Musical TheaTre

it Takes TwoPasek & Paul rising songwriting Duo

it was a true ‘Michigan Moment’ at Joe’s Pub in New York that night last May. The musical theatre grads, class of ’06, were in town

for senior showcase, the annual revue of talent staged for New York industry insiders, and, as has become the tradi-tion, musical theatre alumni were there too, to cheer on the next class. a few days later many of those same faces showed up at Joe’s Pub.

Why? For one reason: to hear the music of Pasek & Paul. That’s Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, at the time juniors in musical theatre. They met as freshmen in the fall of 2003, Pennsylvania native Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul, from connecticut, two gifted students admitted to the highly selective musical theatre program at Michigan. They came with the shared dreams of their new classmates: a future in musical theatre, performing on the stages of Broadway and beyond.

First they became friends. “The program’s really small,” says Benj, “so we were in the same classes.” Then they started tinkering around on the piano. “i’d always written pop songs, like since i was 12,” says Benj. “But Justin’s a much better piano player. so i asked him to help me embellish the piano parts.”

Through that process, they discovered something else: how well they worked as a songwriting team. What neither could do alone came naturally for two. “i think that every single element we don’t have personally, the other person is good at,”

says Benj. “and that’s what makes it work.”

By sophomore year, they had collabo-rated on more songs as they found time in their busy schedules. During spring break 2004, in Florida, with the time

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Justin Paul and Benj Pasek

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and perspective distance often brings, they talked seriously about this song-writing thing that seemed to be taking on a life of its own.

“That was our night of reckoning,” says Justin. “We decided that if we were going to write songs, we needed to commit ourselves to it.” Once back in ann arbor, they did just that. During every spare moment, they wrote. and wrote some more. What emerged from their new focus and resolve were thirteen songs, linked thematically, about the experiences and challenges of finding your own path in life, as told through a cast of voices and characters and in a diverse range of musical styles and tempi. They called this group of songs Edges.

as extra insurance—double indem-nity—they booked ann arbor’s Kerrytown concert house for april 3, to premiere their work. There was no turning back now. They recruited four fellow students to perform their work: chelsea Krombach, Nick Blaemire, Nicholas ardell, and Whitney Bashor, with alex Brumel on drums.

“everyone in the program is amazing,” said Benj, “but we thought these people would be particularly good with our material.” since nothing was written down, Benj and Justin set about teaching their classmates the songs, line by line. The singers were quick studies, learning the material within a week.

By the night of april 3, Kerrytown concert house was standing room only. chelsea, Whitney, and the two Nicks sang brilliantly. The concert was un succes fou, a huge hit.

another face in the audience that night was Brent Wagner, director of Michigan’s famed musical theatre program. he particularly liked one of the songs, “Facebook,” a group number,

so much so that he added it to the reper-toire of songs for senior showcase. “Mr. Wagner has been amazingly supportive,” says Justin, “not only in teaching us the craft of musical theatre, but in letting us study lyric writing with him as an inde-pendent study.”

With the encouragement of ann arborites Bob and Pearson Macek, musical theatre aficionados and supporters of the program, Pasek & Paul were able to burn their song cycle onto a cD at ann arbor’s solid sound recording studio.

“Edges is both entertaining and moving,” Brent Wagner told University Record. “it has enormous variety, capturing situ-ations and topics which are relevant, humorous and provocative. Benj and Justin have a remarkable ability to create detailed character and situation in a single song, bringing a story to life with clarity and emotional richness.”

What had been conceptualized as one night at Kerrytown suddenly had a future. “Facebook” was performed at

ann arbor showcase in late april. since no notations had yet been made, Justin had to scoot faculty member cynthia Westphal down the piano bench for that one number. When showcase moved on to New York, Benj and Justin went too, to see for themselves how their work would be received by the audi-ence there—now not just teachers and friends, but agents, producers, and talent scouts. Was it just friends and supporters who liked their work? Were they just being nice? Quite the contrary.

Benj and Justin took a deep breath and decided it was time to test their work on other audiences. Thus was born The east coast Tour. They booked venues in Washington, D.c., Philadelphia, connecticut, and New York. Their marketing campaign started with a flyer blitz in the lobby at showcase in New York’s Westside Theatre and escalated from there, via e-mail, the internet, and word of mouth. “By then, we had the cD,” says Justin. “somebody would burn a copy for a friend and that friend would give it to another friend.” u

Benj Pasek as Yertle the Turtle in Seussical, the Musical

Justin Paul as F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Pursuit of Persephone

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Pasek and Paul recruited the help of another musical theatre alum, Mike Mosallam (BFa ’01), to polish the show and shape it into a more cohesive story line. The two Nicks and chelsea and Whitney joined up with the tour to sing the now familiar songs, with alex Brumel on drums. The first stop was Washington, D.c.

The tour was a hit. Not only did they make back the money they’d invested in booking the venues, but over the next months, some 20 colleges and musical theatre programs across the country requested the rights to perform Edges.

With the help of another musical theatre grad, Jeff Marx (BFa ’93), who since graduation has made a name for himself as a songwriter and co-creator of the wildly successful Broadway hit Avenue Q , they were able to join the roster of one of the best agents in New York. “i think we’re his youngest clients by something like eight years,” jokes Benj.

But with this agent, and a producer, Jamie McGonnigal, they were able to book Joe’s Pub, part of New York city’s Public Theatre and a hot spot for Gotham dwellers in the know. as the first show filled up, a second was added. They quickly attracted a number of high profile stars to perform their work,

among them Michigan alumni. Gavin creel (BFa ’98) was in New York prior to taking up his starring role in the london production of Mary Poppins. celia Keenan-Bolger (BFa ’00) was there, too, but only for the second show. celia was starring in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (along with fellow alum Todd Buonopane. BFa ’00, who also sang that night). After the final curtain for Spelling Bee, celia changed with houdini-like speed and grabbed a taxi to Joe’s Pub.

The line-up also included Daniel reichard (BFa ’00), currently starring in the hit musical Jersey Boys, and Michelle ricci (BFa ’04), Mary Magdalene in the 2004 u-M production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Other stars of musical theatre that night included Karen Mason, the original Tanya in Mamma, Mia!; Kenita r. Miller, currently appearing in The Color Purple; stage and film actor Cheyenne Jackson, and steven Pasquale and Billy Porter.

Jeff Marx, now a good friend and cham-pion of the duo, was in the audience at Joe’s Pub, along with his songwriting partner Bobby lopez. Jeffrey seller (Ba, ls&a ‘86), producer of Avenue Q and Rent, and Gary adler (BM ‘88), co-creator of the current Broadway hit

Altar Boyz and music director of Avenue Q , were on hand as well. and Jayson raitt (Ba ’93), who would later orga-nize an august all-Michigan musical theatre revue at the Metropolitan room, featuring songwriters and performers and hosted by Bob McGrath (BM ’54) of Sesame Street fame, was there, too.

since that night, interest in their work has only grown. But in spite of all the excitement and glamour, Pasek and Paul have stayed the course, determined to finish their degrees. Both will graduate early, in December 2006, and will leave immediately for New York, returning for graduation ceremonies in april. With a number of promising projects in the works, including episodes for Disney channel’s new Johnny and the Sprites, featuring former Avenue Q star John Tartaglia, set to premiere in January 2007, they should hit the ground running.

rodgers & hart. lerner & loewe. Pasek & Paul? it has a nice ring to it. We’ll be hearing more about them, you can be sure.

Gavin Creel with teachers Linda Goodrich (left) and Melody Racine (right)

Michelle Ricci Chelsea Krombach

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