Julia Murney | |
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 Murney in 2005 | |
| Born | Julia Kathleen Murney (1969-01-14)January 14, 1969 (age 56) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
Julia Kathleen Murney (born January 14, 1969) is an Americanactress andsinger, also known fortelevision commercialvoice-overs. Until 2005, she was commonly known as theBroadway actress who had technically never appeared on Broadway. This was because her fame came mostly from her performances on the Broadway charity circuit, and not traditional Broadway productions. She played the role ofElphaba in the musicalWicked, both on the US national tour (2006) and on Broadway (2007). She is also a two-timeDrama Desk Award nominee, forThe Wild Party (2000) andFalling (2013).
The daughter of actorChristopher Murney and Anne Murney, Murney was named after the song "Julia" fromThe Beatles'White Album. She has a younger sister, Caitlin (born 1977), who is a film producer and lives in Los Angeles, and younger brother,Patrick (born 1987), who is an actor and graduated from Syracuse University with a drama degree in 2009.
Murney attended theHigh School of Music & Art (laterFiorello H. LaGuardia High School) as a voice major[1] and graduated fromSyracuse University in 1990.
In the liner notes from Murney's albumI'm Not Waiting, composerAndrew Lippa says that he first met her in June 1996. He said,
I was the music director for aStephen Schwartzcompendium calledSnapshots, 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, calledImagine My Surprise. Heartbreaking. Seeing as I was about to do the reading ofThe 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'sOff-Broadway theatrical credits include originating the role of 'Queenie' inAndrew Lippa'sThe Wild Party (2000) at theManhattan Theatre Club, oppositeBrian d'Arcy James,Idina Menzel, andTaye Diggs, for which she was nominated for theDrama Desk Award forOutstanding Actress in a Musical. She was also seen inThe Vagina Monologues,Crimes of the Heart (2001),A Class Act (2000),Time and Again (2001), andFirst Lady Suite. She appeared in amusical version of the filmSaved! at thePlaywrights Horizons Theatre, which began previews on May 9 and opened on June 3, 2008.[2] In August 2008, Murney played the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber'sEvita at theWells Fargo Pavilion inSacramento.[3]
Murney made her debut onBroadway in 2005, in the short-lived musicalLennon. She was also seen in the Actors' Fund benefit concerts ofFunny Girl,Chess,Hair, and the World AIDS Day Benefit ConcertPippin. She has also been featured on television inSex and the City,Ed,NYPD Blue, and various episodes ofLaw & Order.
Afterwards, Murney succeededStephanie J. Block in the lead role ofElphaba in the first national touring company of the musicalWicked on March 6, 2006. In that role, she won an Acclaim Award from theCincinnati Enquirer for leading performer in a musical. She departed the tour on September 3, 2006, after six months, and was replaced byShoshana Bean. Murney then transferred to the Broadway production, reprising the role of Elphaba for a nine-month engagement, beginning January 9, 2007, replacingAna Gasteyer.[1] She played her final performance on October 7, 2007 and was replaced by Stephanie J. Block.[4] Both on tour and on Broadway, she starred oppositeKendra Kassebaum asGlinda.
Her debut solo album,I'm Not Waiting, was released in May 2006 on theSh-K-Boom Records label. The album's title song was written specially for Murney byAndrew 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" fromWicked and "Perfect", which was written withTom Kitt.[5] Murney can be heard on the original cast albums ofThe Wild Party andA Class Act as well as the Actors' Fund recordings ofHair andChess.
Murney played Mrs. Walker inThe Who's Tommy inOklahoma City from February 5–21, 2009.[6] In September 2009, she appeared in the Signature Theatre's production ofFirst You Dream - The Songs ofKander and Ebb in Arlington, Virginia, withNorm Lewis, Matthew Scott,Heidi Blickenstaff, Eleasha Gamble, and James Clow.
Her other Off-Broadway credits includeQueen of the Mist andCloser Than Ever.[7]
In 2013, Murney received a nomination for theDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for her role as Tami in the playFalling.[8] She playedPrincess Fiona inThe Muny's production ofShrek the Musical from June 24–30, 2013.[9] She returned to The Muny in 2014 to play Mayzie LaBird inSeussical[10] and in 2016 to play Donna Sheridan inMamma Mia!.[11] Murney played Rose in the 2017 Cape Playhouse production ofGypsy.[12]
In May 2013 Murney sang with theOmaha Symphony in the concert "The Wizard and I - The Musical Journey of Stephen Schwartz" at theHolland Performing Arts Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The concert featured songs fromGodspell andWicked and the song "Meadowlark".[13]
In 2017, Murney playedSara Jane Moore inYale Repertory Theatre's production ofAssassins[14]
In 2021, Murney played the role of Arlene in Out of the Box Theatrical's immersive off-Broadway revival of the musical "Baby".[15] In 2022[16][circular reference] Murney appeared in the off-broadway production ofBetween the Lines in the role of Grace/Queen Maureen.[17] Both productions released cast albums in 2023 which Murney appeared on.[15]
| 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 |
| 2006 | Wicked | Elphaba | 1st US National Tour |
| 2007 | Gershwin Theatre | ||
| 2013 | Shrek the Musical | Princess Fiona | The Muny |
| 2017 | Assassins | Sara Jane Moore | Yale Repertory Theatre |
| 2019 | Baby | Arlene | Out of the Box Theatrics at Theatrelab |
| 2021 | |||
| 2022 | Between the Lines | Grace/Queen Maureen | Tony Kiser Theatre |
| 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 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True | Background singer | Television benefit performance for theChildren's Defense Fund[18] |
| 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" |
| 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 |
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| National | |
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