The theater community and Niagara University were shocked and saddened to learn of the death of actress Julie Burdick, who died unexpectedly on January 27 in New York City. The cause was, reportedly, meningitis. She was 25 years old.

Gifted with great beauty and a glorious singing voice, Julie was making excellent progress in a career as an ingénue. She had consistently found work as an actress since graduating from NU with her B.F.A. in Theatre Studies/Performance in 2003. She landed roles in several national theatrical productions, playing Iris Kelly in the North American Tour of Fame, the Musical and Laurey in Networks Presentations Oklahoma! She also served as the off-stage cover for the four principal roles of the sisters in the national tour of Little Women starring Maureen McGovern, and had just completed a production of Cabaret in Washington, DC.

Julie was prominently featured at MusicalFare in Strike Up the Band, and most notably as the golden-throated Rosa Bud in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. While she was a student at Niagara University from 1999 to 2003, Julie played numerous roles, including Precious in Steel Pier, Cassie in A Chorus Line, and Viola in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Julie’s death can be counted a tragic loss to the theater and all who knew her.