Benj Pasek

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Benj Pasek
Pasek and Paul - Benj Pasek (cropped).JPG
Benj Pasek in 2009
Background information
Born (1985-06-09) June 9, 1985 (age 39)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Occupation(s)Composer, lyricist, singer
Member of Pasek and Paul

Benj Pasek (born June 9, 1985) is an American composer and lyricist best known for writing songs for films such as La La Land (2016) and The Greatest Showman (2017), and the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen , all of which he co-wrote with his songwriting partner, Justin Paul. [1] With Paul, Pasek became the 20th/21st person to win the EGOT, an acronym for the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.

Contents

Early life and education

Pasek was born into a Jewish [2] family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother is the renowned child psychologist, author, and Brookings scholar Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, whose work focuses on the importance of childhood play. [3] As a child, he sang with the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale. He went on to earn a B.F.A. in musical theater from the University of Michigan. It was there that he met Justin Paul. When Pasek and Paul were unsatisfied with the roles they were getting in the shows at the university, the two decided to begin writing their own shows. One of the first projects they worked on together, Edges, was developed at the school.

He is close friends with comedian Alex Edelman.

Career

Pasek and Paul won the Jonathan Larson Grant in 2007. [4] [5] The two co-wrote and co-composed the musical Dogfight , which opened Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre in July 2012. [6] The pair went on to write music and lyrics for James and the Giant Peach , A Christmas Story: The Musical , Dear Evan Hansen , and The Greatest Showman . [7] [8] Pasek also collaborated with Paul on lyrics for the film La La Land (music by Justin Hurwitz). [9] They have also written songs for the television shows Smash and The Flash. [10] More recently the duo wrote the original songs for the film Lyle, Lyle Crocodile , [11] Apple Original Films' Spirited, [12] and the Hulu show Only Murders in the Building . [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pasek and Paul</span> American songwriting duo

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Paul</span> American composer and lyricist

Justin Paul is an American composer and lyricist best known for writing songs for films such as La La Land (2016) and The Greatest Showman (2017), and the stage musical Dear Evan Hansen, all of which he co-wrote with his songwriting partner, Benj Pasek. With Pasek, Paul became the 20th/21st person to win the EGOT, an acronym for the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.

<i>Edges</i> (musical) 2005 musical by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Edges is a work of musical theatre by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. This work is a song cycle about coming of age, growth and self-discovery of people mostly in their 20s.

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<i>Dogfight</i> (musical) 2012 musical by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Dogfight is a stage musical with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Peter Duchan. It is based on the 1991 film of the same name. The musical premiered off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre in 2012, and in August 2014, the musical had its European premiere at the Southwark Playhouse in London.

<i>The Greatest Showman</i> 2017 film by Michael Gracey

The Greatest Showman is a 2017 American biographical musical drama film directed by Michael Gracey from a screenplay by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon, based on a story by Bicks. The film stars an ensemble cast led by Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya. Featuring nine original songs written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and an original musical orchestral score composed by John Debney and Joseph Trapanese, the film is a heavily fictionalized depiction of the life of P. T. Barnum, a showman and entertainer who created the Barnum & Bailey Circus, and its star attractions.

<i>Dear Evan Hansen</i> 2015 American musical by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Dear Evan Hansen is a stage musical with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Steven Levenson. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a high school senior with social anxiety, "who invents an important role for himself in a tragedy that he did not earn".

<i>Dear Evan Hansen: Original Broadway Cast Recording</i> 2017 cast album of the stage musical Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen: Original Broadway Cast Recording is the cast album to the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Steven Levenson. The recording stars Ben Platt, Rachel Bay Jones, Laura Dreyfuss, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Michael Park, Mike Faist, Will Roland and Kristolyn Lloyd. The album was produced by Alex Lacamoire, Pasek and Paul, and featuring musicians include Rob Jost, Adele Stein, Justin Smith, Ben Cohn, Jamie Eblen, Dillon Kondor, Justin Goldner, Christopher Jahnke and Todd Low. The album was released by Atlantic Records on January 27, 2017, and featured at #8 on the Billboard 200, making the highest debut for a cast album after Camelot (1961). It also topped the Internet Albums chart. It further received the Best Musical Theater Album award at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

<i>James and the Giant Peach</i> (musical) 2010 American musical

James and the Giant Peach is a stage musical with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Timothy Allen McDonald. It is based on the 1961 children's book of the same name by Roald Dahl.

"Waving Through a Window" is the second song from Act 1 of the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen, which premiered on Broadway in 2016. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote both the music and lyrics for the song, which serves as the main protagonist Evan Hansen's "I Want" song. It has since become the signature tune of the character, one of the musical's most famous songs and an anthem for those who have felt depressed and alone and show a desire for connection.

"You Will Be Found" is the Act 1 finale of the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen, which premiered on Broadway in 2016. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

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<i>Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile</i> (film) 2022 film by Will Speck and Josh Gordon

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a 2022 American live-action animated musical fantasy comedy film directed by Will Speck and Josh Gordon from a screenplay by William Davies. Produced by Columbia Pictures in association with Eagle Pictures and TSG Entertainment II, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is an adaptation of the children's story of the same name and its predecessor The House on East 88th Street by Bernard Waber. The plot focuses on a family who moves to New York City, where their struggling son befriends a crocodile, Lyle, who can communicate verbally only by singing. The son tries to protect Lyle from the rest of the world. The film stars Shawn Mendes as Lyle's singing voice, alongside Javier Bardem, Constance Wu, Winslow Fegley, Scoot McNairy, Brett Gelman, and Ego Nwodim.

"Sincerely, Me" is a song from Act 1 of the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen, which premiered on Broadway in 2016. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote both the music and lyrics to the song, whose title takes its name from the phrase with which the musical's main protagonist, Evan Hansen, ends his daily letters to himself.

"Only Us" is a song from Act 2 of the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen, which premiered on Broadway in 2016. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

<i>Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile</i> (soundtrack) Film soundtrack album

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is the soundtrack album to the 2022 film Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, directed by Will Speck and Josh Gordon, based on the children's story of the same name and its prequel The House on East 88th Street by Bernard Waber. The album featured original songs written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul along with Ari Afsar, Emily Gardner Xu Hall, Mark Sonnenblick, and Joriah Kwamé, alongside classic pop/rock songs written by Elton John and Stevie Wonder. Shawn Mendes, who voices the titular crocodile, had provided vocals for eight of the tracks. The album was released by Island Records on September 30, 2022. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile , another album featuring original score composed by Matthew Margeson was released on October 7, 2022 by Madison Gate Records.

<i>Spirited</i> (soundtrack) 2022 soundtrack albums

Two soundtrack albums were released for the 2022 Christmas-themed musical comedy film Spirited: an original soundtrack and an original score. Republic Records released both the albums on November 18, 2022, the same day as the film’s release on Apple TV+. The soundtrack features original songs from the film written by the songwriting duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and performed by the ensemble cast members: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, Sunita Mani, Tracy Morgan and Patrick Page. The second album features the motion picture score composed by Dominic Lewis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Hansen</span> Character from the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen

Evan Hansen is the titular character and main protagonist of the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen by Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. A bullied 17-year-old high schooler with social anxiety and depression, who lives with his single mother Heidi Hansen after she divorced from his father Mark Hansen ten years before, he attempts to find the acceptance and love he has been lacking in his life. On his journey to be found, he discovers the consequences of risking it all for the chance to be heard.

References

  1. "Benj Pasek Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  2. Paulson, Michael (2016-11-10). "What It's Like to Make It in Showbiz With Your Best Friend". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  3. McGrath, Tom (November 19, 2017). "Pasek and Pasek". Phillymag.com. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  4. Jonathan Larson Foundation Archived 2008-08-27 at the Wayback Machine jlpaf.org
  5. "Pasek and Paul Among Winners of Jonathan Larson Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  6. Jones, Kenneth. "Dogfight, New Musical About Cruelty and Hope, Opens in NYC; Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena Star" Archived 2012-07-17 at the Wayback Machine Playbill, July 16, 2012
  7. Heller, Scott (2013-05-08). "Riding a Fast Sled to the Tonys". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  8. "Benj Pasek: Broadway And Hollywood's Musical Wunderkind". The Forward. 2017-11-01. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  9. Paulson, Michael (2016-11-10). "What It's Like to Make It in Showbiz With Your Best Friend". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  10. "Meet Smash's New Composers: Pasek & Paul, Joe Iconis and More Rising Talents to Watch". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  11. "'Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile' Songwriting Team on Writing Musical Earworms". Variety.com. October 7, 2022.
  12. Rubin, Rebecca (November 18, 2021). "Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell's Musical 'Spirited' Adds Three Songwriters Alongside Pasek and Paul". Variety.com.
  13. "The Story Behind 'Magnificent' Meryl Streep's Show-Saving 'Only Murders' Duet with Ashley Park (Exclusive)". People.com.