Musical Theatre Performer
Benj Pasek is an American composer and lyricist whose songwriting partnership with Justin Paul has redefined contemporary musical theatre and film music, culminating in EGOT status in 2024.
Defining moments and milestones
Pasek's career trajectory traces from a University of Michigan musical theatre student frustrated with available roles to one half of the most consequential songwriting partnership in contemporary American musical theatre. Meeting Justin Paul in 2002, the two began writing songs that would eventually premiere *Dear Evan Hansen* in 2015—a cultural watershed moment that earned them a Tony Award for Best Original Score and established them as the defining voices of millennial anxiety and emotional authenticity in musical theatre. Their subsequent work in film, including Oscar-winning contributions to *La La Land* and the cultural phenomenon *The Greatest Showman*, expanded their reach beyond Broadway, while their achievement of EGOT status in 2024 places them among the most decorated songwriters in entertainment history.
EGOT status achieved in September 2024 (alongside Justin Paul), with Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for 'Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?' from *Only Murders in the Building* Season 3 (2024), following prior Tony Award for Best Original Score for *Dear Evan Hansen* (2017), Grammy Awards, and Academy Award for Best Original Song 'City of Stars' from *La La Land* (2017)
University of Michigan (BFA, Musical Theatre, 2006); Friends' Central School
Recordings featuring Benj Pasek in the Society index
Additional recordings will appear here as the catalog expands.