‍ ‍Julie Benko is an actor, singer, and writer based in New York City. She most recently appeared on Broadway as Emma Goldman in the Tony Award winning revival of Ragtime at Lincoln Center.

Julie joined the annals of theatrical legend for her sensational understudy-to-star trajectory in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl, playing the role of Fanny Brice over 180 times (1 in every 3 shows!). For her performance, she earned Theatre World's Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theatre, was named the 2022 Breakout Star for Theater by the New York Times, included in Variety's 10 Broadway Stars to Watch in 2023, honored as one of 40 Under 40 for Crain's New York Business, profiled in numerous national media outlets such as the New York Times and Time, and even got a shoutout on The Simpsons.

Julie's other Broadway credits include originating the role of Ruth in Barry Manilow’s musical Harmony as well as appearing in revivals of Fiddler on the Roof and Les Miserables. She’s starred in regional productions across the country, including as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (opposite Raúl Esparza), the title role in Jane Eyre, Girl in Once, and Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls. She recently made her film debut in the independent feature "Caravan." 

As an active concert artist, Julie has played sold-out solo shows at some of the greatest venues in the country including NYC’s Café Carlyle, Birdland, and 54 Below, as well as a concert production of Follies at Carnegie Hall and My Fair Lady at NYC’s Town Hall.  She has also headlined concerts with symphony orchestras all over the United States including the Naples Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, Princeton Symphony, Savannah Philharmonic, among many others.

Julie has released four albums—Euphonic Gumbo, Christmas With You, Hand in Hand, and Introducing Julie Benko—in collaboration with her pianist-composer husband, Jason Yeager.  She’s a Gold Medalist and Johnny Mercer Award winner from the American Traditions Vocal Competition and she holds a BFA in Drama as well as an MFA in Acting from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.

As a writer, Julie created the award-winning short "The Newlywed's Guide to Physical Intimacy”. Her first full-length play Down the Line, was a semifinalist at the 2022 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and is now in development for production.

For more, visit juliebenko.com or follow her at @jujujuliebee.