Julia Knitel

Julia Knitel
Knitel in Dead Outlaw 2025
Born	Fair Lawn, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma mater	Marymount Manhattan College (no degree) [1]
Occupations	Actress singer
Years active	2009–present
Spouse	P.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. "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.
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.

External links

• Julia Knitel at the Internet Broadway Database
• Julia Knitel at IMDb