Benj Pasek News

Justin Paul, Ben Platt, and Benj Pasek walked the red carpet on Monday night at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of LA LA LAND (at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, Canada).

The Broadway premiere of the new musical Dear Evan Hansen has found a new home: it will officially open at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th St), and not at the Belasco Theatre, as previously announced.

As previously announced, Roundabout Theatre Company will present former Roundabout Underground playwright Steven Levenson's (The Unavoidable Disappearance Of Tom Durnin; Dear Evan Hansen) new play, If I Forget, directed by Daniel Sullivan. 

Former Cabaret star and Broadway favorite Emma Stone picked up a Best Actress Award today at the Venice Film Festival for her performance as Mia, a struggling actress, in the Damien Chapelle-directed film, La La Land, which is the star's latest outing with frequent onscreen partner, Ryan Gosling. The film, which features music by Broadway composing team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, tells the story of a couple facing the challenges and triumphs that life throws at artists trying to make it in Los Angeles. This award bodes well for Stone's chances at an Oscar nomination in the upcoming awards season; previous actors who followed the same trajectory include Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Colin Firth, Cate Blanchett, and Imelda Staunton. 

Rebecca Ferguson is the latest to sign on for FOX's upcoming musical biopic THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH, starring Hugh Jackman.

Dear Evan Hansen has shared a new track from the upcoming Broadway show! For a limited time only (3PM  - 9PM EST) you can stream the track 'Only Us' on their website here!

As previously announced, Maria Dizzia assumes the role of Shellie in the world premiere production of THE LAYOVER, written by Leslye Headland and directed by Trip Cullman, today, September 6. She returns to Second Stage Theatre after her acclaimed performance in the title role of Eurydice, during the company's 28th season.

Following in the footsteps of AT&T and Old Navy, Wells Fargo has become the latest business to draw the ire of arts professionals for running an advertisement that portrays the pursuit of the arts as inferior to sports and the sciences. The ad shows images of two different teens working on experiments as part of Wells Fargo's marketing for their upcoming Teen Day. The first is accompanied by the text, 'A ballerina yesterday. An engineer today,' while the second reads, 'An actor yesterday. A botanist today.' Both images are then followed by the sentence 'Let's get them ready for tomorrow,' printed in italicized letters.

The secret is out: six diverse, original films with international casts of both seasoned actors and fresh new faces, directed by some of the world's most acclaimed filmmakers, are coming to The Music Hall's Telluride by the Sea Festival in Portsmouth, New Hampshire-transforming the charming Seacoast town into a mecca for cinephiles for three exciting days, Friday, September 16 - Sunday, September 18, 2016.

Telluride Film Festival, presented by the National Film Preserve, announces its official program selections for the 43rd edition of the Telluride Film Festival.

Second Stage Theatre just announced Maria Dizzia will assume the role of Shellie in the world premiere production of THE LAYOVER, written by Leslye Headland and directed by Trip Cullman, on Tuesday, September 6. She returns to Second Stage Theatre after her acclaimed performance in the title role of Eurydice, during the company's 28th season.

Lonely introverts like the title character of the Broadway bound DEAR EVAN HANSEN are not often found at the center of musical, but in past projects like their scores for DOGFIGHT and A CHRISTMAS STORY, composer/lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul have shown a keen ability to write songs that get to the hearts of characters.

This holiday season, for the first time in Atlanta, one of America's favorite Christmas movies comes to life on stage in a hilarious, large scale Broadway musical, at the Fox Theatre from November 29 - December 4 as part of the 2016/2017 Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta season.

Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND tells the story of Mia [Emma Stone], an aspiring actress, and Sebastian [Ryan Gosling], a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams.

The highly anticipated Broadway premiere of the original musical Dear Evan Hansen begins previews on Monday, November 14, 2016 and will officially open at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street) on Sunday, December 4, 2016. Star Ben Platt just took to Instagram to unveil the show's official Broadway artwork - check it out below!

Just announced, Second Stage Theatre's New York Premiere production of NOTES FROM THE FIELD: DOING TIME IN EDUCATION, the latest work created, written and performed by groundbreaking theatre artist Anna Deavere Smith with music composed and performed by Marcus Shelby and directed by Leonard Foglia, will open on November 2, 2016 at the Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd Street). Previews will begin on October 15.

War Paint has become the most successful musical in Goodman Theatre's history, extended (for a second and final time) through August 21.

Second Stage Theatre 2016 Uptown Series' production of ENGAGEMENTS officially opens for an extended run tonight, August 4th.

I'm a huge fan of Twitter and Broadway - and for me, as someone who doesn't live in NYC, those two go hand in hand. Using social media I've been able to stay connected with everything happening in the New York theatre community and make some great friends along the way.

Second Stage Theatre 2016 Uptown Series' production of ENGAGEMENTS has been extended by one week and will now play through Saturday, August 20.