Benj Pasek News

In June 2013, two contemporary American musicals by Tony Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown and nominees Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, have their premieres in France: The Last 5 Years and Edges.

Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena recently joined the cast of Wicked, assuming the roles of Elphaba and Fiyero. They join a cast which includes Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda, Randy Danson as Madame Morrible, Adam Grupper as The Wizard, Catherine Charlebois as Nessarose, F. Michael Haynie as Boq, and John Schiappa as Dr. Dillamond. Check out a first look at the duo in action below!

Kinky Boots, from four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (book), Grammy Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Music & Lyrics), Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Director & Choreographer), began preview performances on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street) on March 3, 2013 and opened April 4, 2013. KINKY BOOTS has been nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Lauper for Best Original Score. Sardi's just unveiled a signature caricature of the composer and lyricist, and BroadwayWorld brings you full photo coverage from the special event below!

Today we are presenting a spotlight on one of the most popular Broadway/Hollywood crossover stars of the decade who is quickly rising up the ranks on stages and on screens around the world with his impressive work in an vast array of projects on Broadway, in Hollywood and on TV - exemplified tomorrow night in the premiere of his new USA series, GRACELAND - the affable and acclaimed Aaron Tveit.

Yesterday afternoon, the 2013 Tony Award nominees celebrated the week of the the 67th Annual Tony Awards (which will air live on CBS on Sunday, June 9th) at New York City's biggest landmark- the Empire State Building. Attendees included: Bertie Carvel, Carrie Coon, Charl Brown, Gabriel Ebert, Judith Light, Justin Paul & Benj Pasek, Keala Settle, Laura Osnes, Lauren Ward, Patina Miller, Richard Kind, Rob McClure, Santino Fontana, Shalita Grant, Stark Sands, Stephanie J. Block, Valisia LeKae, and Will Chase. BroadwayWorld was there for the special occasion and you can check out complete photo coverage below!

It's here! The 2012 Tony Awards will air on CBS tonight, June 10 at 8pm and, as usual, BroadwayWorld.com will be your one-stop shop for all things Tonys on Tony Day, Night and Beyond!

One of the most compelling and entertaining behind-the-scenes looks at the performing arts in recent memory, the sensational documentary ONE NIGHT STAND is available on DVD/digital download and now will be airing today, June 4 on Ovation TV.

From June 23 to June 29, 14 emerging professional songwriters will participate in The Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project at Northwestern University -- an intensive weeklong program on the Evanston campus that has produced 2013 Tony Award-nominated songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (nominated for 'A Christmas Story, The Musical'), Fred Ebb Award-winner Sam Willmot, and Latin Grammy Award-winners Obed Bermudez and Jennifer Pena.

Schmackary's Cookies, aka: The Official Cookie of Broadway, hosts 'Broadway Bakes' a special benefit for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, this week May 27-31. Schmackary's will donate half the proceeds and all tips generated from this event to BCEFA as part of this special pre-Tony Awards 'Thank You Broadway' event. Yesterday, Corey Cott, Ben Fankhauser, and Newsies alum Ryan Steele stopped by where they performed an alternate version of 'Watch What Happens (Reprise)' and Steele showed off with some signature pirouettes. Check it out below!

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tonys Meet & Greet on May 1, 2013, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. Today we bring you Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, nominees for Best Score for A Christmas Story. Check out what they had to say below!

Company members from A Christmas Story, The Musical will reunite for their appearance on the Tony Awards telecast on CBS. The cast will travel from various corners of the country and the world including Dan Lauria from Los Angeles, Johnny Rabe from Chicago, Caroline O'Connor from Australia, and Broadway's favorite four-foot tap dancing whiz kid, Luke Spring, from Ashburn, Virginia.

Schmackary's Cookies, aka: The Official Cookie of Broadway, hosts 'Broadway Bakes' a special benefit for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, this week May 27-31. Schmackary's will donate half the proceeds and all tips generated from this event to BCEFA as part of this special pre-Tony Awards 'Thank You Broadway' event. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of some of the stars in action below!

Schmackary's Cookies, aka: The Official Cookie of Broadway, hosts 'Broadway Bakes' a special benefit for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, this week May 27-31. Schmackary's will donate half the proceeds and all tips generated from this event to BCEFA as part of this special pre-Tony Awards 'Thank You Broadway' event.

Beginning performances today, May 28, 2013, Lindsay Mendez will assume the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of WICKED. Ms. Mendez has previously worked with both the composer and director of WICKED, having appeared in the 2011 Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell, and, more recently, giving a breakout performance in the world premiere musical, Dogfight, staged by WICKED director Joe Mantello.

Terry Martin, WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director, announced this evening the Company's 2013-2014 Main Stage season at a special VIP Sneak Preview held at the Addison Theatre Centre.

Beginning performances on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, Lindsay Mendez will assume the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of WICKED. Ms. Mendez has previously worked with both the composer and director of WICKED, having appeared in the 2011 Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell, and, more recently, giving a breakout performance in the world premiere musical, Dogfight, staged by WICKED director Joe Mantello.

Pasek and Paul - along with Lindsay Mendez, Derek Klena and other original cast members - will also appear at an in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side (150 East 86th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues) tonight, May 23 at 7:00 PM. Call (212) 369-2180 for details.

New Dramatists, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, honored entertainment lawyer and New Dramatists Chairman of the Board Seth Gelblum with their 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 64th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute, held today, May 21 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

For the past ten years, Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland has been the ultimate place for Broadway folks to mingle and celebrate each other, as evidenced by Monday night's jammed-to-the-walls open-mic-fest. Scroll down for photos from the starry evening!

For the past ten years, Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland has been the ultimate place for Broadway folks to mingle and celebrate each other, as evidenced by Monday night's jammed-to-the-walls open-mic-fest. The cast of The Mystery of Edwin Drood staged a reunion, with Tony nominee Stephanie J. Block,Bobby Creighton, Andy Karl, Jessie Mueller, and Betsy Wolfe all grabbing the mic separately and together with a live performance of their YouTube hit, 'Bustle Fluffah!' Drood composer/writer Rupert Holmes then surprised everyone by singing his #1 hit, 'The Pina Colada Song!' (Lucky audience members won the new Drood cast recording, too.) BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the festivities below!