Benj Pasek

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Benj Pasek

| image = Pasek and Paul - Benj Pasek (cropped).JPG

| caption = Pasek in 2009

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name = Benjamin Pasek

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1985|06|09}}

| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

| occupation = Composer, lyricist, singer

| current_member_of = Pasek and Paul

}}

Benjamin Pasek (born June 9, 1985),https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/benjamin-benj-pasek known professionally as Benj Pasek, 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.{{Cite web |title=Benj Pasek Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/benj-pasek-mn0002587180/biography |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=AllMusic |language=en}} With Paul, Pasek became the 20th/21st person to win the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards).

Early life and education

Pasek was born into a Jewish{{Cite news |last=Paulson |first=Michael |date=2016-11-10 |title=What It's Like to Make It in Showbiz With Your Best Friend |language=en-US |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/theater/benj-pasek-justin-paul-dear-evan-hansen.html |access-date=2023-01-20 |issn=0362-4331}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.phillymag.com/things-to-do/2017/11/18/benj-pasek-mom-kathy-hirsh-pasek/|title=Pasek and Pasek|first=Tom|last=McGrath|website=Phillymag.com|date=November 19, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2024}} 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.[http://www.jlpaf.org/grant.html#2007 Jonathan Larson Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827205647/http://www.jlpaf.org./grant.html#2007#2007 |date=2008-08-27 }} jlpaf.org{{Cite web |title=Pasek and Paul Among Winners of Jonathan Larson Awards |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Pasek-and-Paul-Among-Winners-of-Jonathan-Larson-Awards-20070216 |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}} The two co-wrote and co-composed the musical Dogfight, which opened Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre in July 2012.Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/168051-Dogfight-New-Musical-About-Cruelty-and-Hope-Opens-in-NYC-Lindsay-Mendez-and-Derek-Klena-Star "Dogfight, New Musical About Cruelty and Hope, Opens in NYC; Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena Star"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717001446/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/168051-Dogfight-New-Musical-About-Cruelty-and-Hope-Opens-in-NYC-Lindsay-Mendez-and-Derek-Klena-Star |date=2012-07-17 }} Playbill, July 16, 2012 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.{{Cite news |last=Heller |first=Scott |date=2013-05-08 |title=Riding a Fast Sled to the Tonys |language=en-US |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/theater/theaterspecial/benj-pasek-and-justin-paul-on-becoming-tony-nominees.html |access-date=2022-09-15 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |date=2017-11-01 |title=Benj Pasek: Broadway And Hollywood's Musical Wunderkind |url=https://forward.com/news/382506/benj-pasek/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=The Forward |language=en}} Pasek also collaborated with Paul on lyrics for the film La La Land (music by Justin Hurwitz).{{Cite news |last=Paulson |first=Michael |date=2016-11-10 |title=What It's Like to Make It in Showbiz With Your Best Friend |language=en-US |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/theater/benj-pasek-justin-paul-dear-evan-hansen.html |access-date=2022-09-15 |issn=0362-4331}} They have also written songs for the television shows Smash and The Flash.{{Cite web |title=Meet Smash's New Composers: Pasek & Paul, Joe Iconis and More Rising Talents to Watch |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/166836/meet-smashs-new-composers-pasek-paul-joe-iconis-and-more-rising-talents-to-watch/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Broadway.com |language=en}} More recently, the duo wrote the original songs for the film Lyle, Lyle Crocodile,{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2022/artisans/news/lyle-lyle-crocodile-shawn-mendes-justin-paul-benj-pasek-songs-1235395146 | title='Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile' Songwriting Team on Writing Musical Earworms|website=Variety.com | date=October 7, 2022 }} Apple Original Films' Spirited,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/ryan-reynolds-will-ferrell-christmas-carol-pasek-paul-1234867879/|title=Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell's Musical 'Spirited' Adds Three Songwriters Alongside Pasek and Paul|author=Rubin, Rebecca|date=November 18, 2021|website=Variety.com}} the Hulu show Only Murders in the Building, Disney's live-action remakes of Aladdin and Snow White, and an episode of the long-running children's series Sesame Street.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/only-murders-in-the-building-meryl-streep-ashley-park-song-sara-bareilles-pasek-paul-season-3-7629189 |title=The Story Behind 'Magnificent' Meryl Streep's Show-Saving 'Only Murders' Duet with Ashley Park (Exclusive)|website=People.com}}