Special Reports

Oscar-Winning La La Land Writers Pasek and Paul Could EGOT by This Time Next Year

The ”Dear Evan Hansen” scribes have a big year ahead.

Acclaimed musical-theater writers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul received Hollywood's top honor on February 26, an Academy Award for their song "City of Stars" from La La Land. This has been a big year for Pasek and Paul, with their Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen playing to sold-out houses at the Music Box Theatre, and their latest project, the Hugh Jackman-led film The Greatest Showman, currently in production.

With their Oscar in tow, it is now completely possible that Pasek and Paul could achieve the coveted EGOT status, winning an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony, all within the next 365 days (less, actually). They could also take it one step further, winning a Pulitzer, too. Here's a breakdown.

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are the Oscar-winning scribes behind La La Land.
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are the Oscar-winning scribes behind La La Land.
(© David Gordon)

Tony Awards
As composer-lyricists of Dear Evan Hansen, Pasek and Paul could take home the Best Original Score Tony Award on June 11. (This leads them halfway to the EGOT.)

Emmy Awards
Pasek and Paul contributed a song called "Runnin' Home to You" for a musical episode of TV's The Flash. The episode will air March 21, making it eligible to be nominated as "Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics," when the Emmys take place on September 17.

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are Oscar nominees for their work in La La Land.
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in a scene from La La Land.
(© Dale Robinette)

Grammy Awards
Pasek and Paul could receive nominations for Best Musical Theater Album for Dear Evan Hansen, Best Song Written for Visual Media for any of their tunes from La La Land, and, quite possibly, Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for La La Land. The Grammys will be presented February 2018.

Bonus: The Pulitzer Prize
Pasek and Paul could also achieve the PEGOT (P for Pulitzer) if Dear Evan Hansen takes home that honor on April 10 of this year.

Pasek and Paul would be the youngest people in the EGOT club, a list that also includes the likes of Mel Brooks, Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Rodgers, and Rita Moreno, as well as the fastest. Here's hoping!

Ben Platt in Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Steven Levenson's musical Dear Evan Hansen.
Ben Platt in Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Steven Levenson's musical Dear Evan Hansen.
(© Matthew Murphy)

Featured In This Story