By. Kevin Ray Johnson (Staff Writer for OnStage Blog)

It is my honor to introduce you to Julie Benko. Julie is currently performing on Broadway in the long-awaited revival of Funny Girl where she is the Standby for Fanny Brice where she recently performed and has been given wonderful reviews. Julie has performed with Broadway and touring productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables, and spring Awakening. Favorite off-Broadway/regional credits includeOnce, The Fantasticks, Bar Mitzvah Boy, Our Town, Rags, The Golem of Havana, …Spelling Bee, among many others.

Her debut album “Introducing Julie Benko” is available on streaming networks and her next release “Hand in Hand” with jazz pianist Jason Yeager is scheduled for the Summer of 2022. Julie holds an MFA and a BFA from NYU-Tisch.

I think a lot of people don't understand the strength and mental fortitude it takes to be a Standby, Understudy, or Swing at such a high level. Your name can be called at anytime and you always have to stay ready no matter what. Julie's talent is truly beyond undeniable and I am so honored to feature this amazing Artist!

How old were you when you knew you wanted to go into the performing arts?

In my freshman year of high school, I got cast as Hodel in a community theater production of “Fiddler on the Roof” at the local JCC. That production changed my life. I became completely addicted to theatre and began studying acting, singing, dance, and music in earnest. My passion for performing became the guiding force in my life, and by senior year, I’d decided to apply to BFA programs and pursue it as a profession.

Are there any mentors who helped you become the Amazing Performer you are today?

Too many to name! My acting teacher from my high school days (the director of that “Fiddler” production), Tobi Beth Silver, had an enormous impact on my life. She’s the one who gave me the confidence to pursue theater professionally, to begin with. Since then, I have had a veritable village of mentors including teachers, coaches, and castmates.

Every actor’s journey is completely unique, so it’s helpful to have a variety of people to go for advice. One of the people who stand out, though, is Brandon Dirden (currently on Broadway in “Take Me Out”). He was my professor and director at NYU’s Grad Acting program and has remained someone I call when things go well and when they don’t. He gave me a lot of confidence in school, encouraging me to accept my uniqueness as an actor rather than try to fit in some kind of box as a “type.” And he’s so humble, kind, hardworking, smart, and talented that you can’t help but want to emulate his example.

Funny Girl is truly one of my favorite shows of all time. How does it feel to be a part of this revival and to be a Standby for such a Legendary role?

It is one of the great honors of my life to be entrusted with Fanny Brice’s story. As a Jewish woman, I am endlessly grateful for the opportunity to step into her funny shoes and celebrate her legacy. Strangely, I had never seen Funny Girl before I auditioned for this production. (How it happened that a Jewish musical theater girl was never exposed to Funny Girl is a question we can pose to my mother another day.) In a way, though, that ignorance was a gift. I didn’t grow up with Barbra’s inflections in my ears, so I didn’t feel beholden to her iconic interpretation of Fanny.

Before rehearsals began, I did quite a bit of research on the real Fanny, which I wanted to use as inspiration for my performance rather than imitate someone else’s. As a standby, it’s always a tricky balance to honor a performance that has been crafted by someone else (in this case, the marvelous Beanie Feldstein) and also bring your own spin to the role. When I finally got to step out on that stage as Fanny, it was an enormous thrill. I’d spent months doing the whole show for my cat alone in my living room, and suddenly there was this huge audience! But I could feel them supporting me every step of my journey. It was electric. I will never forget the magic of that weekend.

Are there any shows, stories, or memories in your career that stick out and will always be near and dear to your heart?

The most inspiring theater moment in my life: I was playing Girl in “Once” at the Mason Street Warehouse in Michigan when one of the principal actors was rushed to the hospital with appendicitis a few hours before showtime. It is particularly difficult to suddenly lose a performer in “Once,” because the actors in that show are also the band. One of the props department production assistants (who played exactly zero instruments) offered to jump in. The cast rushed to the theater to figure out how to make the show happen that night. The actor learned his lines and blocking while the rest of the cast worked out how to cover the missing instruments. I heard phrases like, “I don’t know how to play that instrument, but I’ll learn in the next hour.” When showtime came, the former-prop-assistant-turned-principal did the entire show seamlessly—without his script in hand! With an Irish accent! And the actor-musicians covered all the missing musical elements without missing a beat.

Whenever I think of that day, I start to cry. It so perfectly encapsulates the bravery, generosity, nimbleness, and collaborative nature of our beautiful art form. As Fanny would say, “That’s life in the the-ay-ter!”

What advice would you give any aspiring artist who wants a career in the performing arts?
Create your own work! I started writing (plays, films, and more) a few years ago. Now, I do it every single day for a minimum of ten minutes, usually over a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. I do it for myself and do not share it publicly. And I’ve been floored at how much this peaceful creative morning practice has helped other aspects of my artistry flourish.

Writing has helped me find my voice within my acting and has also provided me with a tool for resilience. The hardest part of an actor’s life is the time between gigs: You always wonder if you’ll ever work again (at least I do). Writing lifts some of that pressure off because you realize you can still enjoy making theater in your own imagination, which can be a surprisingly fun place to be. There is so much in this business that is out of one’s control. Cultivating your own creative outlet is a great way to make yourself feel that you are in the driver’s seat.

Funny Girl is currently running on Broadway at The August Wilson Theatre. For more information please visit - https://funnygirlonbroadway.com; To learn more about Julie make sure you follow her @Jujujuliebee or visit her official website at www.JulieBenko.com

Julie Benko discusses Funny Girl & Cultivating Your Own Creative Outlet!

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