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Nell Benjamin

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BIO

Nell Benjamin is a lyricist, writer, and composer noted for her work in musical theatre. With her husband and frequent collaborator Laurence O'Keefe, she won the Laurence Olivier Award for writing Legally Blonde in 2011. And in 2007, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score for Legally Blonde, and then again in 2018 for her lyrics for Mean Girls.

Photos

Productions

Real Women Have CurvesReal Women Have Curves
 
[Broadway, 2025]
Additional Material
Book
Mean GirlsMean Girls
 
[West End, 2024]
Lyrics
Mean Girls (Non-Equity)Mean Girls (Non-Equity)
 
[US Tour, 2023]
Lyricist
Mean GirlsMean Girls
 
[US Tour, 2021]
Lyricist
Because of Winn DixieBecause of Winn Dixie
 
[East Haddam, CT (Regional), 2019]
Bookwriter
Lyricist
DaveDave
 
[Washington, DC (Regional), 2018]
Book Writer
Lyricist
Pirates!
 
[Milburn, NJ (Regional), 2007]
Concept
Book/Lyrics
Legally BlondeLegally Blonde
 
[Broadway, 2007]
Music and Lyrics
The Pirates of Penzance
 
[East Haddam, CT (Regional), 2006]
Concept
Book/Lyrics

Writing

Sarah, Plain and Tall
Lyricist
Lyricist
Real Women Have Curves
Additional Material
Half Time
Lyrics
Mean Girls
Lyricist
Because of Winn Dixie
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Cam Jansen
Bookwriter/Lyricist
Bookwriter
Composer
Lyricist
Legally Blonde
Composer
Lyricist

Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 2018 - Outstanding Lyrics

Nell Benjamin, Mean Girls

Tony Awards - 2018 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Nell Benjamin, Mean Girls

Drama Desk Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Play

Nell Benjamin, The Explorers Club

Drama Desk Awards - 2007 - Outstanding Lyrics

Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde

Drama Desk Awards - 2007 - Outstanding Music

Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde

Tony Awards - 2007 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde The Musical


winner
- 2003 - Most promising musical theatre lyricist

Nell Benjamin

Videos

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News


Ray Of Light Theatre In San Francisco Unveils 2026 Season Photo
Ray Of Light Theatre In San Francisco Unveils 2026 Season
by Stephi Wild - Nov 3, 2025

San Francisco's Ray of Light Theatre, long known for its edgy, contemporary take on musical theatre, has announced a 2026 season packed with attitude, anarchy, and a bit of Britney Spears sparkle
Videos You Missed This Week: RAGTIME, ROMY & MICHELE and More Photo
Videos You Missed This Week: RAGTIME, ROMY & MICHELE and More
by Sidney Paterra - Oct 17, 2025

Fall has officially arrived and a new season is very much in swing. Catch up on all the latest from the week ending October 17, 2025 with videos from Ragtime, Romy & Michele, and more!
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld October 14, 2025- Broadway Musicians Vote to Authorize Str Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld October 14, 2025- Broadway Musicians Vote to Authorize Strike and More
by - Oct 14, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is October 14, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Video: Leo Roberts And The Cast Of HUZZAH! Perform 'Song Of Roland' Photo
Video: Leo Roberts And The Cast Of HUZZAH! Perform 'Song Of Roland'
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 14, 2025

Watch video of Leo Roberts and the cast of Huzzah! performing “Song of Roland” from the world premiere musical comedy by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe (Legally Blonde).
Video: Liisi Lafointaine and Leo Roberts Perform 'Howl At The Moon' From HUZZAH! at T Photo
Video: Liisi Lafointaine and Leo Roberts Perform 'Howl At The Moon' From HUZZAH! at The Old Globe
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 14, 2025

See video of Liisi LaFontaine and Leo Roberts performing “Howl at the Moon” from Huzzah!, the new musical comedy by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe (Legally Blonde).
Video: All Is Faire with Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin; Watch a Sneak Peek from HU Photo
Video: All Is Faire with Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin; Watch a Sneak Peek from HUZZAH!
by Backstage Live with Richard Ridge - Oct 13, 2025

What is Broadway was more like a Renaissance Faire? Audiences are finding out at San Diego's Old Globe, where the new musical Huzzah! is now running. The masterminds behind the merriment are none other than Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe. Watch in this video as they explain what it's all about and check out an exclusive sneak peek of the song 'Dragons' performed by Liisi LaFontaine and Cailen Fu.
Review: HUZZAH! at Old Globe Theatre Photo
Review: HUZZAH! at Old Globe Theatre
by Evan Henerson - Oct 10, 2025

If life were a Renaissance Faire, things would be…well, different, certainly. You might share your days and nights with sword-wielding, costumed individuals who share your love of a different time, maybe not even necessarily the Renaissance. Faires have been known to draw cos-players. So Wolf Boy, Boba Fett, come on in! Everybody is welcome.
Video: The Making of the REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES Cast Album Photo
Video: The Making of the REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES Cast Album
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 10, 2025

As Hispanic Heritage Month draws to a close, BroadwayWorld is taking you inside the recording studio of the making of Real Women Have Curves: The Musical Original Broadway Cast Recording.
Video: Leo Roberts Sings 'Song Of Roland' from HUZZAH! at San Diego's Old Globe Photo
Video: Leo Roberts Sings 'Song Of Roland' from HUZZAH! at San Diego's Old Globe
by Joshua Wright - Oct 9, 2025

Get a first look at Leo Roberts singing 'The Song of Roland' from the new musical Huzzah!, with book, music, and lyrics by Olivier Award winners and Tony Award nominees Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe.
Emily Lane, Vivian Panka, and More Will Lead MEAN GIRLS UK Tour; Full Dates Revealed Photo
Emily Lane, Vivian Panka, and More Will Lead MEAN GIRLS UK Tour; Full Dates Revealed
by Stephi Wild - Oct 3, 2025

Initial casting and full tour dates have been revealed for the 2026/2027 UK and Ireland tour of the award-winning MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL. Learn more about the show here!
Review: LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL by Coasters Musical Theatre Photo
Review: LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL by Coasters Musical Theatre
by Neil Brewer - Oct 2, 2025

Legally Blonde: The Musical is based on the beloved 2001 film, which itself was adapted from Amanda Brown’s novel. Developed in the mid-2000s by producer Hal Luftig and others, the musical features music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, with a book by Heather Hach.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld September 30, 2025 - HADESTOWN Welcomes New Stars and More Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld September 30, 2025 - HADESTOWN Welcomes New Stars and More
by - Sep 30, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is September 30, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Review Roundup: HUZZAH! at San Diego's Old Globe Photo
Review Roundup: HUZZAH! at San Diego's Old Globe
by Joshua Wright - Sep 29, 2025

What did the critics think of Huzzah!, the new musical by Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Mean Girls, the Globe's Come Fall in Love–The DDLJ Musical) and Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Heathers the Musical, Bat Boy)?
Review: HUZZAH! at The Old Globe Photo
Review: HUZZAH! at The Old Globe
by ErinMarie Reiter - Sep 29, 2025

The Renaissance is alive and well at The Old Globe, where “Huzzah!,” a new musical comedy, transforms a modern Renaissance faire into a comedic battleground for family squabbles, financial woes, and the eternal question of how much authenticity is too much.
Amber Davies Will Lead UK and Ireland Tour of LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL Photo
Amber Davies Will Lead UK and Ireland Tour of LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL
by Stephi Wild - Sep 24, 2025

Amber Davies will play Elle Woods in the brand-new Made at Curve production of the West End and Broadway smash-hit musical comedy LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld September 22, 2025 Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld September 22, 2025
by - Sep 22, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is September 22, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed over the weekend.
Photos: First Look at Liisi LaFontaine, Kate Shindle & More in HUZZAH! Photo
Photos: First Look at Liisi LaFontaine, Kate Shindle & More in HUZZAH!
by Michael Major - Sep 19, 2025

First look photos of Huzzah!, the new musical by Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Mean Girls, the Globe's Come Fall in Love–The DDLJ Musical) and Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Heathers the Musical, Bat Boy), have been released.
Theatre Now's Industry Nights Return Photo
Theatre Now's Industry Nights Return
by Stephi Wild - Sep 9, 2025

​​​​​​​Theatre Now New York's Industry Nights return with a Master Class given by award-winning writer Julia Jordan (Murder Ballad, Bernice Bobs Her Hair) on September 22nd at 6:30pm.
LEGALLY BLONDE Will Play Four Performances at Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center Photo
LEGALLY BLONDE Will Play Four Performances at Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 19, 2025

Emerald City Theatrical will present the hit Broadway musical LEGALLY BLONDE at the Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center in Foxboro, MA. Opening Friday, August 22, the production will run for four performances only through Sunday, August 24.
Photos: REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES Cast Album CD Signing Event Photo
Photos: REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES Cast Album CD Signing Event
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 14, 2025

GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS celebrated Real Women Have Curves: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) with a special cast album CD signing at The Drama Book Shop. See photos here!
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Nell Benjamin written?

Nell Benjamin has written 10 shows including Half Time (Lyrics), Sarah, Plain and Tall (Lyricist), Sarah, Plain and Tall (Lyricist), Cam Jansen (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Legally Blonde (Composer), The Explorers Club (Playwright), Gotta Dance (Lyrics), Mean Girls (Lyricist), Because of Winn Dixie (Bookwriter), Real Women Have Curves (Additional Material).

What awards has Nell Benjamin been nominated for?

Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Mean Girls, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Mean Girls, Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Explorers Club, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Legally Blonde, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Legally Blonde, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Legally Blonde The Musical and Most promising musical theatre lyricist () for .

What awards has Nell Benjamin won?

Nell Benjamin won the Most Promising Musical Theatre Lyricist award for Legally Blonde.

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