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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 (Additional)
Legally BlondeLegally Blonde
 
[Broadway, 2007]
Music and Lyrics
The Pirates of Penzance
 
[East Haddam, CT (Regional), 2006]
Concept
Book/Lyrics (additional)

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

More Videos

News


Video: LEGALLY BLONDE UK Tour Releases New Trailer Photo
Video: LEGALLY BLONDE UK Tour Releases New Trailer
by Stephi Wild - Jan 6, 2026

An all new trailer has been released for the new UK tour of Legally Blonde the Musical. The musical will tour the UK and Ireland in 2026, opening at Leicester's Curve theatre on 7 February. Check out the video here!
Hannah Lowther and More Join LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL UK and Ireland Tour Photo
Hannah Lowther and More Join LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL UK and Ireland Tour
by Stephi Wild - Jan 5, 2026

Musical theatre and Tik Tok star, Hannah Lowther will play Margot and Alternate Elle Woods in the new UK and Ireland tour of LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL. The cast also includes George Crawford, Karen Mavundukure, and more.
Faye Tozer Joins Cast of MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL At Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Photo
Faye Tozer Joins Cast of MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL At Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 15, 2025

Faye Tozer has joined the cast of MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL for its UK tour stop at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. The production will also feature Kiara Dario alongside a previously announced principal cast.
Faye Tozer Joins Cast of the UK and Ireland Tour of MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL Photo
Faye Tozer Joins Cast of the UK and Ireland Tour of MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL
by Stephi Wild - Dec 15, 2025

Further casting has been announced for the 2026/2027 UK and Ireland tour of MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL, opening at Manchester Opera House on 23 February 2026. Learn more here!
Review: LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL at Tesseract Theatre Company is a Peppy High Energ Photo
Review: LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL at Tesseract Theatre Company is a Peppy High Energy Production
by James Lindhorst - Dec 12, 2025

Director Will Bonfiglio, Music Director Larry D. Pry, Choreogrpaher Jo Palisoc, and the entire company deserve a lot of credit for their all in committed, peppy, and high-spirited production of a marginal show that is staged as a pet project far too often. There are thousands of musical theater assets that have arguably better books and scores that are rarely produced. Legally Blonde the Musical is like a pink piece of bubblegum. At first it sounds appealing, but the flavor does not last long.
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
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 13, 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 13, 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).
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.
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: HUZZAH! at The Old Globe Photo
Review: HUZZAH! at The Old Globe
by ErinMarie Reiter - Sep 28, 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.
More News

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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Videos