Benj Pasek News

Welcome to BWW's exclusive talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH Richard Ridge. Follow Richard as he visits the theater's best and brightest in their dressing rooms, on their stages and favorite hang outs to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. In the special interview below, A Christmas Story composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul chat about how they were brought on to the creative team, what their writing process is like, and much more. Click below to check out the first part of the interview!

Earlier this week, the cast of A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL went to the 'Good Morning America' studios where they taped a special medley featuring 'It All Comes Down To Christmas' and 'Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana.' Airing this Friday, December 20, the performance features Erin Dilly, Jake Lucas, Noah Baird and David Scott Purdy as The Parker Family with kids ensemble Charlie Babbo, Hannah Bautista, Beada Briglia, Judae'a Brown, Michael Crispi, Alexa Niziak, Luke Spring and Nicky Torchia. Check out a sneak peek below!

Earlier this week, the cast of A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL went to the 'Good Morning America' studios where they taped a special medley featuring 'It All Comes Down To Christmas' and 'Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana.' Airing this Friday, December 20, the performance features Erin Dilly, Jake Lucas, Noah Baird and David Scott Purdy as The Parker Family with kids ensemble Charlie Babbo, Hannah Bautista, Beada Briglia, Judae'a Brown, Michael Crispi, Alexa Niziak, Luke Spring and Nicky Torchia. Scroll down for behind-the-scenes photos of the cast on set!

Reprising their roles are Dan Lauria (Lombardi, 'The Wonder Years,' 'Sullivan and Son') as Jean Shepherd, John Bolton(Spamalot, Contact, Titanic, 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Gossip Girl') as the Old Man, Tony Award nominee Erin Dilly (Nice Work if You Can Get It, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Mother and Caroline O'Connor (Chicago, Moulin Rouge) as school teacher Miss Shields. Eli Tokash (Mary Poppins) plays Ralphie at certain perforances, Noah Baird as little brother Randy, and Jake Lucas (Newsies, Far From Heaven), donning the famous spectacles will take on the lead role of Ralphie.

Actor Dan Lauria, in conversation with Peter Filichia, theater critic emeritus at the Star-Ledger, will discuss his career and The Godfather Tales, a collection of children's stories he created for his godson, Julian, at a special event tonight, Dec. 16, 2013 at Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd St.

New works hub New York Theatre Barn is teaming up with the Tony® and Drama Desk Award-winning BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop to take a trip down memory lane by presenting an evening of 'assignment songs' from BMI alumni. Hosted by BMI Fun Committee members Kate Anderson,Timothy Huang and Sara Wordsworth, 'Your Holiday Assignment is….' will take place today, December 16, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the D-Lounge of the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York City as part of New York Theatre Barn's revolutionary new musical development platform NYTB in the D-Lounge, produced by Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum. Patrick Cook, director of the Musical Theatre Workshop, is also producing.

Broadway headliner and rising screen star Jeremy Jordan reprised his lead role of Jimmy in the musical-within-the-series HIT LIST featured on NBC's recent musical drama series SMASH in a special concert event at 54 Below earlier this week and a complete look at his performance of the show's standout tune 'Caught In The Storm' is now available

New works hub New York Theatre Barn is teaming up with the Tony® and Drama Desk Award-winning BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop to take a trip down memory lane by presenting an evening of 'assignment songs' from BMI alumni. Hosted by BMI Fun Committee members Kate Anderson,Timothy Huang and Sara Wordsworth, 'Your Holiday Assignment is….' will take place on Monday, December 16, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the D-Lounge of the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York City as part of New York Theatre Barn's revolutionary new musical development platform NYTB in the D-Lounge, produced by Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum. Patrick Cook, director of the Musical Theatre Workshop, is also producing.

Hot on the heels of this week's instant-sell-out concert event at NYC cabaret venue 54 Below celebrating the musical-within-the-series on NBC's recent musical series SMASH, titled HIT LIST, a number of new clips of songs intended for the project have emerged.

Seattle Children's Theatre presents the world-premiere musical, James and the Giant Peach. Just in time for the holidays, Timothy Allen McDonald's wonderful adaptation from Roald Dahl's best seller will include original music by Tony-Award nominated lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. James and the Giant Peach runs at SCT's Charlotte Martin Theatre through January 12, 2014. SCT Artistic Director Linda Hartzell directs. BroadwayWorld has a behind-the-scenes look at the show below!

Just last night, Jeremy Jordan, Krysta Rodriguez, Andy Mientus, Carrie Manolakos starred in HIT LIST at 54 Below. The second season of NBC's Smash featured a fictional new Broadway musical called HIT LIST, written by characters played by Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, The Last 5 Years) and Andy Mientus (Carrie, Spring Awakening), and starring Krysta Rodriguez (First Date,The Addams Family). The fictional musical opened at Manhattan Theatre Workshop and then transferred to Broadway, opening at the Barrymore Theatre and winning seven Tony Awards. HIT LIST, a modern fable about identity and the price of fame, tells the tragic love story of a wannabe pop singer who transforms herself to become a star and the hidden songwriter she uses to get there - but at what cost? Check out photos from the special concert event below!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

54 Below just welcomed a part of its December line-up for a special performance preview, including the cast of 'HIT LIST' -- a fictional musical created for NBC's popular series SMASH. Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, The Last 5 Years), Andy Mientus (Carrie, Spring Awakening), Krysta Rodriguez (First Date ,The Addams Family), and Carrie Manolakos (Wicked, Mamma Mia!) will star in the concert production, and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there to share in their excitement about the project. Click below to watch interviews, plus a performance preview!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Seattle Children's Theatre features Tony nominees Justin Paul and Benj Pasek's musical version of James and the Giant Peach as a part of its 2013-2014 Mainstage Season. The musical features a book by Timothy Allen McDonald, and is based on the book by Roald Dahl. James and the Giant Peach runs at the Charlotte Martin Theatre, now through January 12, 2014. Check out a first look below!

Seattle Children's Theatre features Tony nominees Justin Paul and Benj Pasek's musical version of James and the Giant Peach as a part of its 2013-2014 Mainstage Season. The musical features a book by Timothy AllenMcDonald, and is based on the book by Roald Dahl. Check out a sneak peek below!

You loved him as the father on TV's "The Wonder Years." Now meet him in a new role: The Godfather.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Singing and dancing extravaganza based on the beloved stories of Jean Shepherd gets the eccentric tone just right in this funny and affectionate remembrance of the simple joys of Christmases past.

When casting my reviewers eye to the world premiere musical version of Roald Dahl's "James and the Giant Peach", currently playing at Seattle Children's Theatre, I am forced to look upon the show from two perspectives. From the kid perspective, as this is children's theatre, will this be entertaining and accessible enough for kids? And from the adult musical theater lover perspective, as this is a brand new musical from some up and comers in the musical theater scene Justin Paul, Benj Pasek and Timothy Allen McDonald, is this something that can make a musical theater lover squeal with delight at the thought of it getting a wider audience (like maybe Broadway)? And while from the kid perspective this was a lovely and thoroughly fun time for any age, the musical theater snob in me felt the show just needs a little more work to be truly great. But it's certainly on its way.