Julie Benko's big Broadway break in "Funny Girl"
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Jamie Wax speaks to Broadway breakout star Julie Benko about her meteoric rise to fame after starring in "Funny Girl" as the lead role of Fanny Brice.
#broadway #funnygirl #entertainment
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This is why we gotta give "unknown" people WAY more of a spotlight. You're going to get people who bring something so special like her.
We saw Julie a week ago! She got a standing ovation at intermission and at the end! She was amazing!! 🎉
She should have been cast as the lead Fanny after Beanie left. She's a class act.
Agree, but she's still not well known. They needed another actress who is known, who can sing and can sell tickets. That's obviously why it went to Lea Michele.
Hopefully Julie's star will continue to grow and get bigger and bigger.
@@mattbernabe but if they would have casted her as the lead from the beginning the show itself just by being funny girl would have sold the tickets at first. There’s no way this woman is singing like this and was the understudy to Beanie. I’m sorry that’s just wrong
@@mattbernabe Unfortunately Lea’s got a bad reputation that she can’t seem to shake even if she is talented. And the show definitely wasn’t expecting Julie to receive this much overwhelmingly positive press and the support of the entire entertainment community. Even her new album is doing quite well. There’s a reason they’ve scheduled and publicized that she will continue to perform the role every Thursday night, because they know she’s got a following and sells tickets and they can quickly transition her back to the principal if Lea’s run doesn’t work out.
@@mattbernabe it’s sad because Barbra got start with Fanny. It would be so great if they started the revival’s run with another relatively unknown actress that deserves to be seen.
It wouldn’t have helped her career TBH. The revival isn’t great regardless of who is Fanny and won’t last long even with Lea. She’s better off having this credit and moving on after without the baggage!
She seems like such a sweetheart, and SO talented. I hope she’ll be able to land a leading role after this - she deserves it!
She used to be my vocal teacher!!! I love her so much she's the nicest person alive.
I was lucky enough to see her as a stand in. I got chills when she sang “People.”
I traveled from Kentucky to NYC last weekend for the sole purpose of seeing her in Funny Girl. She did not disappoint!
Not the breakout star we expected from this show, but the one we deserve!
Frankly, I think Fanny Brice would have been proud of Julie Benko's portrayal of her.
Someone should cast Julie as Roxie Hart in Chicago. She'd be a Phenomenal fit for that Role.
I’d go to see it if she was
That would actually be an awesome casting choice.
If they did a remake of the movie I think Julie would be perfect for the role
Bright spot in the drama of the current production. A great standby/understudy story, and hopefully it skyrockets her career. 🚀 🌟
Rocketing it to being beyond The Stars.
There is no drama. Beanie was bad not getting good reviews and she quit. They hired someone better period.
Absolutely. She was never part of the drama and she didn’t insert herself. She stayed classy and professional through all that BS and I love seeing her get more recognition for her talent and her performance, she absolutely deserves it!
@@andreaxxxedge absolutely. I want to watch her but I’m seeing Lea Michele first as I’m excited for that and want her to be my first experience as Fanny Brice and I’ll definitely be watching Julie after.
Julie is marvelous in this role! I can’t wait to watch her star continue to rise! 💕
I saw her in August and she totally blew me away. She was amazing! Book tickets for Thursdays people and don’t miss seeing Julie Benko!
Couldn't agree more. She was terrific. I just saw her tonight!
Not only a terrific actress, the beauty in the tender moments is also wonderful!
Julie is the real deal and deserves ALL the success!!!
Julie is amazing and so deserving of this recognition. 💓
I've seen the show with Julie in it and she is joyous to watch!
Julie truly is the greatest star!!
By Faaaar!
I hope she takes the show on the road!
Producers would be stupid not to have her LEAD the national tour of this show. Bring her to the people! Let her shine!
I understand why the replaced Beanie with Leah but they really should have let Julie continue. I have just been watching clips of her and she is magnificent. I can't wait to follow her career and see how far she goes.
She is unbelievable!! ❤❤
I saw her in August and she was amazing!
I remember seeing her in her early days as one of the cast members in the first touring production of Spring Awakening. I even took a picture with her in front of the theatre. So great to see how far she’s come.
She seems wonderful! Such a charming young woman!
Julie is seriously the most incredible talent you'll ever witness. Funny story. I first grew up with her with the National Tour of SPRING AWAKENING during the TOTALLY TRUCKED vlogs. Several years later, we met doing background on an episode of the TV show THE CARRIE DIARIES. Seriously so down to earth, so kind, genuine, and has so much passion in her art. I later then saw her in LES MIZ. Can't wait to see her as "Fanny"!!!! Proud of Julie!!!
This is a good report.
Thanks for posting ❤️
Everything I've heard and read about Julie Benko and this role have been positive. I haven't read or heard any negative things about her in the whole Funny Girl mess.
Unfortunately I'm seeing quite a Few Lea Michelle fans bashing Julie Benko in some TH-cam comments on other videos.
You can't win them all it seems...
June 9th 2023 and we just watched her perform with the cast of Funny Girl. We picked three shows at random, Funny Girl being one of them, and we were just mind-blown on how awesome the show was and how amazing Julie Benko was! The girl was 90% of the show, and she killed it!
We had Harry Potter yesterday, and we have Hamilton and Moulin Rouge tomorrow. Hamilton was the show that was the given for us, the other three were simply add-ons, but I really do think Funny Girl is going to be the one that will top them all. We wouldn't hesitate to watch this show again, but sadly we might not be coming back to New York City for a while.
Can't wait to see Julie...
She was INCREDIBLE. I cried, I hollered and cheered.
I like herrrr, she makes sense!!!
I saw her earlier this summer and my god she was fantastic
She's amazing!😍
Her husband is adorable.
Yes, Julie!
From Fanny to Franny...cast her in the upcoming Nanny musical!
They should have let her keep the job instead of hiring the mean girl. She earned it and the mean girl does not deserve it. Sometimes the people in charge are stupid and short sighted.
If only… LM is being brought in because she is well-known, thus her name will sell tickets. It was a joy to experience Ms. Benko’s performance at the end of last month.
Julie as Fanny >>>>>>>
A new Icon ✨
She should have Ben cast over lea Michele. It would have been great seeing a very unknown person get the success. Giving lea Michele this role was pretty much like rewarding someone for bad behavior. Also no lea Michele hasn’t changed she thinks she has done nothing wrong took no responsibility for her actions.
Get that publicity girl!
She looks so similar to Colleen…she is so good for this part though, lovely
Yay Julie! 🥳
They should have had Mo Rocca do this interview. IYKYK, lol.
The first Broadway revival.
Streisand was not an unknown but this segment was great.
very happy for you.i can't see the show due to who will follow you. I will not condone that horrific behavior with my money .break a leg
this may come as a shock but most artists are unfortunately awful people lol
@@gee2541 thank you for sharing your genius with me . do you have an extra fortune cookie ?
Julie will be doing Thursday Performance, so you can see her as Fanny rather than Lea Michelle.
@@eamonndeane587 I would not give my money to production knowing who is leading it . wish Julie the best . watch your wigs sister
@@alvinmedina7121 Funily Enough, Lea is going to be missing Performances due to a COVID infection.
Maybe she got something in her Wig?
they should've just let Julie be the star instead of bringing in the monster to take over...
that monster is going to make millions for the show's producers....welcome to the theater! don't forget - this has been Lea's dream all her life, and she has put in her time on broadway. I saw her as a child in the amazing Ragtime and as a young woman in the equally amazing Spring Awakening. I hope and expect Julie to get the lead in the national tour. AND she gets to kiss Ramon Karimloo!!!
She seems like a nice person and is very talented. She seems to have gotten where she is on merit as well.
It really disgusted me how Beanie Feldstein tried to stop her from posting when she'd be performing on twitter. Ugly jealousy from someone who only gets opportunities via nepotism.
Feldstein seriously did that?
@@eamonndeane587 Yes. Several sources have said that Beanie went to the producers (lol too afraid to speak directly!) and pressured them to tell Julie to stop posting because the fans were vocally very excited whenever she did. She used some passive aggressive excuse about feeling "unsupported".
If you read this I hope you have a wonderful day today 💙
Don't ware it out!
@@touchofgrey5372 good tidings cannot be worn out. You would be surprised how many people just need to hear those words. In these days of bickering and hate filled comments, it is good to wish others well even if it is found annoying by some
@@willyjilly9684
Stop kissing up!
You're like a little neglected baby seeking attention!
I think the most telling moment of this segment was when they spliced BS singing "People" with Ms. Benko. You would think it would be clear to anyone that Ms. Benko has a very average voice, at best. It's colorless and does not have a distinctive timbre or personality. Also, her high belt sounds either strained or yelled (not vibrating). Who would pay Broadway prices to hear someone who sounds like a high school student? Why do her eyes always appear pretty blank. She seems so low energy especially compared to Beanie who really only had energy to recommend her turn in this disaster.(her voice is horrific). I continue to be baffled by all of the people saying this is a star making performance. All I see is a working actress in a below par show that is gasping for air without a reason to exist.
While I tend to agree with your assessment in general, in Benko's defense, BS didn't sound as polished & professional in her original "Funny Girl" run as she did by the time the film was made 4 years later. IMO, even in the "professionally recorded" original cast recording of FG, Streisand had more than a few moments of amateurishness, "shriekiness" or straining to hold a note. Undoubtedly, this included the luxury of multiple takes in a sound studio, which is not an option onstage.
Clearly, Streisand's voice is a musical instrument in itself, Benko's is not. However, IMO, it took BS several albums, her TV specials, and many live performances before her potential was fully realized. I suppose the stark difference is that audiences could grasp the raw potential of Barbra's early work, despite some need for polish. Benko just doesn't have the same foundation to build on. Lea Michele has a gift, but, like Julie Budd, Lanie Kazan and Roslyn Kind, everything they do is going to reside in the context of the "Barbraverse"---whether they want it to or not.
@@lbputzer Completely agree with your assessment. I would just also emphasize that BS was what, 21?, when Funny Girl opened and Julie Benko is 33. The latter's voice is probably as good as it's going to get which is not saying much. Whereas Babs, to your point, had so much room to grow even from such a high starting place of raw talent (similar to Judy Garland, Whitney Houston, and Maria Callas) I also don't want to trash her. She seems like a genuine person who is working very hard in a very volatile environment. However, I am sick of seeing people praising a performance as the second coming that is mediocre at best.
I am surprised that her PR person let them reveal that she sang “People” a half tone lower. Shocked that they let them play each version side-by-side. Somebody just lost their job.
@@frankiebowie6174
She actually sang 1/2 step above Beanie, not below.
@@57andstillkicking
I meant 1/2 step below Streisand.
People wondering how Feldstein got the role in the first place and why Julie wasn't cast instead.
Because Feldstein's father is one of the producers of the show. Simple as that.
The reviews and body shaming Feldstein wasn't a big surprise. They're cruel, but Feldstein being a fatass and she's ugly cute. That's not being mean, it's just a fact. I love her in Lady Bird, Booksmart and Impeachment. Maybe if her singing in Funny Girl was up to par, maybe the reviews would have been less cruel about her appearance.
Lea Michele got this role cause they needed a well known actress who can sing and sell tickets.
Julie is still not well known, but with her success in the show, I'm hoping her star will get bigger and bigger.
That was actually an untrue rumor. Feldstein's family did not produce or invest in the show.
There is no evidence or proof of any member of Beanie Feldstein's family being a producer on the show. This was made up. Your comment is uncalled for and ugly on a story that is meant to praise and lift up Julie Benko.
@@Justin-tx9bq What's ugly about it when it's just facts!?
He isn’t one of the producers. Feinstein was cast for her name value and she was miscast absolutely but her father is not a producer
Body shaming... Well, it was clear that Feldstein would use her fat body as a source of jokes - just like Streisand used her nose. The material calls for it.
Eve Harrington in real life