Julie Benko
Sweet songbird and star on the rise Julie Benko recently dropped a lovely festive EP “Christmas with You” full of tunes for your holiday listening pleasure. And if you head over to the Barrymore Theatre you can see and hear her light up the Broadway stage in the musical “Harmony.” We had fun shooting in Times Square which was sparkling with Christmas cheer. Scroll down for our chat on her music, Christmas plans, favorite beauty lotions & potions, her fab bob, plus her show night bare essentials.
The Bare Magazine: we can find your beautiful voice everywhere! your christmas EP "Christmas with You" and on stage in "Harmony." what is so special about each project and why should people tune into both?!
Julie Benko: Harmony is devastatingly timely. It's a story about rising anti-semitism in a world where democracy is losing ground to fascism. Every night, fans greet me at the stage door with tears in their eyes, saying, "I had no idea how moved I would be," "Thank you for being a part of this incredible show," and "This is the most important story on Broadway right now." So I'm very proud to be a part of it. I'm very proud of Christmas With You, too, though for different reasons. Through it, I've gotten to explore not only my literal voice, but my figurative one too. I wrote one of the songs, collaborated on the arrangements, and even directed an animated music video for The Man With the Bag (which has been indisputably the runaway hit of the record -- someone even told me they heard it playing in Target the other day!) I've gotten to challenge myself creatively in so many unexpected ways on this project. Plus, it's always fun to work with my jazz-pianist husband Jason Yeager, who made some real holiday magic out of these arrangements. Our New-Orleans-jazz-meets-klezmer version of the Yiddish classic Tumbalalaika is a particular highlight; people keep reaching out and sharing personal connections to it like, "My grandmother used to sing this to me; it's like you made her come alive again." I just love hearing that kind of feedback from listeners.
Bare: how long have you been on your record label? what did you enjoy about sharing and making this Christmas album? any plans for more recording soon?
JB: I joined the Club44 Records label in 2022 to release my duo record with Jason, Hand in Hand. They chose their name to honor Birdland Jazz Club, which is located on 44th Street and where the founders of the label met. It's also where I'll be performing my next concert! On February 12th, I'm bringing my New Orleans jazz band "Euphonic Gumbo" to the club for our annual Mardi Gras celebration. Come by! There will be beads, sequins, prizes, and even a special guest tap dancer (my Funny Girl castmate John Manzari). I'm hoping to record that project next, because the music is so lively and Jason's arrangements are spectacular.
Bare: can you share any special holiday plans and new year goals? (we are hoping you pursue some comedy project you are hilarious!)
JB: For Christmas, I'll be doing a lightning-fast trip to my in-laws' in Boston on our day (yes, DAY) off fromHarmony. On New Years' Eve, I'm skipping my annual tradition of running the midnight Central Park race to attend a friend's wedding! As for goals for the coming year, I'd love to finally work in film and television. Because I can sing (and love to!), I end up doing a lot of musicals. But I'm really an actor first. I graduated with my MFA in Acting from NYU in 2021 and I'm itching to put the skills I learned there to use in a new medium. Maybe that'd take the form of a fun sitcom, or perhaps a period drama. I do adore period clothing. My Instagram feed is essentially a mixture of cat videos and vintage gowns, and every time I watch HBO's "The Gilded Age," I think, "I need to wear that! And that! And that! Just put me on this damn show so I can wear these clothes!" (Many of the costumes are made by Eric Winterling, who created my costumes for Funny Girl and Harmony).
Bare: your beret and bob is a signature look! is this haircut a favorite? do you have a hair go-to for cut/style/color?
JB: I got the bob during Funny Girl. I'd always had long hair, and suddenly that length felt so "little girl" to me. I wanted a haircut that reflected the woman I'd grown into throughout that process -- I wanted something less fussy, and more elegant and chic. Once I got the bob, I started collecting berets. They sort of go hand in hand, don't they? I guess the Harmony designers liked the vibe, because they incorporated the look into my character; Ruth gets a red beret and sports a bob. I've never dyed my hair, but I am tempted... I have always wanted to try life as a redhead. But I always chicken out. For cuts, I go to Maggy Torres at Fox and Jane (Bowery location).
Bare: how do you keep your porcelain skin so glowing ...what's your routine / favorite products?
JB: I take off my show makeup with Neutrogena Makeup Remover wipes, and then use Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream to moisturize before bedtime. If I'm feeling extra fancy I'll use their Eye Cream with Niacamide too. Doing this interview is reminding me that I need to order more of it, actually.
Bare: we loved shooting and chatting with your "Harmony" costar Sierra Boggess. how does she inspire and make this experience even more special?
JB: I'm so grateful that Sierra has been my partner on this show. She's given me so much advice on the business and really modeled how to be a leading lady not only onstage but off. She is so grounded and hardworking and hysterical, and makes being at work really fun for everyone. We connect over a lot of things, too. We're obsessed with cats; we love running; we're both listening to Barbra Streisand's audiobook right now. So we'll come into work and say, "How many miles did you do this morning, and what chapter did you get to?"
Bare: please list your top 5 bare essentials on show days?
Eyeliner: Dior Waterproof Eyeliner 094 Trinidad Black. Because I always seem to get cast in roles that require a lot of crying while simultaneously singing, I need my eye makeup to stay put through hell or high water. This is the only eyeliner I've found that does that without irritating my eyes. Sadly, it has been discontinued. I'm on the hunt for something equivalent. In the meantime, I'm buying up all the unopened ones that are left on eBay and Poshmark.
Mascara: Lancome Hypnose Drama Waterproof Mascara. I don't like wearing false lashes because they irritate my eyes, so this is the next best thing. It stays put during all my onstage crying, too. There's something magic in the shape of the brush. I have very short eyelashes but this mascara really makes them seem like they are a reasonable length.
Armra Bovine Colostrum: My dresser got me hooked on this stuff that supposedly boosts your immune system. Does it work? I don't know. It probably doesn't hurt. Even if it offers some immunity benefits, that's better than nothing. Getting sick is always annoying, but when you're a singer it really throws a wrench in your whole life. I take it every day.
Angel Cards: I like to pull one or two of these cards before a performance to help focus my mind during a show. It can help in surprising ways. For example, I recently chose the word "patience." I was expecting the word to act as it often did for me in Funny Girl, as a reminder to myself to be patient as a performer, allowing the beats to reveal themselves rather than trying to force them. But for Ruth--who has no patience--it did something different. It became a voice in my head of all the people in her life who are constantly telling her not to act rashly--and then I felt a fire in my belly feeling the need to resist that voice. It really added fuel to my outburst at a Nazi in Act 2. Other days, I'll pick words like "joy" or "light" or "transformation" or "resilience." They often reveal something new about the character to me, and help control my stage fright and self-criticism.
Mabis Steamer: The best, most therapeutic, and natural vocal cord and sinus remedy is to use one of these personal steamers before and/or after a show. (You can't overdose on steam!) It has the added benefit of being wonderful for your skin and opening up all your pores. And it just feels great.
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