Julia Knitel

Julia Knitel
Knitel in Dead Outlaw 2025
Born
Alma materMarymount Manhattan College (no degree)[1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2009–present
SpouseP.J. Adzima

Julia Knitel is an American actress and singer known for her work in theater.[2] In 2025, she was nominated for her first Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Maggie/Helen in Dead Outlaw.

Early life and career

Knitel was born and raised in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, and was introduced to the arts at a young age by her parents who were actors.[3] Knitel was a 2009 Jimmy Awards nominee for her performance as Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Fair Lawn High School and performed at the Paper Mill Playhouse as a child.[3][4]

Broadway and performing career

In 2009, Knitel made her Broadway debut at age sixteen in the ensemble of the revival of Bye Bye Birdie at the Henry Miller Theatre.[5]

She played the lead role of Carole King in the biographical musical Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway and on tour.[6] She also played the role of Janice in Come from Away on tour. In 2018, she played Louise opposite Beth Leavel as Mama Rose in a production of Gypsy at The Muny in St. Louis. Also in 2018 she starred in the Off-Broadway musical Letter to Harvey Milk as Barbara Katsef, for which she was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical.[7]

In 2024, she originated the dual roles of Millicent / Maggie / Helen in the Off-Broadway musical Dead Outlaw, and reprised the role in the 2025 Broadway production. She was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Tony Award for her performance.[3][8][9]

Personal life

Knitel is married to actor P.J. Adzima.[3][10]

Stage

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2009 Bye Bye Birdie Teenager, Fan Club Girl Henry Miller's Theatre, Broadway [11][12]
2013 Volley Girls Ingrid The New York Music Theatre Festival [11][13]
2014 Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Ensemble Stephen Sondheim Theatre, Broadway [11][14]
Brighton Beach Memoirs Nora Morton Portland Stage, Regional [11][15]
2015 Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Carole King U.S. National Tour [11][16]
2018 Letter to Harvey Milk Barbara Acorn Theatre, Off-Broadway
Gypsy Louise The Muny, Regional
The Constant Wife Martha Culver Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Regional [11][17]
2019 The Producers Ulla Casa Mañana, Regional
Come From Away Janice & Others U.S. National Tour [11][18]
2022 The Panic of '29 Performer 59E59 Theatres, Off-Broadway
2024 Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Carole King Cape Playhouse, Regional [11][19]
Dead Outlaw Helen/Maggie Minetta Lane Theatre, Off-Broadway
2025 Longacre Theatre, Broadway
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Carole King Asolo Repertory Theatre, Regional

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Work Result Ref.
Lucille Lortel Awards 2018 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical Letter to Harvey Milk Nominated [11][20]
Outer Critics Circle Awards 2024 Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical Dead Outlaw Nominated
Tony Awards 2025 Best Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated

References

  1. ^ "So proud of MMC's Julia Knitel and Mike Longo, who are both in BEAUTIFUL, which just celebrated 2-years on Broadway!". www.mmm.edu. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  2. ^ Julia Knitel Interview, Accessed April 20, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "N.J. actor on Broadway’s Dead Outlaw, the true story of a body with many lives", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 27, 2025. Accessed April 29, 2025. "Julia Knitel stars in Dead Outlaw, a musical opening Sunday (April 27) at the Longacre Theatre.... The actor, who grew up in Fair Lawn, also played Carole King in a national tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.... In 2009, Knitel won Paper Mill’s Rising Star Award for her performance in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Fair Lawn High School."
  4. ^ 2009 Jimmy Awards, Accessed April 20, 2025.
  5. ^ NorthJersey.Com Julia Knitel Interview, Accessed April 20, 2025.
  6. ^ Julia Knitel Interview, Accessed April 20, 2025.
  7. ^ Playbill.Com Julia Knitel Profile, Accessed April 20, 2025.
  8. ^ Julia Knitel Interview, TheatreMania.Com, Accessed April 20, 2025.
  9. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 1, 2025). "2025 Tony Award Nominations: Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending Lead the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  10. ^ The Book of Mormon’ Star PJ Adzima ’15 to Host MMC’s Legacy Gala, Accessed April 20, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cite error: The named reference Julie Knitel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Julia Knitel, Accessed July 18, 2025.
  13. ^ Julia Knitel, Accessed July 18, 2025.
  14. ^ Julia Knitel, Accessed July 18, 2025.
  15. ^ Julia Knitel, Accessed July 18, 2025.
  16. ^ Julia Knitel, Accessed July 18, 2025.
  17. ^ Julia Knitel, Accessed July 18, 2025.
  18. ^ Julia Knitel, Accessed July 18, 2025.
  19. ^ Julia Knitel, Accessed July 18, 2025.
  20. ^ Julia Knitel, Accessed July 18, 2025.