Nell Benjamin
Nell Benjamin is a lyricist, writer, and composer noted for her work in musical theatre. With her husband and frequent collaborator Laurence O'Keefe, she won the Laurence Olivier Award for writing Legally Blonde in 2011.
Latest News on Nell Benjamin:
BIO
Nell Benjamin is a lyricist, writer, and composer noted for her work in musical theatre. With her husband and frequent collaborator Laurence O'Keefe, she won the Laurence Olivier Award for writing Legally Blonde in 2011. And in 2007, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score for Legally Blonde, and then again in 2018 for her lyrics for Mean Girls.
Photos
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 16: Nell Benjamin poses at the opening night of the new musical based on the film "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical" on Broadway at The Longacre Theatre on October 16, 2019 in New York City (Photo by Bruce Glikas/WireImage)
From: Photo Coverage: On the Opening Night Red Carpet for THE LIGHTNING THIEF
Productions
Writing
Lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Composer
Lyricist
Lyricist
Awards and Nominations
Nell Benjamin, Mean Girls
Nell Benjamin, Mean Girls
Nell Benjamin, The Explorers Club
Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde
Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde
Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde The Musical
winner
Nell Benjamin
Videos
Video: Emily Lane, Vivian Panka and More in MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL UK Tour
by Stephi Wild - 2026-04-30 09:46:42
Video: Amber Davies and More in LEGALLY BLONDE UK and Ireland Tour New Footage
by Stephi Wild - 2026-03-31 08:12:54
Video: Leo Roberts And The Cast Of HUZZAH! Perform 'Song Of Roland'
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-10-13 22:18:11
Video: Liisi Lafointaine and Leo Roberts Perform 'Howl At The Moon' From HUZZAH! at The Old Globe
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-10-13 22:14:06
Video: All Is Faire with Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin; Watch a Sneak Peek from HUZZAH!
by Backstage Live with Richard Ridge - 2025-10-13 14:43:04
Video: The Making of the REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES Cast Album
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2025-10-10 12:45:42
Video: Leo Roberts Sings 'Song Of Roland' from HUZZAH! at San Diego's Old Globe
by Joshua Wright - 2025-10-09 14:43:48
Exclusive: Watch 'The Song of Roland' from Nell Benjamin & Laurence O’Keefe's HUZZAH!
by Joshua Wright - 2025-08-13 14:19:31
Videos: Go Inside the Final Performance of REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES
by Michael Major - 2025-06-30 10:02:05
Video: Broadway Siblings Christopher and Monica Ramirez Featured on THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-21 10:53:04
Video: Get A First Look at LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL at La Mirada Theatre
by Joshua Wright - 2025-04-29 13:52:06
Photos: Eva Longoria, Sofia Vergara and More Attend REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES
by Stephi Wild - 2025-04-23 06:00:07
Video: Justina Machado Praises REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES Co-Star Tatianna Córdoba: 'She Is Incredible'
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-04-22 17:45:47
Video: Kathryn Brunner Talks Playing Elle Woods in LEGALLY BLONDE at La Mirada
by Michael Major - 2025-04-16 10:36:00
Video: Tatianna Córdoba Performs 'Flying Away' From REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-04-15 10:34:44
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 13, 2026
Music Theater Works will present the musical Mean Girls, book by Tina Fey, music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and based on the iconic Paramount Pictures film as the final production of its 47th season.
by R. Scott Reedy - Oct 13, 2026
The publication did prove award-worthy itself, though, as the inspiration for the scary and silly “Bat Boy: The Musical” – at Umbrella Arts in Concord through November 8 – which took home the 2001 Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical.
by Team BWW - Oct 1, 2026
Chicago is never lacking outstanding theatre, whether epic Broadway shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. BroadwayWorld is rounding up our top recommended theatre every month. Selections for October 2026 include TOPDOG/UNDERDOG and more.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 23, 2026
Theatre Now New York will honor Tony-winning librettist Bob Martin and Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Michael R Jackson at the Theatre Then & Now Gala, celebrating their contributions to musical theatre.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 23, 2026
Stolen Shakespeare Guild in Fort Worth revealed its 2027 lineup featuring nine productions including DREAMGIRLS, MEAN GIRLS, and Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR and THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. Season passes are available for $135.
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Sep 27, 2026
On September 17th, we lost Duncan Sheik, a major composer and influence on 21st century theatre, whose music for Spring Awakening pushed the art form forward. Sheik was impressively prolific. While the headline of his theatre career may be the impactful Spring Awakening, his career was filled with over a dozen other varied and worthwhile theatrical projects, in addition to his achievements in popular music. He wrote music and sometimes lyrics for an impressive slate of musicals in addition to composing music for plays, and amassed a notable collective of collaborators on his many shows.
by Rachel Stone - Sep 22, 2026
Life Jacket Theatre Co. offers priority presale access to two new musicals based on 1930s prison history. THE FAG WARD and THE FAG FOLLIES tell the stories of inmates imprisoned for homosexuality at New York's Men's Penitentiary.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 18, 2026
54 Below will present multiple cabaret shows featuring Tony Award winners Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Natalie Venetia Belcon, Grammy nominee Marilyn Maye, and performers from HAMILTON, HADESTOWN, and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.
by Rachel Stone - Sep 15, 2026
Life Jacket Theatre Co. will present a new musical about six inmates in the 1930s Men's Penitentiary's Fag Ward, weaving their stories into high-camp numbers from the ward's annual Christmas pageant.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 15, 2026
Amber Davies will reprise her role as Elle Woods when LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL transfers to London Coliseum from March 22 to May 22, 2027, following a sold-out UK and Ireland tour.
by Team BWW - Sep 3, 2026
Chicago is never lacking outstanding theatre, whether epic Broadway shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. BroadwayWorld is rounding up our top recommended theatre every month. Selections for September 2026 include Come From Away and more.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 28, 2026
54 Below will host a lineup of performers including Britani Bateman with Lagoona Bloo, Claybourne Elder, Charles Busch, Ute Lemper, Linda Eder, Orfeh, and Jeanna de Waal, alongside a Frank Sinatra tribute concert and other cabaret acts.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 26, 2026
Manhattan Theatre Club has revealed the latest recipients of their Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Initiative commissions for new theatrical works surrounding themes of science, math, and technology.
by Marissa Faith Curley - Aug 25, 2026
54 BELOW, is set to presents a cast of Harvard and Yale grads and current students in The Eleventh Annual Harvard-Yale Cantata. This show is a competition of Harvard alumni vs. Yale alumni, as performers and writers.
by Michael Gioia - Aug 21, 2026
If you missed the exclusive preview of the seven new and original works at The Festival, BroadwayWorld has you covered with a full breakdown and recap of what these musicals are and where they’re headed.
by - Aug 19, 2026
On Wednesdays we wear PINK
by - Aug 14, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is August 14, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Paula Makar - Aug 13, 2026
If you want to spend an evening laughing, and love Monty Pythonesque humour, hurry out to see ICT Rep’s The Explorer’s Club at the Welsbacher Theatre at the WSU Metroplex!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 13, 2026
You can now get a first look at production photos of The Cape Playhouse's Mean Girls, featuring a book by Tina Fey and music by Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin.
by Stephi Wild - Aug 12, 2026
Performer and figure skater Elizabeth Gibson recently took part in the National Showcase, where she performed a figure skating routine to the song 'What You Want' from Legally Blonde the Musical. Watch the video here!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Nell Benjamin has written 10 shows including Half Time (Lyrics), Sarah, Plain and Tall (Lyricist), Sarah, Plain and Tall (Lyricist), Cam Jansen (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Legally Blonde (Composer), The Explorers Club (Playwright), Gotta Dance (Lyrics), Mean Girls (Lyricist), Because of Winn Dixie (Bookwriter), Real Women Have Curves (Additional Material).
Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Mean Girls, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Mean Girls, Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Explorers Club, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Legally Blonde, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Legally Blonde, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Legally Blonde The Musical and Most promising musical theatre lyricist () for .
Nell Benjamin has received several awards, including the Richard Rodgers Award for Most Promising Musical Theatre Lyricist. She has also been nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score for Mean Girls. Additionally, she won the ASCAP Foundation’s Cole Porter Award and the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre.
