TR In Concert: Julie Benko – Standby, Me
August 3rd, 2024 | Cabaret Theatre
When Julie Benko first took the stage as the standby for Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, she could not have anticipated that she would take her bow as Broadway’s newest breakout star. Joined by her husband Jason Yeager on piano, Julie reflects on the journey leading to her meteoric rise, sharing songs and behind-the-scenes stories of her days understudying in Les Misérables, Fiddler on the Roof, Spring Awakening, and more. From Broadway classics (“People,” “Matchmaker”) to jazz standards (“Twisted”) to contemporary favorites (“What’s Gonna Happen,” & “I Dreamed A Dream”) Standby, Me offers an evening of spectacular vocals, theatrical lore, and inspiration for all the greatest stars-to-be.
More About The Artist
Julie Benko joined the annals of theatrical lore for her sensational understudy-to-star trajectory as Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl. Between her tenure as the standby, alternate, and full-time Fanny, she played the role over 180 times 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” by The New York Times and one of “10 Broadway Stars to Watch for 2023” by Variety, 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.
Following Funny Girl, she returned to Broadway to originate the role of Ruth in Barry Manilow’s long-gestating musical Harmony. Benko has released 3 albums, including Hand in Hand (Club44 Records), a duo effort with her pianist-composer spouse Jason Yeager that won the BroadwayWorld Cabaret Award for “Best Commercial Album” and received a MAC Award nomination for “Best Major Album.” She has played leading roles in many Off-Broadway and regional productions — and most recently took on the title role in Theatre Raleigh’s own Jane Eyre! She enjoys a vibrant concert career, selling out her solo shows at such storied venues as The Café Carlyle, Birdland, the Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel, and appearing as a guest soloist with symphonies across the nation (and last month at Carnegie Hall!).
Benko is also a writer; her play The District placed as a semifinalist at the Eugene O’Neill’s National Theater Conference, and her short film “The Newlywed’s Guide to Physical Intimacy,” received accolades at film festivals across the nation. Visit her website, www.JulieBenko.com, or follow her on TikTok or Instagram @Jujujuliebee to discover more!
