Benj Pasek News

Broadway star Derek Klena hit the stage this week at Martini's Above Fourth!

The original company of Dear Evan Hansen came together to celebrate original cast members Jennifer Laura Thompson and Michael Park as they took their final bows in the musical.

We're 'counting down to Christmas' with A Christmas Story, The Musical as the national tour comes to Baum Walker Hall Dec. 10-15.

It has been a long journey for director Renate Stridh in bringing this musical to Norway. On August 26 she will finally present the Scandinavian premiere of Dogfight at Riksscnenen in Oslo. BroadwayWorld caught up with her recently, and had a talk about the production.

Today's top stories: Six will return to Chicago, and more!

Broadway's very own Princess Jasmine, Arielle Jacobs, won't go speechless. The Aladdin star recently recorded her own version of 'Speechless'- a song written by Alan Menken, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for the new Aladdin film. Check out the brand new music video and read her blog entry, written on the day of the the video shoot below.

All we see is Dear Evan Hansen for forever-or at Nov. 5-10- as the first national tour comes to Saenger Theatre.

Los Angeles native and Star of Broadway's Anastasia, Bridges of Madison County, Wicked and the upcoming Jagged Little Pill; DEREK KLENA returns home to the City of Angels for an intimate one night only engagement. Join Derek as he takes a look back on the roles, moments, and people that have shaped his life and career during his eight years in New York City. Audiences can expect stories from his childhood in West Covina, CA, from his early experiences on reality television, as well as backstage tales and songs from his star turns on Broadway.

Disney's live-action Aladdin has become the 3rd Disney film of 2019 to pass the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office, according to Deadline.

Broadway favorite Derek Klena will bring his new solo concert to Martinis Above Fourth in San Diego for one show only on Thursday, August 8, at 8pm, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents and Martinis Above Fourth.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN, the 2017 Tony Award-winning musical currently at the Boston Opera House through August 4, is that rare teen angst story that neither trivializes nor over dramatizes the challenges of coming of age in modern America. Rather, this at times funny, at times penetrating, and always tender exploration of alienated youth draws us deeply into the world of an anxious young man who feels like he's forever on the outside looking in.

The American Theatre Wing announces that it will celebrate the legacy of Jonathan Larson and the Larson family at its annual gala, dubbed 'Say YES to Artists Gala,' which will be held on Monday, September 16, 2019 at Cipriani 42nd Street (110 East 42nd Street).

SHOWTIME has made a series commitment to an untitled musical drama series executive produced by multiple Grammy winner Alicia Keys and the Oscar, Tony and Grammy winning team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman). Pasek and Paul will contribute music to the series. Kyle Jarrow (The SpongeBob Musical) will write and executive produce. Tony winner and Oscar nominated producer Marc Platt (Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, The Band's Visit, La La Land), Emmy winner R.J. Cutler (Nashville, American High), and Emmy winner Adam Siegel (Grease: Live!) will executive produce. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.

The Late Late Show with James Corrden takes you behind the scenes of Aladdin: Crosswalk the Musical with their crew as they produce one of the largest Crosswalk the Musicals yet, featuring Will Smith, Naomi Scott and Mena Massoud.

Dramatists Guild Foundation would like to formally announce a new 2019-2020 class of DGF Fellows, as well as new Chairs to the program. 

Edmonton, you will be found Feb. 11-16, 2020 as Broadway Blockbuster hit, Dear Evan Hansen, plays at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Eight outstanding educators from schools and performing arts centers around the U.S. will work one-on-one with Broadway greats at the 10th Annual FREDDIE G FELLOWSHIP July 10th - 13th.  The event is underwritten by Freddie ('G') Gershon, Co-Chairman of the global theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI), his wife Myrna and MTI. The four days of classes and activities honor instructors and teachers who are working to make a difference for their students and communities through the process of staging musical theatre productions in their schools and educational theatre groups. In addition to the all-expense paid visit to New York, each of the teachers' schools receives $5,000 from Freddie and Myrna. The teachers are empowered to identify and select how their respective school's theatre program can best utilize the funds.

"Dear Evan Hansen (original Broadway Cast Recording)," has been certified gold by the RIAA making it only the third cast recording to receive gold or greater certification this decade. Additionally, "Waving Through A Window," the hit single from the musical has also received the RIAA gold certification.

TheaterWorksUSA's highly anticipated World Premiere of Dog Man: The Musical, based on the worldwide bestselling hit series by Dav Pilkey, began performances on Friday, June 28 and will celebrate its opening tonight, Monday, July 8, 2019, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street). Tickets are available by visiting twusa.orgDogMan or by calling (866) 811-4111.

Dear Evan Hansen's current Zoe Murphy, Mallory Bechtel, performs a solo version the ballad 'Only Us' at TED-Ed Weekend!