Julia Murney is an American actress and singer, also known for television commercial voice-overs. Until 2005, she was commonly known as the Broadway actress who had technically never appeared on Broadway, because her fame came mostly from her performances on the Broadway charity circuit and not traditional Broadway productions. She played the role of Elphaba in the musical Wicked, both on the US national tour (2006) and on Broadway (2007). She is also a two-time Drama Desk Award nominee, for The Wild Party (2000) and Falling (2013).
Early life Murney attended Stagedoor Manor summer camp. Murney attended the High School of Music & Art (later Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School) as a voice majorGans, Andrew. "DIVA TALK: Catching Up with Wicked's Julia Murney Plus News of Callaway and Salonga," Playbill (February 9, 2007). and graduated from Syracuse University in 1990.
Career In the liner notes from Murney's album I'm Not Waiting, composer Andrew Lippa says that he first met her in June 1996. He said, I was the music director for a Stephen Schwartz compendium called Snapshots, auditions were going well, if uninspiring, until a certain Julia Murney (with whom I was, at the time, unacquainted) strutted into the room. She sang a song, a forever favorite ever since, called Imagine My Surprise. Heartbreaking. Seeing as I was about to do the reading of The Wild Party in August, I wrote on my notes "Is she Queenie?!?!?" followed by several stars and excited doodles. Then, the director asked for another song, preferably something by Stephen Schwartz. la Murney: I know Meadowlark la director: That'd be great I didn't bring the music la pianist: (panic) la Lippa: (heroically) I know it, what key? (oh, the swagger, the cock-suredness. I did want to impress her, after all)
Murney's Off-Broadway theatrical credits include originating the role of 'Queenie' in Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party (2000) at the Manhattan Theatre Club, opposite Brian d'Arcy James, Idina Menzel, and Taye Diggs, for which she was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical. She was also seen in The Vagina Monologues, Crimes of the Heart (2001), A Class Act (2000), Time and Again (2001), and First Lady Suite. She appeared in a musical version of the film Saved! at the Playwrights Horizons Theatre, which began previews on May 9 and opened on June 3, 2008.Saved listing lortel.org, accessed May 16, 2009 In August 2008, Murney played the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita at the Wells Fargo Pavilion in Sacramento.
Murney made her debut on Broadway in 2005, in the short-lived musical Lennon. She was also seen in the Actors' Fund benefit concerts of Funny Girl, Chess, Hair, and the World AIDS Day Benefit Concert Pippin. She has also been featured on television in Sex and the City, Ed, NYPD Blue, and various episodes of Law & Order.
Afterwards, Murney succeeded Stephanie J. Block in the lead role of Elphaba in the first national touring company of the musical Wicked on March 6, 2006. In that role, she won an Acclaim Award from the Cincinnati Enquirer for leading performer in a musical. She departed the tour on September 3, 2006, after six months, and was replaced by Shoshana Bean. Murney then transferred to the Broadway production, reprising the role of Elphaba for a nine-month engagement, beginning January 9, 2007, replacing Ana Gasteyer. She played her final performance on October 7, 2007 and was replaced by Stephanie J. Block.Gans, Andrew (August 27, 2007). "Block and Ashford to Join Broadway's 'Wicked' in October" playbill.com Both on tour and on Broadway, she starred opposite Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda.
Her debut solo album, I'm Not Waiting, was released in May 2006 on the Sh-K-Boom Records label. The album's title song was written specially for Murney by Andrew Lippa, with whom she has a strong artistic relationship. Also on the album are a jazz acoustic version of the song "I'm Not That Girl" from Wicked and "Perfect", which was written with Tom Kitt. Murney can be heard on the original cast albums of The Wild Party and A Class Act as well as the Actors' Fund recordings of Hair and Chess.
Murney played Mrs. Walker in The Who's Tommy in Oklahoma City from February 5–21, 2009.Gans, Andrew. "Lyric Theatre's 'Tommy', with Murney, Farnsworth, Neville and Fletcher, Begins Feb. 5", playbill.com, February 5, 2009 In September 2009, she appeared in the Signature Theatre's production of First You Dream - The Songs of Kander and Ebb in Arlington, Virginia, with Norm Lewis, Matthew Scott, Heidi Blickenstaff, Eleasha Gamble, and James Clow.
Her other Off-Broadway credits include Queen of the Mist and Closer Than Ever.
In 2013, Murney received a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for her role as Tami in the play Falling."Nominations Announced for 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards; Giant and Hands on a Hardbody Lead the Pack" playbill.com, Retrieved May 9, 2013 She played Princess Fiona in The Muny's production of Shrek the Musical from June 24–30, 2013."Alexander Gemignani, Julia Murney, Rob McClure, Natalie Venetia Belcon Cast in Muny's 'Shrek The Musical' " playbill.com, Retrieved May 9, 2013 She returned to The Muny in 2014 to play Mayzie LaBird in Seussical and in 2016 to play Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!.Julia Murney, Ann Harada, Justin Guarini Set for Muny Mamma Mia! Playbill, Retrieved June 19, 2016 Murney played Rose in the 2017 Cape Playhouse production of Gypsy.
In May 2013 Murney sang with the Omaha Symphony in the concert "The Wizard and I - The Musical Journey of Stephen Schwartz" at the Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The concert featured songs from Godspell and Wicked and the song "Meadowlark".von Kampen, Todd. "Symphony celebrates Schwartz with 'The Wizard and I'" omaha.com, May 9, 2013
In 2017, Murney played Sara Jane Moore in Yale Repertory Theatre's production of Assassins
In 2021, Murney played the role of Arlene in Out of the Box Theatrical's immersive off-Broadway revival of the musical "Baby". In 2022 Murney appeared in the off-broadway production of Between the Lines in the role of Grace/Queen Maureen. Both productions released cast albums in 2023 which Murney appeared on.
Selected theater credits Year Title Role Theatre 2000 The Wild Party Queenie Manhattan Theatre Club 2002-2003 The Vagina Monologues Performer Westside Theatre 2005 Lennon Performer Broadhurst Theatre 2006Wicked Elphaba 1st US National Tour 2007 Gershwin Theatre2013Shrek the MusicalPrincess FionaThe Muny2017AssassinsSara Jane MooreYale Repertory Theatre 2019Baby Arlene Out of the Box Theatrics at Theatrelab 2021 2022Between the Lines Grace/Queen Maureen Tony Kiser Theatre
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1997 The Real Shlemiel Dona (voice) 2004 Say You Do Samantha Short 2008 Ghost Town Sneezy Lady 2009 Clear Blue Tuesday Anonymous Woman 2010 Multiple Sarcasms Cari 2013 La vida inesperada Lisa 2014 Gabriel Woman on Phone 2015 Emily & Tim Sarah Lerner Segment "Betrayal" 2015 First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb Television film 2015 For Real Diane Television film 2019 Big Time Adolescence Sherri 2020 First One In Shelia 2020 Boy*Friends Dr. Claymore Television film 2022 Not Okay Alice - Support Group Woman
Television Year Title Role Notes 1995 The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True Background singer Television benefit performance for the Children's Defense Fund 1999 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Waitress Episode: "A Single Life" 2003 Sex and the City Rival Raw Woman Episode: "Great Sexpectations" 2003 NYPD Blue Nancy Schaffer Episode: "Frickin' Fracker" 2003 Ed Amanda Williams 2 episodes 2004, 2007 Law & Order Marge Hollenbach, Lisa Quinlann 2 episodes 2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Hillary Martz Episode: "View from Up Here" 2009 30 Rock Courtney Episode: "Kidney Now!" 2011 Brothers & Sisters Kendra Episode: "Wouldn't It Be Nice" 2015 Elementary Gayle Wolper Episode: "When Your Number's Up" 2016 Madam Secretary Erin Episode: "Invasive Species" 2018 Succession Trainer Episode: "Celebration" 2020 Almost Family Accuser #2 Episode: "Permanent AF"
Video games Year Title Role Notes 2000 The Longest Journey Emma de Vrijer, Young Alatien Woman, Female Visitor 2001 Max Payne Mona Sax, Dispatcher, Lady Amelia 2006 Dreamfall: The Longest Journey Emma de Vrijer, Dr. Park, Yuriko
References
External links
(archive) (archive) Behind the Scenes: Getting Green with Wicked Leading Lady Julia Murney Credits Broadwayworld.com