Meet Julian Ford, the West Lampeter teen who has performed on Broadway and numerous local stages

• By Laura Knowles/ For LNP | LancasterOnline

Julian Ford has fond memories of his parents taking him to New York City at Christmastime. He remembers visiting Santaland at Macy’s on 34th Street and being so taken with the city’s energy that he insisted, one day, he’d live and work in New York City.

Julian, now 16, is still a Lancaster County resident — at least for now. But the West Lampeter teen made major progress in making his big-city dreams a reality by landing roles in two holiday performances on Broadway this holiday season.

He performed in a benefit concert on Broadway in November and will return to the city later this month for a performance with a youth ensemble.

Julian already has an extensive resume of acting credits, including Ephrata Performing Arts Center’s “Phantom of the Opera (Young Performers Production)” and Servant Stage Company’s “Sound of Music” and “Ragtime.” (“Phantom” showtimes continue through Dec. 30 at EPAC.)

The Lampeter-Strasburg High School junior has also performed in shows at his high school, such as “Frozen” and “Annie.”

“I did my first show when I was in sixth grade. It was ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr.’ (in middle school) and I was Jeremy Potts,” Julian says. “I knew right then that this is what I wanted to do.”

In October, Julian had the opportunity to audition for two New York City performances on two different Broadway stages. He was selected for the cast of a teen and youth ensemble and was a featured singer, playing piano for the song “Imagine” by John Lennon. The “Lyrics for Life” benefit concert, which supported Mental Health & Suicide Prevention, was presented at Symphony Stage on Broadway on Sunday, Nov. 12.

The show was produced by Laura Luc and KOTA Productions and the music direction was under Alex-Renee Davies, with a cast that included stars from Broadway, television and film.

“I had to audition out of hundreds of other teens,” Julian says. He believes his background as a pianist was beneficial in getting the part.

At the same time, Julian got another big break on Broadway, when he was chosen for the teen and youth ensemble for Spotlight Kidz, which will perform two holiday songs as the opening act for the “Rockettes Christmas Spectacular” at Radio City Music Hall on Dec. 28.

“These are his biggest performances, and we are so proud of him,” says his mother, Karen Ford.

She’s very supportive of her son’s theater endeavors, helping with transportation to his numerous auditions and performances at regional theaters like the Fulton Theatre, Hershey Area Playhouse and Gretna Theatre to his recent and upcoming performances in New York City.

A part of his journey

Julian is the son of Karen Ford and Harold G. Ford III, and his family members share an interest in music and theatre. They supported their son’s talents, first noticed by his grandmother, who encouraged him to try out for children’s parts at local theaters.

“His late Nana, my mom, saw his potential and kept telling him to audition for Fulton, Gretna and Servant Stage. She believed he could do it,” Karen Ford says. “And she would have been so thrilled about him making it to Broadway.”

Karen Ford became his agent, manager and videographer. She and her husband take turns driving him to rehearsals and shows. His mother usually takes him to most of his auditions, and it has become like a second job for the full-time registered respiratory therapist.

“This is one of the most important and favorite things for me to do,” Karen Ford says. “I am honored and happy to be a part of his amazing journey. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Julian appreciates all the support he gets from his parents. Once he started to express his dreams for a career in theater, he says his parents were fully supportive.

“This was my idea, and my mom has never been a stage mother or anything,” Julian says. “I’m doing what I want to do and she is helping to make it possible.”

As a small child, Julian always loved movies, singing and theatre. He would make up movies with his Lego sets and play songs on a small keyboard.

As his interest in theater became more pronounced, Julian’s parents helped to give him the training he would need. They signed him up for vocal and piano lessons with Sally Armstrong, a teacher at Dayspring Christian Academy. Even though he was a student at Lampeter-Strasburg, Armstrong took him under her wing.

“I could tell that he had talent at a young age. He is one of those rare kids who is a natural. He would do whatever was asked of him,” Armstrong says. “I knew he was going somewhere.”

When Julian’s voice began to change as a teen, he began working with local voice and acting coach Reji Woods, who served as his mentor. The teen is now a tenor and appreciates the guidance from Woods as he navigates his changing voice.

“I’ve been working with Julian for a year now, and he works hard to expand his range and learn to act through the story,” Woods says.

Being a ‘triple threat’

Julian wants to be a “triple threat,” with the ability to act, sing and dance. He’s studying dance — his self-identified weakest area — with local dancer, coach and choreographer Cody Smith. While Julian is intentional about strengthening that skillset, he notes his background as an athlete playing baseball and tennis is helping.

In addition to preparing for his upcoming gig at Radio City, Julian is currently starring as opera singer Ubaldo Piangi in Ephrata Performing Arts Center’s “The Phantom of the Opera (Young Performer’s Production).” He’s also auditioning for other local and high school shows.

As Julian’s career continues to develop, he often thinks of his role model — another Lancaster County kid who once had dreams of making it big on Broadway.

“I haven’t met Jonathan Groff yet, but he is a local hero to me, being in ‘Hamilton’ and doing the voice for ‘Frozen.’ He is from where I am from, which is very inspiring to me,” Julian says. “I would love to meet him.”