Ones To Watch: Pasek & Paul

Very few composers have the luxury of saying they’ve found success in creating music for the stage, film and television: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are two of them. The Tony nominated, Academy Award nominated and Golden Globe winning (that was a mouthful) best friend composing duo met when they were students at The University of Michigan and have made quite the names for themselves since then. Not only are they the young masterminds behind Broadway’s latest hit Dear Evan Hansen, but their song “City of Stars” from La La Land landed them a Golden Globe win and an Academy Award nomination. It was also recently announced that the duo has written a song for the CW’s upcoming Supergirl/The Flash musical crossover episode (chants: EGOT! EGOT! EGOT!). There’s no denying that Pasek & Paul are taking over the world – with beautiful lyrics and music that will tug at your heartstrings, these are two artists you don’t want to underestimate.

At the 2016 Obie Awards, Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking to Pasek & Paul about Dear Evan Hansen‘s Off-Broadway success and they noted that one of the most rewarding parts about being involved with the show was seeing how audiences reacted to the story. The music, paired exquisitely with Ben Platt’s gut-wrenching performance, has brought Dear Evan Hansen praise from critics and fans alike. The comparisons to Hamilton are inevitable due to the fact that the show is nearly sold out for the next few months and famous faces are always popping up backstage (some recent A-list visitors include Melissa McCarthy, Emma Stone, Zendaya and Rebel Wilson). With the release of the original Broadway cast recording, one can expect the hype to increase over the next few months. While Dear Evan Hansen rules the Broadway scene, La La Land has captured the hearts of Hollywood. The film recently earned 14 Academy Award nominations including two for Best Original Song for “City of Stars” and “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)”.

Although Pasek & Paul have only recently become a household name, they’ve been composing music for the stage and screen for over a decade. Their song cycle Edges premiered in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2005 and won them the Jonathan Larson Award in 2007. What followed was a plethora of projects including the musicals James and the Giant Peach (2010), Dogfight (Off-Broadway debut, 2012) and A Christmas Story (Broadway debut, 2012), as well as music on television shows such as Smash (NBC). With an extensive résumé like that, it was no surprise that the two continued to climb the ladder of success which eventually led to Dear Evan Hansen.

Pasek & Paul create music that beautifully articulates our fears and deepest insecurities. Thousands of fans have expressed how “Pretty Funny” from Dogfight and various songs from Dear Evan Hansen have moved them to tears and made them reflect on their own personal demons. Art is supposed to evoke emotion; what makes the duo so successful is their ability to deftly express those palpable emotions through music. It’s for this very reason that Pasek & Paul have become two of the greatest storytellers of our time. They are confident with what they want to convey and are experts at sharing it with an audience.

There’s no denying the duo is a fan favorite – they’re even considered the reincarnation of musical theatre icons Rodgers and Hammerstein. Although a compliment of that stature is rightfully deserved, it’s important to note that Pasek & Paul bring a fresh, innovative sound to the table. Time will tell if their work will leave the same degree of impact, although many will argue Dear Evan Hansen already has. For now, we can only appreciate the art they’ve masterfully crafted and realize how lucky we are to be present during the beginning of their legacy.

To stay updated with Pasek & Paul, follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

The 89th Annual Academy Awards are on February 26th on ABC.
Photo Credit: Dirty Sugar Photography