Benjamin Velez

Benjamin Velez is a highly accomplished American composer and lyricist celebrated for his vibrant musicality, clever storytelling, and profound exploration of cultural and social themes. A graduate of Columbia University, where he wrote the university's famous Varsity Show, and an alumnus of the prestigious BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, he has built an impressive reputation across major American theatrical institutions. He has developed several acclaimed projects through residencies and commissions with elite organizations such as the Public Theater, the American Repertory Theater, and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, establishing himself as a vital contemporary voice in musical theater. Renowned for blending rich, contemporary pop-infused melodies with witty and poignant character work, he has composed the scores for a diverse array of celebrated productions, including Borderland, Starblasters, and Kiss My Aztec!, which he co-wrote with comedy legend John Leguizamo. He achieved monumental success on Broadway with the critically acclaimed production Real Women Have Curves: The Musical, co-writing the score with pop superstar Joy Huerta. His extraordinary artistic contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious accolades, including the Fred Ebb Award, the Jonathan Larson Grant, and the Edward Kleban Prize, alongside receiving the Frederick Loewe Award from the Dramatists Guild and a Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score, securing his position as a transformative force in the global performing arts scene.