Julia O'Neill '26

Senior Julia O’Neill will take the stage for her 8th and final show next week when Riordan stages Hadestown. Mr. Callaghan, theatre director and VPA chair, has called her an integral part of Riordan Drama and will miss her after she graduates — “Her characters are all unique and fully realized and she’s a leader in the program. As seriously as she takes everything, she can lighten a tense mood with her sense of humor.”

Before the final week of rehearsals, we caught up with Julia to hear how the show is coming together and learn what’s next for this accomplished actor and promising biomed student.

Tell us a little about Hadestown.
It’s something different for Riordan. At least since I’ve been here, we’ve done a lot of golden age musicals, but Hadestown combines jazz as well as modern musical theater elements. The lyrics, the dances, there's a lot of hip hop influences and things like that. It’s a lot of fun. It picks up some threads from the fall drama too, like doing whatever you can to chase your dreams, even though you know that you may not succeed. 
🎟️ Don’t miss Julia and the cast in Hadestown — get your tickets here.

How do you feel reflecting on your last four years in drama?
It’s sweet and sad. I have really enjoyed being in the drama department. Everyone in the cast has the same goal — to put on a good show, entertain the audience, and for each other to succeed. Mr. Callaghan and Mr. (Jack) Reardon have been fantastic mentors and have really made me feel supported.

Last fall, my sister, Emma, and I were backstage before the show. We talked about how our grandfather, Michael Nerney, class of 1960, had taken us to our first musical at Riordan when Emma was just two and I was five. It made us both a bit sad because I’m graduating this year, and we wouldn't have many more chances to be on stage together at Riordan. We hugged each other and then held hands as we walked to our places.

What drew you to acting?
It was actually by accident. I was following the advice my cousin gave me. He told me that the best way to make friends was to join an extracurricular activity. So I was trying to figure out what I should join. I tried golf for three weeks. It wasn't for me. My mom said, oh, there are auditions for the fall play. You did theater in middle school. You should look into doing this.

I wasn't really sold on the idea and she said, oh, come on you'll make friends. I tried out and I didn't think I stood a chance. But I got a role, and I thought, well, now I really have to commit to this. I was really nervous because I was the only freshman girl that was cast, and I didn’t know anyone on the cast, but everyone was just so welcoming.

Do you have a favorite role that you’ve played?
I was completely blown away to learn about Jerrie Cobb and the rest of the Mercury 13, because I had no idea about her story, and I was really inspired by her. Jerrie overcame so many obstacles and never gave up, even after she was unfairly denied the opportunity to go into space. I think it is really important to tell the stories of those who often are overlooked or erased from history. There are so many women throughout history that had the talents or abilities to do extraordinary things, but were kept from them just because they were women.

Is there a character you’ve always dreamed of playing?
I’ve always liked Little Women. Maybe Jo.

Will you keep acting in college?
I hope so. I’d like to join an improv group and maybe once I get the hang of college, I could audition for a play or a musical or something like that. I feel like acting helps me stay grounded. It’s something to look forward to. If I have a bad day at school, well, I have rehearsal in an hour. I can just let loose and be myself, as corny as that sounds. It’s vulnerable, but it’s also very freeing. Drama at Riordan has been such a community of support and love and I hope I can find that in college because it’s been such an incredible experience here.

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Julia, like Jerrie, is a pioneer herself. Of the ten Riordan alums in her family, she will be the first young woman to graduate. She has her eyes set on a few other firsts too, namely, to be the first doctor in her family. Her interest is in pediatrics.