Julia Lester
Lester at the Opening Night of the 2022 Broadway revival of Into the Woods
Born
Julia Rose Lester

(2000-01-28) January 28, 2000 (age 23)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Known forHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Into the Woods
ParentLoren Lester (father) Kelly Lester (mother)
RelativesPeter Mark Richman (grandfather)
Lucas Richman
(uncle)

Julia Rose Lester (born January 28, 2000[1]) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Ashlyn Caswell in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and for her portrayal of the role of Little Red Ridinghood in the 2022 Broadway revival of Into the Woods, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

Early life and education

Lester is from Woodland Hills, CA.[2] She is Jewish.[3] She is the youngest daughter of actors Kelly and Loren Lester, granddaughter of actors Helen and Peter Mark Richman, and niece of conductor/composer Lucas Richman.[4] Her sisters, Jenny and Lily, are also in show business.

She attended Calabasas High School.[5]

Personal life

Julia Lester identifies as pansexual.[6] Her character[7] on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series also came out as queer in the third season.

Lester has been dating screenwriter Ilana Wolpert since 2022.[8]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2011 The One Who Got Away Young Cherie Short film
2020 Annie Minerals, Teen Therapist Annie
2021 What She Said Associate producer

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Neckpee Island Mona Television film
2016 Bella and the Bulldogs Gracie Crenshaw Episode: "Bella in the Spotlight"
2017 Mom Emily 3 episodes
2018 The Thundermans Smith Episode: "Revenge of the Smith"
2019 Prince of Peoria Suzie 2 episodes
Game Shakers Tonya Mulligan Episode: "Why Tonya"[9]
2019–2020 Spirit Riding Free Bebe Schumann Voice
2019–2023 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Ashlyn Caswell Main role;
Disney+ series

Stage credits

Year Title Role Venue Notes
2009 Les Misérables Little Cosette [10] Regional
2010 Into the Woods Milky White [11]
2012 The Wizard of Oz Dorothy Gale Up On Stage[12]
2015 Les Misérables Éponine Thénardier Youth Musical Theatre[10]
2016 Carrie Carrie White Young Artists Ensemble
2017 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Narrator / Ensemble Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks
2018 Into the Woods Little Red Ridinghood Cupcake Theater, Los Angeles
Next to Normal Natalie Hillcrest Center For The Arts, Thousand Oaks
Calvin Berger Bret Hudson Backstage Theatre, Hollywood[13]
2022 Into the Woods Little Red Ridinghood New York City Center Off-Broadway
Encores!
St. James Theatre[14] Broadway

Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical

2023 The Secret Garden Martha Ahmanson Theatre[15] Pre-Broadway
I Can Get It for You Wholesale Miss Marmelstein Classic Stage Company[16] Off-Broadway

References

  1. ^ Tran, Fonticha (January 28, 2020). "High School Musical: The Series' SURPRISE Birthday Party For Julia Lester (Ashlyn)". Exclusive Hollywood. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  2. ^ "It's the 'Start of Something New' as Production Begins on the Disney+ Original Series 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series". Disney Media Center. February 15, 2020. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  3. ^ Ben-Moche, Erin (December 11, 2020). "HSM Series' Julia Lester, Larry Saperstein Perform Classics for Disney+ Holiday Special". Jewish Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "Family Links". Peter Mark Richman. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  5. ^ Dallman, Gianna (December 1, 2016). "Julia Lester dominates the stage in Carrie: The Musical". CHS Courier. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  6. ^ https://www.facebook.com/19799718480. "21 Disney Stars Who Came Out As LGBTQ+". www.out.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023. ((cite web)): |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "This HSMTMTS Character Had a Big Sexuality Revelation This Week". www.out.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  8. ^ Wickes, Hanna (November 8, 2022). "Meet the GF: Who Is Ilana Wolpert? Meet 'HSMTMTS' Star Julia Lester's Girlfriend: Age, Job, More". J-14.
  9. ^ Blair, Caroline (November 4, 2019). "Sofia Wylie, Olivia Rodrigo & more: Meet the cast of 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series'". Tiger Beat. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
  11. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
  12. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
  13. ^ "Standing Room Only and Graceful Productions Present Staged Reading of New Musical CALVIN BERGER". BroadwayWorld. July 26, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  14. ^ I Know Things Now, retrieved November 19, 2023
  15. ^ 'The Secret Garden' Hold On I Ahmanson Theatre, retrieved November 19, 2023
  16. ^ Julia Lester Performs "Miss Marmelstein" from I Can Get It for You Wholesale, retrieved November 19, 2023

External links


Authority control databases: Artists
Categories