Benj Pasek News

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is September 11, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Reneé Rapp is kicking off Season 2 of Celebrity Substitute, the digital series from Julian Shapiro-Barnum and Broadway composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. In the new episode, the Mean Girls star surprises a classroom of kids by becoming their music teacher for the day. Watch it now!

Exorcistic: The Rock Musical officially opened at The Asylum NYC.  Darren Criss was the special guest star on opening night and we have exclusive photos from the special occasion below!

Rivertown Theaters is making national history with the first U.S. non-replica staging of Dear Evan Hansen. In our interview, Co-Artistic Director Kelly Fouchi shares why the show’s themes of connection and compassion resonate so powerfully and why Kenner is the perfect stage.

The acclaimed UK/International Tour of the Tony Award-winning musical 'Dear Evan Hansen' has officially launched its Manila run at The Theatre at Solaire. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production with newly-released video excerpts.

A new companion podcast has been announced for Hulu and 20th Television’s critically acclaimed comedy series “Only Murders in the Building,' hosted and executive produced by series star Michael Cyril Creighton.

Celebrity Substitute, the series from Julian Shapiro-Barnum and Broadway composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, has set its Season 2 premiere date, featuring Mean Girls star Reneé Rapp, Ed Sheeran, and more.

To help kick off the fall season, Broadway fans can tune into a brand new lineup of movies, music, and television to stream this September, including Helluva Boss, The Office spin-off series, and more.

What did our critic think of CHAIN OF LOVE (A BROADWAY ALBUM) ALBUM RELEASE PARTY AND CONCERT WITH CARLY OZARD AND FR at GRNHS Gallery + Studio?

Beck Center for the Arts has announced its 2025–2026 Youth Theater Season. The lineup features four productions that highlight comedy, mystery, fantasy, and poignant storytelling, offering opportunities for students and entertainment for audiences of all ages.

Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are back for the fifth season of Only Murders in the Building, premiering September 9 on Hulu. Check out the official trailer now!

After leading Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway and across North America, Stephen Christopher Anthony is returning to Actors' Playhouse to direct the South Florida Regional Premiere of Dear Evan Hansen. Learn more!

This August, Broadway fans can enjoy another month of summer streaming titles with highly anticipated new seasons of shows like Tim Burton's Wednesday to the first Peanuts musical in 37 years on Apple TV+. Check out the movies, television, and music coming to streaming this August!

Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are back for the fifth season of Only Murders in the Building, premiering September 9 on Hulu. Season 4 recently received a total of seven Emmy nominations, including Best Comedy Series and Best Comedy Actor for Short. 

GMG Productions has officially unveiled the full cast for the highly anticipated Pasek and Paul musical, 'Dear Evan Hansen,' set to debut at The Theatre at Solaire from September 4 to October 5, 2025. Fresh from a successful UK Tour, this production will star Ellis Kirk in the titular role.

The eleven original songs are pleasant, reminiscent of pop / folk rock, and had my head nodding throughout. Equally as enjoyable to me as recent hits from Jason Robert Brown, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, or Sara Bareilles.  Another thing you should know is that fuzzy is not complicated or deeply thought provoking.  “fuzzy is an invitation to sit with other people and remember together that it’s alright to feel things”.  It is a darling maybe even adorable little piece of musical theatre, you will likely be glad you had the chance to experience.

Playwrights Jocelyn Bioh and Samuel D. Hunter and multi-sector leader Audrey Choi have joined the Dramatists Guild Foundation Board of Directors. Learn more here!

Stephen Schwartz is this year's recipient of the Johnny Mercer Award at the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame presentation. The award was presented at the star-studded Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala on June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Ballroom in New York City.

To kick off the official start of its 2025 season, one of the world's most iconic venues, the Hollywood Bowl, welcomed more than 10,000 guests on the evening of June 7, 2025 for its opening night concert 'An Evening With Hugh Jackman,' featuring the celebrated Australian-born stage-and-screen star performing high-energy numbers accompanied by the lush, grandiose sounds of the Hollywood Bowl orchestra under the direction of Principal Conductor Thomas Wilkins, as well as the Senior graduating musicians of the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) who joined them on select numbers. A rousing display of talent and energy, Jackman's concert proved once again why this award-winning star is quite a 'showman.'

Westport Country Playhouse will present “Pasek & Paul: Waving Through Westport,” a fundraising concert with Oscar, Grammy, Tony, Emmy, and Olivier award-winning songwriters and producers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.