Pasek and Paul
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, known together as Pasek and Paul, are an American songwriting duo and composing team for musical theater, films and television.[1][2] Their works include A Christmas Story, Dogfight, Edges, Dear Evan Hansen, and James and the Giant Peach. Their original songs have been featured on NBC's Smash and in the films La La Land, for which they won both the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song "City of Stars", and The Greatest Showman.[3][4][5] Their work on the original musical Dear Evan Hansen has received widespread critical acclaim and earned them the 2017 Tony Award for Best Original Score. In 2022, they won the Tony Award for Best Musical for serving as producers for the Broadway production of Michael R. Jackson's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A Strange Loop.
Pasek and Paul | |
|---|---|
Benj Pasek (left) and Justin Paul, 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Musical Theatre |
| Members | Benj Pasek Justin Paul |
| Website | pasekandpaul |
Benj Pasek | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 9, 1985 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) |
|
While Pasek usually writes lyrics and Paul usually writes music, they share credit for both elements.[6] Both are graduates of the University of Michigan[7] and winners of the American Theatre Wing's 2007 Jonathan Larson Grant,[8] which honors achievement by composers, lyricists and librettists.
History
Start at the University of Michigan
Pasek and Paul started working together as freshmen at the University of Michigan.[9] Both got "background" roles in the school's musical theater production, which inspired them to write Edges, a song cycle about the trials and tribulations of moving into adulthood and the search for meaning. Edges premiered in Ann Arbor, Michigan on April 3, 2005.[7]
On May 14, 2006, the duo made their New York City premiere: a benefit concert of original songs titled Become: The Music of Pasek & Paul. Presented by Jamie McGonnigal,[10] performers included Gavin Creel, Cheyenne Jackson, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Steven Pasquale.[11] They also contributed to the 2006 off-Broadway musical White Noise: A Cautionary Musical, which won Talkin' Broadway's 2006 Summer Theatre Festival Citation for Outstanding Original Score.[12]
In December 2006, they completed their BFA degrees in musical theatre.
Musical theatre
Early projects
Edges proved popular on social media[13] and within several years it had over 200 productions worldwide, with countries including Australia,[14] South Africa,[15] Denmark,[16][17] France,[18] South Korea, the United Kingdom,[19] Canada,[20] the Philippines,[21] and the United States.[22]
Pasek and Paul wrote the score to the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, which premiered in 2010 through Goodspeed Musicals.[23] Other early works include If You Give A Pig A Pancake (2010) and Duck For President for Theatreworks USA,[24] and Dr. Williams, written for the Orchard Project's 24 Hour Musicals benefit. The show starred Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Cheyenne Jackson. Pasek and Paul were featured in the 2011 documentary film One Night Stand about the process.[25] They wrote the lyrics and music to the 2012 musical Dogfight,[26] also contributing to A Christmas Story, The Musical, which was nominated for a Tony Award in 2013 for Best Original Score.[27]
Dear Evan Hansen (2015)
Pasek and Paul wrote the music and lyrics to their musical Dear Evan Hansen. The musical, inspired by the death of a fellow student while Pasek was in high school, features book by Steven Levenson. Directed by Michael Greif and starring Ben Platt, it premiered at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. on July 30, 2015.[28][29][30] It made its Off-Broadway debut in March 2016 at the Second Stage Theatre,[31] and on Broadway on November 14, 2016, opening three weeks later at the Music Box Theatre. At the 71st Tony Awards, it was nominated for nine awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Actor in a Musical for Platt. It won six awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score for the duo. At the 2018 Grammy Awards, Dear Evan Hansen won Best Musical Theater Album.[32] The musical received the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award and a 2016 Obie Award for Musical Theatre.[33] The show broke box office records at the Music Box Theatre and became the longest-running production to play the venue in Broadway’s history.[34]
The musical made its West End debut at the Noël Coward Theatre in London on November 19, 2019, following previews in October of the same year. The show was nominated for seven Laurence Olivier Awards at the 2020 ceremony and won three: Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for star Sam Tutty and Best Original Score or New Orchestrations for Pasek and Paul.[35]
Television
The duo have written original music for several television shows. As of 2007, Pasek and Paul were writing music for the Disney Channel show Johnny and the Sprites,[12] with songs used in six episodes and for one story in the season's premiere.
Their original material was featured on season 2 of NBC's Smash in 2013,[36] and have risen to the Top 25 on the iTunes Pop Charts.
Pasek and Paul also wrote the original song "Runnin' Home to You" performed by Grant Gustin for The Flash episode "Duet", a musical crossover between The Flash and Supergirl.[37] Melissa Benoist sang it in Supergirl's "Crisis on Earth-X" crossover episode.[38]
Films
Pasek and Paul wrote the 2016 song "Get Back Up Again" for the film Trolls,[39] as well as five original songs for the 2016 animated direct-to-video feature Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz.[40]
They wrote the lyrics for the musical romantic comedy-drama film La La Land, which had music written by Justin Hurwitz.[41] The film, in its world premiere, was the opening film at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2016.[42] The film's track "City of Stars", with their lyrics and composition by Justin Hurwitz, won the 2017 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.[4] "City of Stars" and "Audition" received nominations for Best Original Song at the 89th Academy Awards,[43] and they won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "City of Stars."[44] It was then announced in February 2023 that they would reunite with Hurwitz on a stage musical adaptation of the film currently in development, with a book by Ayad Akhtar and Matthew Decker and direction by Bartlett Sher.[45]
Pasek and Paul wrote the songs for the 2017 musical drama film The Greatest Showman. About the Barnum & Bailey Circus, the film premiered on December 8, 2017.[46] The duo's song "This Is Me" won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song[47] and was nominated for Best Original Song at the 90th Academy Awards.
In collaboration with Alan Menken, Pasek and Paul wrote the lyrics for two new songs for Disney's 2019 live action film adaptation of Aladdin. The film also includes original 1992 song compositions written by Menken, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice.[48] Pasek and Paul will also write songs for Disney's upcoming live-action film, Snow White.[49][50]
Pasek and Paul also adapted Dear Evan Hansen as a feature film for Universal Pictures and director Stephen Chbosky. They wrote two new songs for the film, including "The Anonymous Ones," which was written in collaboration with Amandla Stenberg for the character of Alana Beck, whom Stenberg plays in the film. They also wrote "A Little Closer" for the character of Connor Murphy, played by Colton Ryan, who reprises the role in which he understudied in the Broadway production.[51] Paul also composed the film's underscore with Dan Romer.[52] It premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2021, followed by a release in theaters on September 24, 2021.[53][54][55]
They then wrote original songs for Sony Pictures Animation's live-action/animated adaptation of Bernard Waber's children's book Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. It was released on October 7, 2022.[56][57]
Musicals
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Edges |
|
| 2010 | James and the Giant Peach | Book by Timothy Allen McDonald |
| 2012 | Dogfight | Book by Peter Duchan |
| 2012 | A Christmas Story: The Musical | Book by Joseph Robinette |
| 2016 | Dear Evan Hansen | Book by Steven Levenson |
| TBA | La La Land | Book by Ayad Akhtar and Matthew Decker; In development |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz |
|
| Trolls | Writers of "Get Back Up Again" | |
| La La Land |
| |
| 2017 | The Greatest Showman |
|
| 2019 | Aladdin | Wrote the lyrics for two new songs in collaboration with Alan Menken, including "Speechless" |
| 2021 | Dear Evan Hansen[53] |
|
| 2022 | Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile[56] | Also executive producers |
| Spirited | Also executive producers | |
| 2024 | Snow White[49] | |
| TBA | The Planets[58] |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Dramatists Guild Fellowship (2007–2008) | N/A | N/A | Honorees |
| Jonathan Larson Grant† | Honorees | |||
| 2011 | American Academy of Arts and Letters | Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater | Honorees | |
| ASCAP Foundation Award | Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award | Honorees | ||
| Songwriter's Fellowship Award | Honorees | |||
| Sundance Institute Fellowship | N/A | Honorees | ||
| 2013 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Music | A Christmas Story: The Musical | Nominated |
| Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Musical | Dogfight | Won | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding New Score | Nominated | ||
| Tony Award | Best Original Score | A Christmas Story: The Musical | Nominated | |
| 2016 | The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding Original New Play or Musical | Dear Evan Hansen | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Award | Best Song | "Audition" (from La La Land) | Nominated | |
| "City of Stars" (from La La Land) | Won | |||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Lyrics | Dear Evan Hansen | Won | |
| Golden Globe Award | Best Original Song | "City of Stars" (from La La Land) | Won | |
| Hollywood Music in Media Award | Best Song in a Feature Film | Won | ||
| Houston Film Critics Society Award | Best Original Song | "Audition" (from La La Land) | Nominated | |
| "City of Stars" (from La La Land) | Won | |||
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award | Best Music | La La Land | Won | |
| Obie Award | Musical Theater, Music and Lyrics | Dear Evan Hansen | Won | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding New Score | Nominated | ||
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Award | Best Song | "Audition" (from La La Land) | Won | |
| "City of Stars" (from La La Land) | Nominated | |||
| Satellite Award | Best Original Song | "Audition" (from La La Land) | Nominated | |
| "City of Stars" (from La La Land) | Won | |||
| 2017 | Academy Award | Best Original Song | "Audition" (from La La Land) | Nominated |
| "City of Stars" (from La La Land) | Won | |||
| Tony Award | Best Original Score | Dear Evan Hansen | Won | |
| Best Musical | Won | |||
| 2018 | Academy Award | Best Original Song | "This Is Me" (from The Greatest Showman) | Nominated |
| Critics' Choice Movie Award | Best Song | Nominated | ||
| Golden Globe Award | Best Original Song | Won | ||
| Grammy Award | Best Musical Theater Album | Dear Evan Hansen | Won | |
| Best Song Written for Visual Media | "City of Stars" (from La La Land) | Nominated | ||
| Hollywood Music in Media Award | Best Song in a Feature Film | "This Is Me" (from The Greatest Showman) | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics | "In The Market for a Miracle" (from A Christmas Story Live!) | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Critics' Choice Movie Award | Best Song | "Speechless" (from Aladdin) | Nominated |
| Hollywood Music in Media Award | Best Song in a Feature Film | Nominated | ||
| 2020 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Original Score or New Orchestrations | Dear Evan Hansen | Won |
| 2022 | Grammy Award | Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media | Dear Evan Hansen | Nominated |
| Best Song Written for Visual Media | "All I Know So Far" (from Pink: All I Know So Far) | Nominated | ||
| Tony Award | Best Musical | A Strange Loop | Won | |
†: Pasek and Paul were the youngest winners of the Jonathan Larson Grant in history.
Personal lives
Pasek is the son of Temple University professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek.[59] His alma mater is the University of Michigan and Friends' Central School.[6] He is gay.[6]
Paul's alma mater is the University of Michigan and Staples High School. Paul is married; he and his wife have a daughter, born in 2016.[6]
References
- ^ Philbrook, Erik (February 27, 2017). "Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Win Best Original Song Oscar for 'City of Stars' from La La Land". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ BWW News Desk (February 16, 2007). "Pasek and Paul Among Winners of Jonathan Larson Awards". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (February 1, 2013). "THE SCREENING ROOM: Pasek and Paul's New Song for "Smash," Sung by Katharine McPhee". Playbill. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- ^ a b Barone, Joshua, Golden Globe Winners 2017, The New York Times, January 8, 2017.
- ^ "Oscar Winners 2017". The New York Times. February 27, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Paulson, Michael (November 10, 2016). "What It's Like to Make It in Showbiz With Your Best Friend". The New York Times.
- ^ a b "Here are just a few of our celebrated alumni". University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ "Recipient Benj Pasek and Justin Paul". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ "Biography of Benj Pasek". MTIshows.com. Retrieved July 27, 2012
- ^ "BECOME: The Music of Pasek & Paul at Joe's Pubs". New York Theatre Guide. May 3, 2006. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (May 2, 2006). "Benanti, Keenan-Bolger, Hilty, Jackson and More Set for Become Concert". Playbill. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ a b Jones, Kenneth (October 16, 2007). "Pasek and Paul's Edges Gets Equity Bow in Albany with Hanlon and Alvin". Playbill.
- ^ "Edges – Show Details, October 20, 2008" March 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. torontolivetheatre.com. Retrieved July 27, 2012
- ^ "Edges A Song Cycle – Sydney Production (OPENS MARCH 25)" April 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine theatre.asn.au, March 16, 2010
- ^ Denette, Kelsey (October 5, 2011). "Pasek and Paul's EDGES Plays On Broadway, 10/12-15". BroadwayWorld.
- ^ "Music Theatre Professor Directs Production in Denmark" Archived August 1, 2012, at archive.today. elon.edu, July 11, 2011
- ^ Edges fredericiateater.dk[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Edges coming to Paris". AMT Live. April 24, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ Tay, Rebecca. "Fringe Review. Edinburgh Fringe 2010. Edges – the Musical" March 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. fringereview.co.uk, August 19, 2010
- ^ "Acting Up Stage Theatre Company to Present to Toronto Premiere of Edges". Broadwayworld.com, September 18, 2008
- ^ "Ateneo Blue Repertory Presents Musical Revue Edges". Broadwayworld.com, July 18, 2010
- ^ Gans, Andrew (February 15, 2008). "Pasek and Paul's Edges to Play Sondheim Center with Alvin, Bashor and Hanlon". Playbill. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "'James and the Giant Peach, the Musical', Blossoms With the Help of Pilobolus, Oct. 21" November 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Playbill, October 21, 2010
- ^ "Onstage. If You Give A Pig A Pancake, January 24, 2010" April 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Penn State. Retrieved July 27, 2012
- ^ "One Night Stand Documentary Feat. Cheyenne Jackson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Mandy Gonzalez et al. Makes NewFest Premiere, 7/24". Broadwayworld.com, July 24, 2011
- ^ . pasekandpaul.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018.
- ^ "The Tony Award Nominees – All Categories". Tony Awards. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ Rothstein, Mervyn. "Next to Normal's Michael Greif Stirs Up More Family Drama With Dear Evan Hansen" Playbill, July 6, 2015
- ^ Gioia, Michael. "Pasek and Paul's Dear Evan Hansen, About the High School Struggle to Fit In, Premieres in D.C." Playbill, July 30, 2015
- ^ Marks, Peter. "Dear Evan Hansen: Original story, high hopes for Benj Pasek and Justin Paul" The Washington Post, July 10, 2015
- ^ Clement, Olivia. "Pasek and Paul's Dear Evan Hansen Bows in New York", Playbill, March 26, 2016
- ^ "Grammys 2018 Winners: The Complete List (Live Updating)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ Obie Awards, 2016 Winners.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (August 1, 2022). "Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen Breaks Music Box Theatre Record". Playbill.
- ^ "Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard - Theatre's Biggest Night". Officiallondontheatre.com. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (February 1, 2013). "Pasek and Paul's New Song for "Smash," Sung by Katharine McPhee". Playbill.
- ^ Agard, Chancellor (January 31, 2017). "The Flash-Supergirl musical crossover to feature songs by Rachel Bloom, Dear Evan Hansen duo". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ^ "Benoist Sings in Supergirl Crisis on Earth-X Part 1 Crossover". November 27, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ "Get Back Up Again". AllMusic. 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ "Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz". IMDb. 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ Gans, Andrew and Viagas, Robert. "La La Land Film, With Ryan Gosling, to Feature Songs by Pasek and Paul and Justin Hurwitz" Playbill, March 8, 2016
- ^ Gans, Andrew (August 31, 2016). "La La Land Movie Musical Debuts Tonight, Featuring Pasek & Paul Songs". Playbill. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
- ^ "Oscar Nominations 2017: See the Full List". Vanity Fair. January 24, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ "Oscar Winners 2017". The New York Times. February 26, 2017.
- ^ Galuppo, Mia (February 7, 2023). "'La La Land' to Become a Broadway Musical". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ "Cunard to Broadcast LIVE Red Carpet from 'The Greatest Showman' World Premiere on Flagship Queen Mary 2". Cision. December 6, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ Golden Globe Awards for "This Is Me", January 7, 2018
- ^ Robbins, Caryn (July 17, 2017). "VIDEO: Pasek & Paul to Team with Menken on Live-Action ALADDIN; Miranda Confirmed for LITTLE MERMAID". BroadwayWorld.
- ^ a b "Disney Developing Live-Action Snow White (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. October 31, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
- ^ "Marc Webb Eyed to Direct Disney's 'Snow White' Remake (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. May 30, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
- ^ a b Wood, Alex (August 21, 2021). "Dear Evan Hansen movie to have two new numbers and rewritten ending, Ben Platt reveals". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ "Dan Romer & Justin Paul Scoring Stephen Chbosky's 'Dear Evan Hansen' | Film Music Reporter". Filmmusicreporter.com. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ a b Busch, Anita (November 29, 2018). "Tony Award-Winning Musical Dear Evan Hansen Will Be Universal Pictures, Marc Platt Film; Wonder's Stephen Chbosky May Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (August 17, 2020). "Universal's 'Dear Evan Hansen' Adaptation Adds 'The Hate U Give' Star Amandla Stenberg". Deadline.
- ^ "Universal's 'Dear Evan Hansen' Pic Gets Theatrical Release Date". January 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Milligan, Mercedes (July 9, 2021). "Javier Bardem to Star in Sony's Hybrid 'Lyle, Lyle Crocodile' Adaptation". Animationmagazine.net. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ "WORK".
- ^ Amidi, Amid (February 13, 2018). "Karen Disher Set To Be First Woman Director at Blue Sky Studios". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "Home – The International Congress of Infant Studies". The International Congress of Infant Studies. Retrieved January 6, 2018.