Julia Riew is a composer-lyricist, librettist, songwriter, and New York Times bestselling novelist. She is the creator and composer behind the viral hit musical Dive, a reimagining of the Korean folktale Shimcheong, which is in development for a world premiere at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) with Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus. Her other theater work includes ENDLESS (directed by Zi Alikhan) and musicals for young audiences, including Thumbelina: A Little Musical (A.R.T.), Jack and the Beanstalk (A.R.T.), and Alice’s Wonderland (with J. Quinton Johnson, The Coterie Theater).

Julia’s literary work includes the instant New York Times bestselling YA fantasy novel The Last Tiger (Penguin Random House, co-written with her brother Brad), which was named one of NPR’s Best Books of 2025; the MG fantasy Shim Jung Takes the Dive (HarperCollins); and the upcoming YA science fiction novel Free Wilma (Penguin Random House, 2027).

Her theatrical work has been featured at the American Repertory Theater, South Coast Repertory, Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater, 54 Below, Greenroom 42, Summerstock Austin, Texas, The Coterie in Kansas City, Harvard University, AMAS Musical Theater, The UNC-Greensboro School of Theater, Central Square Theater, the University of Missouri, Webster University, and more.

Theater accolades include Theaterly 31’s Class of 2025, the 18th Annual Fred Ebb Award, Playbill’s Featured Songwriter of the Month, the 4th Annual Woman to Watch on Broadway List, Princess Grace Award Honoraria, and the Harvardwood Artist Launch Fellowship. She graduated magna cum laude as a member of Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard University with a joint degree in Theater, Dance, & Media (TDM) and Music.

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