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Broadway actor Julie Reiber has come a long way from playing Little Red Riding Hood in Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Cinderella at the Bellingham Theatre Guild in Bellingham, WA - a stage she shared with actress Hilary Swank, then thirteen years old. Now with top Broadway and regional credits under her belt, Reiber stands poised at the front of a new wave of fresh, exciting talent.

Growing up, Reiber participated in school and community theatre, balancing her love of the stage with her studies and time running track. By the time she reached high school, she was being cast in summer stock productions at Western Washington University and her commitment to giving quality performances began to take the lead.

“I always loved singing and was a bit of a ham, so the theatre just called to me.”

She went on to study music and acting in college and, after graduation, took a job working for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Soon after, her career literally took flight when she was given the opportunity to play Elphaba in Wicked, first in the original Los Angeles production, then again on Broadway.

“(Elphaba was) one of the most thrilling roles I’ve ever played... I loved taking her journey every time I got to step into her shoes.”

Reiber has filled the shoes of some of musical theatre’s most fascinating characters, from Rose Stopnick in the Guthrie Theatre production of Caroline, or Change (Music by Jeanine Tesori, Book and Lyrics by Tony Kushner) to Maureen in the National Tour of RENT (Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larsen). She is also an advocate of new work and loves the creative process of developing a new piece. Reiber’s intelligent approach to character and powerhouse vocals are certain to stand her in good stead for years to come, whether belting a classic to the back of the Gershwin Theatre or crafting an original piece of her own for an intimate stage.

Q&A with Julie Reiber

MTI: What MTI shows have you been in?

JR: RENT (National Tour), Caroline, or Change (The Guthrie Theatre), Elton John and Tim Rice’s AIDA (Amneris, Arvada Center), Jekyll and Hyde (Emma, Korean Concert Tour), Sweeney Todd (Theatre on the Hill), Ragtime (Gateway Playhouse), Pirates of Penzance, Songs for a New World, Little Shop of Horrors, and Godspell

MTI: Any favorite roles?

JR: It’s tough to name a favorite because they are all so different. You can’t really compare Maureen in RENT to Rose Stopnick in Caroline … they’re all my favorites for my own reasons.

MTI: What are some of your favorite songs from MTI shows?

JR: I love all the songs in Songs for A New World, the music of Ragtime and Sweeney Todd and, of course, the music of Caroline, or Change is one of the best scores I’ve had the honor of working on.

MTI: What inspires you?

MG: To work on getting into the head of a character and to take that ride is always inspiring.

Visit Julie Reiber’s website (www.juliereiber.com)to read fun stories from the set of Wicked and learn about current and upcoming projects.

Thanks for this spotlight. I love the book and the musical!