Justin Paul and Benj Pasek compose the American musical Dogfight

27th August 2014

Laura Jane Matthewson in Dogfight. Photo: Darren Bell
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INTERVIEW: JUSTIN PAUL and BENJ PASEK

The composing team behind the award-winning musical Dogfight, which premiered Off Broadway in 2012 and had its European premiere at the Southwark Playhouse this month, talk to Judi Herman. Set on 21 November 1963, it’s the story of three young Marines on a night of debauchery the night before they leave for Vietnam. Recorded at the BBC Club, London, 14 Aug 2014 (some background noise).

We view the setting of the piece, 1963, as really on a precipice of political change, change in music, a change in the message, clothing, everything, in a big way, so the music obviously had a huge influence as well.