Broadway star of Funny Girl and Harmony, Julie Benko returns to Birdland on Monday, August 12 at 7:00 PM following a recent tour of sold-out shows at San Francisco’s Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel, Los Angeles’ Catalina Jazz Club and New York’s Café Carlyle. Music director is Jason Yeager on piano, with Paul Francis on drums, Michael O’Brien on bass, Justin Poindexter on guitars and mandolin and Gabe Terraciano on violin. Jeremiah James, Benko’s former Funny Girl co-star, will be featured as guest vocalist.
And after announcing she is expecting her first baby, Benko’s new show explores the surprises, challenges and joys of pregnancy. This evening of music will highlight female songwriters (Brandi Carlisle, Laura Nyro), Broadway favorites (selections from Into the Woods, Baby and more), and Disney classics (songs from Cinderella, The Jungle Book and more). The new arrangements are by her longtime music director and husband (and, of course, the father-to-be!) Jason Yeager. There is a $40 music charge. Birdland is located at 315 West 44th Street in New York.
Benko joined the annals of theatrical lore for her sensational understudy-to-star trajectory as Fanny Brice in the recent 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 called the 2022 “Breakout Star for Theater” in The New York Times, named among “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.
There is a $40 music charge and a $20 food and beverage minimum. For reservations, please call (212) 581-3080 or visit www.BirdlandJazz.com.
Birdland is located at 315 West 44th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues) in Manhattan.
