Composer guide

Laurence O'Keefe

Laurence O'Keefe is the composer and lyricist behind Bat Boy, Legally Blonde, and Heathers, three musicals with devoted fan followings. He specializes in comedies with a bite, mixing pop, rock, and pastiche with surprisingly heartfelt ballads.

Laurence O'Keefe musicals in our library

Bat Boy: The Musical (2001)
His breakthrough, a horror rock spoof that opened Off-Broadway in 2001 and won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical.
Legally Blonde (2007)
His only Broadway show so far, written with his wife Nell Benjamin; it earned a Tony nomination for its score and won an Olivier in London.
Heathers: The Musical (2014)
A dark comedy written with Kevin Murphy that ran Off-Broadway in 2014 and then became a long-running London hit from 2018.

Who is Laurence O'Keefe?

Laurence O'Keefe was born in 1969 and graduated from Harvard College in 1991, where he studied anthropology. He also studied at Berklee College of Music and earned a master's degree in film and television scoring from the University of Southern California.

He often writes with partners. His wife, Nell Benjamin, co-wrote the music and lyrics for Legally Blonde, and Kevin Murphy co-wrote the score and book for Heathers. O'Keefe's scores hop between genres, from rap and gospel to rock anthems and mock opera, and they tend to start as jokes and end up as character songs. That mix of sharp comedy and real feeling is why his shows are so popular with students and young performers.

Laurence O'Keefe's shows in order

His breakthrough was Bat Boy: The Musical, which opened Off-Broadway at the Union Square Theatre in 2001 and won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical. He also wrote family musicals for young audiences, including Sarah, Plain and Tall (2002) and Cam Jansen (2004).

Legally Blonde, written with Benjamin, opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in 2007 and played 595 performances. It is his only Broadway show so far, and it found a second life in London, where it won the 2011 Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Heathers: The Musical followed Off-Broadway at New World Stages in 2014, then became a long-running hit in London from 2018. Bat Boy returned to New York in a 2025 New York City Center revival.

Legacy, awards, and where to start

Legally Blonde earned O'Keefe and Benjamin a Tony nomination for Best Original Score, and in 2004 O'Keefe received the Kleban Award for lyrics. His shows have built their audiences less through Broadway runs than through cast albums, licensed school and community productions, and fans who know every word.

Start with Legally Blonde, an upbeat and funny show that suits almost any age. Fans of dark comedy should move on to Heathers, which deals with violence and suicide and is best for older teens and adults. Bat Boy, a horror spoof with a big heart, is the cult favorite to try last.

Laurence O'Keefe: frequently asked questions

Did the same person write Legally Blonde and Heathers?

Yes. Laurence O'Keefe co-wrote both scores: Legally Blonde with Nell Benjamin and Heathers with Kevin Murphy. He also wrote Bat Boy: The Musical.

Has Heathers: The Musical been on Broadway?

No. Heathers ran Off-Broadway at New World Stages in 2014 and has had several London runs since 2018, but it has not played Broadway.

Who is Laurence O'Keefe married to?

He is married to Nell Benjamin, a composer, lyricist, and book writer who co-wrote Legally Blonde with him.

Did Legally Blonde win any Tony Awards?

No. It received seven Tony nominations, including Best Original Score for O'Keefe and Benjamin, but did not win. It did win the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in London in 2011.

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