Julie Benko & Euphonic Gumbo Mardi Gras Spectacular

Get ready to laissez les bons temps rouler as Julie Benko marches her band out at Birdland once again. Her critically acclaimed annual Mardi Gras blowout returnsand this time, its an album release party! The jubilant celebration of New Orleans jazz features Julies sizzling hot band Euphonic Gumbo, including Jason Yeager (piano, arrangements), Linus Wyrsch (reeds), AndyWarren (trumpet), Ron Wilkins (trombone), Michael OBrien (bass), Jay Sawyer(drums), and special guest John Manzari (tap dance). Join the paradenobody, no, nobodys going to rain on this one!Julie Benko joined the annals of theatrical lore for her sensational understudy-to-star trajectory as Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl. Between her tenure as the standby, alternate, and full-time Fanny, she played the role over 180 times and received numerous accolades for her interpretation, including Theatre Worlds Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theatre. She was also named the 2022 Breakout Star for Theater by The New York Times and one of 10 Broadway Stars to Watch for 2023 by Variety, honored as one of 40 Under 40 for Crains New York Business, hailed by CBS Morning as Broadways breakout star, and profiled in numerous national media outlets such as The New York Times and Time. Following Funny Girl, she returned to Broadway to originate the role of Ruth in Barry Manilows long-gestating musical Harmony. Benko has released 3 studio albums, including Hand in Hand (Club 44 Records), a duo effort with her pianist-composer spouse Jason Yeager that won the Broadway World Cabaret Award for Best Commercial Album and received a MAC Award nomination for Best Major Album, as well as Christmas With You (Club 44 Records) and Introducing Julie Benko. She has played leading roles in many Off-Broadway and regional productions, will make her silver screen debut in the upcoming film Caravan, and enjoys a vibrant concert career, having headlined sold-out solo shows at venues around the country and performing as a guest artist with numerous symphonies. Visit her website, www.JulieBenko.com, or follow her on TikTok or Instagram @Jujujuliebee to discover more!