Julia Lester (born January 28, 2000) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Ashlyn Caswell in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and for her portrayal of the role of Little Red Ridinghood in the 2022 Broadway revival of Into the Woods, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
Early life and education Lester is from Woodland Hills, California. She is Jewish. She is the youngest daughter of actors Kelly and Loren Lester, granddaughter of actors Helen and Peter Mark Richman, and niece of conductor/composer Lucas Richman.
She attended Calabasas High School.
Personal life Lester is queer and has been dating screenwriter Ilana Wolpert since 2022. The couple announced their engagement in June 2026.https://www.instagram.com/p/DZXwsK0m1ay/?hl=en&img_index=1
Her character on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series also came out as queer in the third season.
Acting credits Film Year Title Role Notes 2011 The One Who Got Away Young Cherie Short film 2020 Annie Minerals, Teen Therapist Annie 2021 What She Said Associate producer2024Prom DatesHannah
Television Year Title Role Notes 2014 Neckpee Island Mona Television film 2016 Bella and the Bulldogs Gracie Crenshaw Episode: "Bella in the Spotlight" 2017 Mom Emily 3 episodes 2018 The Thundermans Smith Episode: "Revenge of the Smith" 2019 Prince of Peoria Suzie 2 episodes Game Shakers Tonya Mulligan Episode: "Why Tonya" 2019–2020 Spirit Riding Free Bebe Schumann Voice 2019–2023 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Ashlyn Caswell Main role; Disney+ series 2023–2024 Hailey's On It! Tina / various Voice, 5 episodes2025The Four SeasonsLila4 episodes
Theater Year Title Role Venue Ref. 2009 Les Misérables Little Cosette Regional 2010 Into the Woods Milky White 2012 The Wizard of Oz Dorothy Gale Up On Stage 2015 Les Misérables Éponine Thénardier Youth Musical Theatre 2016 Carrie Carrie White Young Artists Ensemble 2017 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Narrator / Ensemble Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks 2018 Into the Woods Little Red Ridinghood Cupcake Theater, Los Angeles Next to Normal Natalie Hillcrest Center For The Arts, Thousand Oaks Calvin Berger Bret Hudson Backstage Theatre, Hollywood 2022 Into the Woods Little Red Ridinghood New York City Center, Off-Broadway St. James Theatre, Broadway 2023The Secret GardenMartha Sowerby Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles I Can Get It for You WholesaleMiss MarmelsteinClassic Stage Company, Off-Broadway 2025 All Nighter Wilma The Newman Mills Theater, Off-Broadway Queens Inna Manhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway
Awards and nominations +YearAwardCategoryWorkResult2023Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Featured Performance in a MusicalInto the WoodsOuter Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway MusicalTony AwardsBest Featured Actress in a Musical2025Lucille Lortel AwardsOutstanding Featured Performer in a PlayAll NighterDrama Desk AwardsOutstanding Featured Performance in a Play
References
External links