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Paul W. Thompson - Page 25

Paul W. Thompson Paul W. Thompson, a contributor to BroadwayWorld.com since 2007, is a Chicago-based singer, actor, musical director, pianist, vocal coach, composer and commentator. His career as a performer, teacher and writer is centered at Paul W. Thompson Music, located in Chicago’s historic Fine Arts Building, where he teaches the great songs of Broadway to the next generation of musical theater performers. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Paul was raised in a family of professional musicians and teachers, steeped in classical, gospel, country, pop, sacred and show music. Dubbed a “thin, winsome lad” at the age of 13 by a critic for the Nashville Banner, he earned two degrees in musical theater (a B.F.A. with Honors from Baylor University and an M.M. from the University of Miami, Florida), plus an M.B.A. with Distinction from DePaul University. Paul’s memberships include Actors’ Equity Association, the American Guild of Musical Artists, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (proud voter for the Grammy Awards!), the National Association of Teachers of Singing and New York’s Drama League.

Moving easily between the worlds of classical music, religious music, classic pop and musical theater, Paul has appeared onstage or in the orchestra pit in concerts, musicals, operettas and operas in 30 states and in Europe, in a career spanning more than 35 years. His Chicagoland stage credits include “Forever Plaid” at the Royal George Theater and twenty mainstage productions at Light Opera Works. Paul joined the Chicago Symphony Chorus in 1995 (he was Tenor I Section Leader for four years and sings on two Grammy-winning recordings), and is one of Chicago’s foremost liturgical singers, marking 20 years as a member of the choir at St. James Cathedral (Episcopal) in 2011.He has composed and arranged a number of anthems, hymns and songs for worship and concert use, and collaborates on the creation of new works of musical theater. Paul can be found on Monday nights watching showtune videos at the world-famous Sidetrack nightclub, the inspiration for his weekly column, “The Showtune Mosh Pit.” His proudest achievement is that he has seen the original Broadway production of every Tony Award-winning Best Musical since “Cats.” No, really. Since “Cats!”





Yeston/Kopit 'Phantom' Makes a Lovely, Puzzling Production
July 20, 2008

Veteran Chicago theatergoers will recall the long-running production of the musical called simply 'Phantom,' at the now-razed Candlelight Dinner Playhouse in southwest suburban Summit, Illinois. The show, written in the 1980s by composer/lyricist Maury Yeston and bookwriter Arthur Kopit as a follow-up to their Tony-winning musical 'Nine,'...

'Ain't Misbehavin' Is A Rollicking Goodman Time
July 1, 2008

That roar you heard in Chicago's Loop Monday evening, June 30th, was the enthusiastic opening night audience at the Goodman Theatre, where the volcanic excitement generated by a summertime, homegrown production of the 'Fats' Waller musical 'Ain't Misbehavin' will very nearly blow the roof off the place for the next month or so.

Tiny 'Gutenberg' Delivers Big Laughs, Insight and Warmth
June 26, 2008

'Gutenberg! The Musical!' is a fun night out, delivering more laughs than many a big budget show...

Johnny Mathis Still a Crowd-Pleaser at Age 72
June 1, 2008

Now on tour in celebration of more than 50 years as a recording artist, the legendary Johnny Mathis showed the kids how it's done on Saturday night, May 31st.

'Avenue Q' a Polished, Brilliant Musical Comedy Gem
'Avenue Q' a Polished, Brilliant Musical Comedy Gem
May 23, 2008

Simply put, 'Avenue Q' is a brilliant musical comedy, written, staged and performed by brilliant people, saying brilliant, insightful things about young adulthood and life in general-and the actors are having a fantastic time on stage every single night.

'80 Days' a Fun and Polished Lookingglass World Premiere
April 27, 2008

Multicultural story theater, with a touch of romance and a large dollop of stage fights, is on display now at the Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago...

Review: 'Todd' Tour Triumphant, Now and Forever
April 26, 2008

The current national tour of the Stephen Sondheim/Hugh Wheeler musical 'Sweeney Todd' blew into the Windy City for a two-week engagement at the Cadillac Palace Theatre this week, revealing that the show is so strong as originally written that almost any style of storytelling will reveal its truths. If this fact doesn't mark the show as a true performing arts masterwork, then I don't know how anything else could. This show, and this metaphor-laden production of it, are miraculous in their revealing of the human condition.

My Times Square: A Big Apple Love Letter - Part 2
Best Musical: Tony vs Grammy - Part 3
February 25, 2008

Now that the 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is history, and before the Tony Awards season sneaks up on us, it might be a good time to do a little investigating into the relationship between the category that both award shows recognize-Best Musical, of course.

Best Musical: Tony vs Grammy - Part 2
February 25, 2008

Now that the 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is history, and before the Tony Awards season sneaks up on us, it might be a good time to do a little investigating into the relationship between the category that both award shows recognize-Best Musical, of course.

Best Musical: Tony vs Grammy - Part 1
February 24, 2008

Now that the 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is history, and before the Tony Awards season sneaks up on us, it might be a good time to do a little investigating into the relationship between the category that both award shows recognize-Best Musical, of course.

A Must-See 'Othello' Opens at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
February 17, 2008

Chicago Shakespeare Theater has mounted a truly state-of-the-art production of one of the Bard's greatest tragedies, Othello, in its mainstage Courtyard Theater on Navy Pier. Everything, from the acting to the designs to the elocution to the pacing, is top-notch and exemplary. Now if they could just find a script worthy of all that theatrical expertise!

Signal Ensemble's '1776' A Remarkable Off-Loop Achievement
January 31, 2008

The 1969 Broadway musical 1776 a great choice for revival almost anytime, but especially during a hard-fought Presidential primary season like the one facing us now.

'Velvet Singer' Software Journals & Organizes Auditions
January 30, 2008

William Bennett's software product, 'Velvet Singer' has features that classical singers, and those aspiring to join them, will love.

'Shining City:' Ghost Story, Triumph of the Human Spirit
January 24, 2008

Shining City, the celebrated contemporary drama by young Irish playwright Conor McPherson, is now playing its Chicago premiere in a stunning and fascinating production at the Goodman Theatre

Storefront 'Cabaret' Serves-Up Some Spicy Goods
January 2, 2008

The no-holds-barred production of the classic stage musical Cabaret, which has been running at the No Exit Café in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, deserves many kudos for bringing this show to life. And what a life!



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