Mark Sonnenblick

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Mark Sonnenblick
Sonnenblick in 2026
Born1989 or 1990 (age 36–37)[1]
EducationYale College (BA)
Occupations
  • Songwriter
  • composer
Years active2014–present
SpouseIsaac Josephthal (m. 2023)
Websitemarksonnenblick.com

Mark Sonnenblick is an American songwriter and composer, with credits in musical theater, film, and television. He is one of the lyricists for the musical The Devil Wears Prada, and has written songs for the films Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022), Spirited (2022), and Theater Camp (2023).[2] Sonnenblick co-wrote many of the songs for the animated film KPop Demon Hunters (2025), including "Golden", which topped the Billboard Hot 100[2] and won him an Academy Award as well as a Grammy.

Early and personal life

Sonnenblick grew up in Manhattan Beach, California, and started playing the piano and eventually songwriting as a child. He was introduced to musical theater by his high school music teacher Mr. Richard Babcock, who retired in 2026 after 39 years of teaching at Chadwick School.[3] Sonnenblick is also an alum of Chadwick School, which he graduated as Class of 2008.[1][4][5][3] In 2012, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in American studies from Yale College.[6] He moved to Denver after college, and then to New York City in 2014, where he started writing musicals.[4] He was the recipient of a Jonathan Larson Grant in 2018, presented by the American Theatre Wing.[7] He is openly gay,[8] and was honored by Out as one of the Out100 in 2025.[9]

Career

Theater work

Sonnenblick wrote the lyrics for Independents, a musical performed at the New York International Fringe Festival in 2012.[10] He also wrote the music for the musical Midnight at the Never Get, which was staged off-Broadway at the York Theatre in 2018.[4] The production was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards in 2019, with Sonnenblick nominated in the category of Outstanding Music.[11] It was additionally nominated in the category of Outstanding Musical at the 2019 Lucille Lortel Awards.[12] A London production has been announced to open in July 2026.[13]

Sonnenblick served as an additional lyricist to Shaina Taub for The Devil Wears Prada, which has music by Elton John and a book by Kate Wetherhead. Based on both the 2003 novel and 2006 film adaptation, the musical premiered in Chicago in 2022 before starting a West End run in 2024.[14] Taub asked Sonnenblick to join the creative team, in order to revise and write additional lyrics for the West End production.[15]

As of 2025, Sonnenblick is working on a stage adaptation of the film Weekend (2011).[9] In addition, he is writing music and lyrics for a musical stage adaptation of the novel series The Baby-Sitters Club, with a book by Wetherhead and plans for a premiere in 2027.[16]

Film and television work

Sonnenblick was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for "Beautiful Things Can Grow" from the documentary Song of Parkland (2019).[17] Sonnenblick co-wrote "All That" with Benj Pasek, Taub, and Hannah Friedman for the COVID-19 pandemic fundraiser Saturday Night Seder in 2020.[18][19]

Sonnenblick joined as one of the songwriters working with Pasek and Paul for the soundtrack of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, the 2022 film adaptation of the children's book of the same name.[20] He was also a songwriter for the soundtrack of Spirited (2022), a modern musical film adaptation of A Christmas Carol (1843).[2][21][22] One of the songs he co-wrote was "Good Afternoon", which was nominated at the 2023 Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards and shortlisted for Best Original Song at the 96th Academy Awards.[23][24]

For the musical film Theater Camp (2023), Sonnenblick co-wrote the songs and score, and was also responsible for arrangement and production of its soundtrack.[25][26] One of its songs, "Camp Isn't Home", earned Sonnenblick nominations at the Guild of Music Supervisors Awards (for Best Song Written and/or Recording Created for a Film) and at the Astra Film Awards (Best Original Song in 2024).[27][28]

The music team behind the animated film KPop Demon Hunters (2025) brought on Sonnenblick as a collaborator to write lyrics incorporating the narrative. He is credited as a songwriter on most of the film's songs, including "Golden" and "Your Idol".[9][29][30] The songs were commercially and critically successful, with "Golden" topping the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and receiving four Grammy Award nominations for the ceremony in 2026; as a songwriter, Sonnenblick was nominated in two of the categories: Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media,[31][32] winning in the latter.[33]

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2025 Best Original Song "Golden" (from KPop Demon Hunters) Won [34][35]

Annie Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2025 Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production KPop Demon Hunters[a] Won [36]

The Astra Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2023 Best Original Song "Camp Isn't Home" (from Theater Camp) Nominated [37]
2025 "Golden" (from KPop Demon Hunters) Won [38]

Critics' Choice Movie Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2025 Best Song "Golden" (from KPop Demon Hunters) Won [39]

Drama Desk Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2019 Outstanding Music Midnight at the Never Get Nominated [40]

Emmy Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Primetime Emmy Awards
2019 Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics "Beautiful Things Can Grow" (from Song of Parkland) Nominated [41]

Georgia Film Critics Association Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2025 Best Original Song "Golden" (from KPop Demon Hunters) Runner-up [42]

Golden Globe Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2025 Best Original Song "Golden" (from KPop Demon Hunters) Won [43]

Grammy Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2025 Song of the Year "Golden" (from KPop Demon Hunters) Nominated [33]
Best Song Written for Visual Media Won

Guild of Music Supervisors Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2023 Best Song Written and/or Recorded for a Film "Camp Isn't Home" (from Theater Camp) Nominated [44]

Hollywood Music in Media Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2025 Best Original Song in an Animated Film "Golden" (from KPop Demon Hunters) Won [45]

Satellite Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2025 Best Original Song "Golden" (from KPop Demon Hunters) Nominated [46]

Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2022 Outstanding Original Song for a Comedy or Musical Visual Media Production "Good Afternoon" (from Spirited) Nominated [47]
2025 "Golden" (from KPop Demon Hunters) Won [48]

Notes

  1. As part of the Music Team.

References

  1. Graham, Jefferson (April 9, 2026). "Oscar Practice: Early piano lessons lead to Academy Award for Manhattan Beach composer Mark Sonnenblick". Easy Reader. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  2. Gomez, Dessi (August 19, 2025). "'Kpop Demon Hunters' "Golden" Songwriter Mark Sonnenblick Signs With Kraft-Engel Management". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  3. Maas, Cadence. "Chadwick Alum Shows Musicals How It's Done". The Mainsheet. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  4. Vernon, David (October 19, 2018). "Mark Sonnenblick And "Midnight At The Never Get"". The Theatre Times. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  5. "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  6. "Two musicals — including one by alumni duo — to take shape in intensive, campus summer lab". YaleNews. April 14, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  7. Gans, Andrew (February 15, 2018). "Recipients of 2018 Jonathan Larson Grants Announced". Playbill. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  8. I., Isabella (November 4, 2025). "The Gay Genius Behind Kpop's 'Golden': Mark Sonnenblick". Instinct. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  9. Henderson, Taylor (November 3, 2025). "Meet the gay songwriter behind KPop Demon Hunters hit 'Golden'". Out. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  10. Webster, Andy (September 11, 2012). "Nothing Like Reality to Break Up a Party". The New York Times. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  11. Fierberg, Ruthie (June 2, 2019). "Tootsie, Hadestown, and The Ferryman Lead 2019 Drama Desk Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  12. Evans, Greg (April 3, 2019). "'Be More Chill', 'What The Constitution Means To Me' Score Off Broadway Lortel Award Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  13. Allison, Pete (February 9, 2026). "KPop Demon Hunters sequel 'in process', reveals Golden songwriter". BBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  14. Culwell-Block, Logan (September 19, 2025). "London's Devil Wears Prada Musical Releases a Cast Album September 19". Playbill. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  15. Haun, Harry (July 30, 2024). "Shaina Taub On Her Tony Winning 'Suffs' Providing Possibilities in Hard Times". The New York Observer. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  16. Evans, Greg (September 15, 2025). "The Baby-Sitters Club Book Series Being Adapted As Stage Musical With 'Kpop Demon Hunters' Songwriter On Board". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  17. Schaffstall, Katherine (August 12, 2019). "Emmys: A Guide to This Year's Music and Lyrics Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  18. Culwell-Block, Logan (July 1, 2020). "Cynthia Erivo and Shoshana Bean Sing on Newly Released Single From Saturday Night Seder". Playbill. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  19. Tangcay, Jazz (June 30, 2020). "Songs From Virtual Passover 'Saturday Night Seder' Released for Charity". Variety. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  20. Tangcay, Jazz (October 7, 2022). "'Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile' Songwriting Team on Writing Musical Earworms". Variety. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  21. Jones, CT (August 4, 2025). "How Two Songwriters From K-Pop and Musical Theater Built This Summer's Surprise Chart Smash". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  22. Rubin, Rebecca (November 18, 2021). "Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell's Musical 'Spirited' Adds Three Songwriters Alongside Pasek and Paul (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  23. Grein, Paul (January 9, 2023). "Alexandre Desplat Is Top Nominee for 2023 SCL Awards: Full List of Nominations". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  24. Grein, Paul (December 21, 2022). "Oscars 2023: Rihanna, Taylor Swift & Lady Gaga Make Original Song Shortlist". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  25. Burton, Byron (December 15, 2023). "Songwriter and Composer Mark Sonnenblick on His Fantastic Work for Searchlights' "Theater Camp"". Awards Focus. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  26. Grobar, Matt (November 8, 2023). "'Theater Camp's Nick Lieberman & Mark Sonnenblick On Cracking Searchlight Comedy's Third Act Musical – The Process". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  27. Grein, Paul (January 22, 2024). "'Barbie' Leads 2024 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards Nominations: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  28. Grein, Paul (January 7, 2024). "A 'Barbie' Song Won at 2024 Astra Film Awards, But It Wasn't the Billie Eilish Hit". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  29. Webster, Abby (July 18, 2025). "How 'KPop Demon Hunters' Created the Year's Biggest K-Pop Hits". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  30. Gomez, Dessi (November 6, 2025). "'KPop Demon Hunters' Duo EJAE And Mark Sonnenblick Break Down Their "Golden" Songwriting Process – Sound & Screen Film". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  31. Atkinson, Katie (November 7, 2025). "Grammy Nominations 2026: See the Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  32. Trust, Gary (October 6, 2025). "HUNTR/X's 'Golden' Is No. 1 on Hot 100 for Eighth Week, Tate McRae's 'Tit for Tat' Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  33. "Mark Sonnenblick". Grammy Awards. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  34. Bernabe, Angeline Jane; Leib, Mason (January 22, 2026). "Oscar nominations 2026: Full list of nominees". ABC News. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  35. "The 98th Academy Awards | (2026)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on February 8, 2026. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  36. Roxborough, Scott (February 22, 2026). "'KPop Demon Hunters' Sweeps Annie Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  37. ""Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" Lead 2024 Astra Award Film & Creative Arts Nominations". The Astra Awards. December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  38. "'Sinners' and 'Stranger Things' lead with the most nominations for the 2025 Astra Creative Arts Awards". The Astra Awards. November 19, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  39. Lewis, Hilary (December 5, 2025). "Critics Choice Awards Nominations: 'Sinners' Leads with 17 Nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  40. "Nominees and Recipients – 2019 Awards". Drama Desk Awards. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  41. "Mark Sonnenblick". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  42. "Georgia Film Critics Association 2025 Awards". Georgia Film Critics Association. December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  43. "Mark Sonnenblick". Golden Globe Foundation. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  44. Ramos Bechara, Diego (January 22, 2024). "'Barbie' Leads Music Supervisors Guild Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  45. "2025 HMMA Nominations". Hollywood Music in Media Awards. November 5, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  46. "IPA set to Celebrate the 30th Annual Satellite Awards". International Press Academy. December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  47. "Nominees Announced for 4th SCL Awards". Society of Composers & Lyricists. December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  48. "Nominees Announced for 7th SCL Awards®". Society of Composers & Lyricists. December 17, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.