo, Gillian (2023-04-28). "Barry Manilow musical 'Harmony' to come to Broadway in the fall". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  23. ↑ Harms, Talaura (February 13, 2023). "Watch Julie Benko and the Broadway Sinfonietta 'Start With a Bang'". Playbill. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  24. ↑ Major, Michael (February 22, 2023). "VIDEO: Lea Michele & Julie Benko Featured on THE SIMPSONS". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  25. 1 2 Gans, Andrew (2024-04-03). "Julie Benko and Matt Bogart Will Star in Theatre Raleigh's Jane Eyre". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-03-27. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  26. ↑ "FOLLIES in Concert". Carnegie Hall. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  27. 1 2 Hall, Margaret (2025-12-10). "Julie Benko to Join Ragtime Broadway Revival for Limited Time". Playbill.
  28. ↑ Libbey, Peter (July 2, 2021). "A Dynamic Duo, on and Off the Stage". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  29. 1 2 Hall, Margaret (May 10, 2022). "Funny Girl Standby Julie Benko to Release Duets Album Hand in Hand". Playbill. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  30. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe (1970-01-01). "Julie Benko & Jason Yeager Welcome Baby Girl". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  31. ↑ Burns, Gail M.; Murray, Larry (July 25, 2014). "'The Golem of Havana' – the mystical musical from the Barrington Stage Musical Theatre Lab". Berkshire on Stage. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  32. ↑ Kane, Karla (April 12, 2017). "'Rags' is rich with history, music". Mountain View Voice. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  33. ↑ Musbach, Julie (February 1, 2018). "Julie Benko, Ben Fankhauser & More Announced for the York's Bar Mitzvah Boy". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  34. ↑ Brown, Alex (June 26, 2019). "Theater Review: 'The Fantasticks,' Weston Playhouse". Seven Days. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Heath Saunders and Julie Benko to Lead Outdoor Production of Once". TheaterMania.com. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  36. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (2025-04-16). "Julie Benko Will Lead My Fair Lady Concert at Theatre Aspen". Playbill.
  37. ↑ "Guys and Dolls - 25/26". Shakespeare Theatre Company. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  38. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe Julie Benko, Christopher Sieber and More to Star in GUYS AND DOLLS IN CONCERT at Theatre Aspen BroadwayWorld, May 28, 2026
  39. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan Tony-Winning Ragtime Revival Gets Final Extension Playbill, June 9, 2026
  40. ↑ Wild, Stephi (1970-01-01). "Listen: Julie Benko Releases Holiday EP 'Christmas With You' and New Music Video!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  41. ↑ "The Great Gatsby, The Notebook and Back to the Future Lead Nominations for Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards". Broadway.com. 2024-05-06. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Julie_Benko&oldid=1358580307"