Thursday, March 22, 2018

Spotlight On...Julia Knitel

Name: Julia Knitel

Hometown:  Fair Lawn, NJ

Education:  Perpetual Dropout

Select Credits: Broadway: Beautiful (Carole King on the 1st National), Bye Bye Birdie. Nora in Brighton Beach Memoirs at Portland Stage, Ingrid in Volleygirls at NYMF.

Why theater?: There's truly nothing like live theatre.  I cry at almost every show I see, from huge Broadway shows, to the play my mom has written and directed for her 5th grade students. There is something so magical and moving about a bunch of human beings coming together to tell a story. It's ancient, exciting, and fleeting, and to be able to share that with an audience every night is my greatest joy.

Who do you play in A Letter to Harvey Milk?: Barbara Katsef, a Jewish lesbian yearning to connect with her faith & learn about the history of her people, while also trying to move forward from the pain of her sometimes troubled past.

Tell us about A Letter to Harvey MilkA Letter to Harvey Milk is the story of the unlikely friendship between Harry, a retired Kosher butcher, and Barbara, his writing teacher. As they struggle to bridge the gap between two very different generations - they learn to deal with loss & grief while celebrating life, and the things that make us unique.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Theatre that captures the human condition & broadens the horizons of its audience. There has never been a better time in the theatre for unique perspectives and voices that may not have had an opportunity to tell their stories a decade ago. People of color, women, the LGBTQ community - theatre that speaks to me is theatre that puts these people and their struggles, hopes, dreams, fears, and triumphs center stage.

Any roles you're dying to play?:  Many! Obviously I'd love to play some of the greats, but right now I'm most interested in originating new roles. Getting to help build a character from the ground up always gets me excited!

What's your favorite show tune?: "Not A Day Goes By" from Merrily We Roll Along.

If you could work with anyone you've yet to work with, who would it be?:  Laurie Metcalf, Julie Andrews, Sterling K. Brown.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Haha! Hmm. "She's So Tall!!" starring Sterling K. Brown. Let's be real - he can do anything.

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?:  Opening night of the original production of Into The Woods. I burned a hole through the VHS as a child because I watched it so many times. It just has my heart.

What show have you recommended to your friends?:  Athena at JACK in Brooklyn. It's a new play by Gracie Gardner, and it's a thrilling and fierce piece of feminist theatre. They've been extended through March 24th, so go support them while you can!!

What's up next?: Marriage!! My fiancé and I are getting married in May! Woohoo!