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. She has been nominated for two Tony Awards; 2007's Best Original Score for Legally Blonde, and then again in 2018 for her lyrics for Mean Girls.
Early life and education Benjamin grew up in New York City and attended Harvard University, where she met future husband Laurence O'Keefe. She earned a master's degree in women's studies from Trinity College Dublin. After graduating, she moved to Los Angeles and, with O'Keefe, worked as a writer for television and film.
Theatre career Benjamin and O'Keefe collaborated on a number of original musicals which ran Off-Broadway, including The Mice (2000),Simonson, Robert. "Harold Prince Lofts a 3hree-Pointer in Philly, Oct. 25" Playbill, October 25, 2000 an adaptation of Sarah, Plain and Tall (2002),Van Gelder, Lawrence. "Theater Review: The Pain of Loss, Assuaged by a Fresh Face" The New York Times, July 18, 2002 and Cam Jansen And The Curse Of The Emerald Elephant (2004), based on the Cam Jansen mystery series.Cam Jansen Internet Off-Broadway Database, retrieved July 26, 2019 The Mice was turned into a musical with three short parts, titled 3three, which was produced at the Prince Music Theater, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2000 and at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles in 2001.Hitchcock, Laura. "A CurtainUp Los Angeles Review. 3hree: The Mice, Lavender Hill Girl, The Flight of the Lawnchair Man ' CurtainUp, April 25, 2001
Benjamin and O'Keefe's first Broadway production was Legally Blonde: The Musical, for which they created the music and lyrics. Legally Blonde premiered on Broadway in April 2007, ran for 595 performances and 30 previews, and closed in October 2008. Benjamin and O'Keefe were nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score.Hetrick, Adam. " Legally Blonde to Close on Broadway Oct. 19" Playbill, September 24, 2008
Legally Blonde: The Musical opened in January 2010 on London's West End at the Savoy Theatre, ran for two and a half years, and won three Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.
Benjamin's first full-length play, The Explorers Club, premiered Off-Broadway in 2013. A farce about a woman trying to gain entry to an elite club of explorers in 19th century Britain, it won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play. Reviewers largely praised Benjamin's skills as a comedic writer.
She wrote the lyrics to Mean Girls, the stage adaptation of the 2004 film of the same name, with Jeff Richmond composing the music and Tina Fey writing the book. Mean Girls premiered on Broadway in April 2018. She was again nominated for the Tony Award for Best Original Score (alongside Richmond).
She wrote the lyrics to the musical Dave, based on the 1993 American political comedy film of the same name and co-wrote the book with Thomas Meehan. It was produced at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. in July 2018.Gans, Andrew. "World Premiere of 'Dave' Musical, Starring Drew Gehling and Mamie Parris, Opens at Arena Stage July 27" Playbill, July 27, 2018
She wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Because of Winn Dixie, which is based on the novel by Kate DiCamillo. The music is composed by Duncan Sheik. The musical ran at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut, from July 2019 to September 2019 after being produced in December 2013 at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, February 2015 at Delaware Theatre Company and January 2017 at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.Purcell, Carey. " 'Because of Winn Dixie', New Musical by Duncan Sheik and Nell Benjamin, Will Premiere in Arkansas; John Tartaglia Directs" Playbill, July 18, 2013Gans, Andrew. "Read Reviews for 'Because of Winn Dixie', the New Musical by Duncan Sheik and Nell Benjamin" Playbill, July 22, 2019 She has been tapped to write the book and lyrics for Come Fall in Love - The DDLJ Musical, which is premiering at the Old Globe fall 2022 in preparation for a Broadway run.
In July 2025, The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego announced the world premiere of a Renaissance Fair-themed musical called Huzzah!, written and composed by Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe, which premiered on September 13, 2025.
Personal life Benjamin married Laurence O'Keefe in 2001. The couple live in Manhattan."Weddings. Nell Benjamin, Laurence O'Keefe" The New York Times, April 29, 2001
Stage credits YearTitleRoleVenueRef.2000The MiceLyricistRegional, Prince Music Theater2002Sarah, Plain and TallOff-Broadway, Lucille Lortel Theatre2004Cam JansenAuthor, Composer, LyricistOff-Broadway, Lamb's Theatre2007Pirates! (Or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd)Additional lyricsRegional, Goodspeed Musicals and Paper Mill PlayhouseLegally BlondeComposer, LyricistBroadway, Palace Theatre2013Because of Winn-DixieAuthor, LyricistRegional, Arkansas Repertory TheatreThe Explorers ClubAuthorOff-Broadway, Manhattan Theatre Club2017Mean GirlsLyricistRegional, The National Theatre2018Broadway, August Wilson TheatreDaveAuthor, LyricistRegional, Arena StageHalf TimeLyricistRegional, Paper Mill Playhouse2025Huzzah!Author, composer, lyricistRegional, Old Globe
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2003Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre: LyricistSarah, Plain and Tall2007Tony AwardsBest Original ScoreLegally BlondeDrama Desk AwardsOutstanding MusicOutstanding Lyrics2018Tony AwardsBest Original ScoreMean GirlsDrama Desk AwardsOutstanding Lyrics2019Helen Hayes AwardOutstanding Play or Musical AdaptationDave
References
External links Internet Off-Broadway database