Justin Paul

{{for multi|the New Zealand cricketer|Justin Paul (cricketer)|the scholar|Justin Paul (scholar)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Justin Paul

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

| caption = Paul in 2009

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name = Justin Noble Paul

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1985|01|03}}

| birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, United States

| occupation = Composer, lyricist, singer

| spouse = {{marriage|Asher Fogle Paul|2011}}https://parade.com/1362592/parade/feeling-sad-that-momentous-moments-from-your-past-have-been-tainted-heres-some-insight/

| current_member_of = Pasek and Paul

}}

Justin Noble Paul (born January 3, 1985)https://www.instagram.com/waltermcbridecollection/p/DEYWd2ePUPz/ 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 (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards).

Early life and education

Paul was born in Missouri, but raised in Connecticut. He attended Music Theatre of Connecticut School of Performing Arts, [https://cms.westportps.org/ Coleytown Middle School], and Staples High School, both in Westport, Connecticut. While in public school, Justin was an active member of both [https://sites.google.com/a/westport.k12.ct.us/coleytown-company/ Coleytown Company] and [https://www.staplesplayers.com/ Staples Players] (his middle and high school theatre programs). He graduated from the University of Michigan in December 2006 with a BFA in Musical Theatre.[http://www.broadwayworld.com/bios/viewstar.cfm?starid=817 "Broadway World Bio"] Broadwayworld.com

Career

He is the co-creator, with Benj Pasek of the song cycle Edges. Also with Pasek, he is one of the songwriters for the Disney Channel show Johnny and the Sprites.[http://www.pasekandpaul.com/ "Pasek and Paul - Bio"]. pasekandpaul.com Pasek and Paul won the Jonathan Larson Award 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[http://broadwayworld.com/article/Pasek_and_Paul_Among_Winners_of_Jonathan_Larson_Awards_20070216 "Jonathan Larson Awards"]. Broadwayworld.com, February 16, 2007 He also 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 He also composed the musical James and the Giant Peach with Benj Pasek.

The pair created and wrote the score for the stage musical Dear Evan Hansen which premiered at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. in July 2015.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/benj-pasek-and-justin-paul-swing-for-the-fences-with-dear-evan-hansen/2015/07/09/50f59f48-219c-11e5-aeb9-a411a84c9d55_story.html "Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Swing for the Fences with Dear Evan Hansen"] The Washington Post, July 9, 2015 The musical, which has been called "striking for its moral complexity as well as its musical ambition",Paulson, Michael, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/theater/dear-evan-hansen-to-move-to-broadway.html "'Dear Evan Hansen' to Move to Broadway"]. New York Times, May 25, 2016. which opened on Broadway in December 2016. At the 71st Tony Awards, it is nominated for nine awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Actor in a Musical for Platt.

Pasek and Paul wrote the lyrics for the film musical La La Land. The film was written and directed by Damien Chazelle, and stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.Gans, Andrew and Viagas, Robert. [http://www.playbill.com/article/la-la-land-film-with-ryan-gosling-to-feature-songs-by-pasek-and-paul-and-justin-hurwitz-com-348167# "La La Land Film, With Ryan Gosling, to Feature Songs by Pasek and Paul and Justin Hurwitz"] Playbill, March 8, 2016 The film was the opening film at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival, on August 31, 2016.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/watch-new-trailer-for-forthcoming-la-la-land-movie-musical# "Watch New Trailer for Forthcoming La La Land' Movie Musical"] Playbill, August 23, 2016 The duo won the 2017 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for "City of Stars."Barone, Joshua, [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/08/arts/golden-globes-winners-list-2017.html Golden Globe Winners 2017], The New York Times, January 8, 2017. The pair received two Best Original Song nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, for "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)" and "City of Stars," alongside composer Justin Hurwitz;{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiewire.com/2017/01/oscar-nominations-list-2017-1201772717/|title=Oscar Nominations List: All the 2017 Academy Award Nominees {{!}} IndieWire|last=Winfrey|first=Graham|website=www.indiewire.com|date=24 January 2017|language=en|access-date=2017-02-16}} the trio won for the latter.{{cite news |title=Oscar Winners 2017 (Published 2017) |work=The New York Times |date=27 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419111832/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/26/movies/oscar-winners.html |archive-date=2023-04-19 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/26/movies/oscar-winners.html}} The duo earned another Oscar nomination the following year for co-writing the song, "This Is Me", from The Greatest Showman'' (2017).

Pasek and Paul also wrote the original song "Runnin' Home to You" performed by Grant Gustin for the musical crossover episode of The Flash "Duet" between The Flash and Supergirl.{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/tv/2017/01/31/flash-supergirl-musical-crossover-rachel-bloom-song/|title=The Flash-Supergirl musical crossover to feature songs by Rachel Bloom, Dear Evan Hansen duo|last=Agard|first=Chancellor|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=January 31, 2017|access-date=January 31, 2017}}

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.

Personal life

Paul is married to writer Asher Fogle Paul. They have a daughter, born in 2016, and a son, born in 2018.Paulson, Michael [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/theater/benj-pasek-justin-paul-dear-evan-hansen.html What It's Like to Make It in Showbiz With Your Best Friend], The New York Times, November 10, 2016. In July 2020, they had their third child. The Pauls are practicing Christians.