Only Murders in the Building Podcast Opening Night (Part 2)
Oct 6, 2023
Lead songwriting duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, co-writer Michael R. Jackson, and executive music producer Ian Eisendrath discuss the inspirations, challenges, and achievements in creating the music for the show. They highlight the importance of the opening number 'Creatures of the Night', collaborations with Michaels and Sarah Burellis, and the process of creating high-quality music. Plus, they praise Paul Rudd and Martin Short's singing abilities and recommend Audible for captivating mysteries and audiobooks.
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Vacation Pitch Turned Into A Gig
- Benj Pasek described meeting a writer on vacation which led to Pasek & Paul joining the show team.
- That casual ask quickly turned into an invitation to write songs once the season required a fictional musical.
A Theater Writer's First TV Song
- Michael R. Jackson recounted being intrigued to write for television and collaborate with Pasek & Paul.
- He said the process taught him a lot and he enjoyed the real-time collaborative sessions.
Write A Real Musical Bible For Believability
- The team built a full 'Bible' for the fictional musical to make it coherent within the show.
- They balanced honoring musical craft while also playfully parodying Broadway's excesses.