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Paul Batterson

Paul Batterson

Since 2013, Paul Batterson has had a secret life: being a volunteer writer for BroadwayWorld. During this time, he has had the pleasure to see some of the best plays, musicals, and concerts, interview some of his personal heroes (Joe Walsh, Steven Page, and Ben Folds) and industry leaders (Andrew Lippa and Nathan Tysen) and watching Columbus theatre scene grow and grow. Batterson graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism and from Capital University with a teaching license. He has been married to his lovely wife Nancy for over three decades and has two grown children in Alicia Millerson, an actress in Denver, and Grant Batterson, who is heading to grad school in England.




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First Show:

Marmalade Gumdrops

Favorite Show:

I think EVITA is one of my favorite shows. It is great story telling about an event I knew nothing about and it changed my thinking of what a Broadway show could be.

Favorite Stories:

  • Henry Winkler - As a child growing up in the 70s, a person couldn't get any cooler than the Fonz. Getting a chance to meet Henry Winkler and hear tell the stories of his life journey was amazing.
  • Waiting in line half the adventure for Walsh fans - How many times do you get a chance to meet one of your heroes? It was so interesting to spend three or so hours with fans waiting to meet Joe Walsh at a record signing in his home town of Columbus, Ohio.
  • Squeeze’s Difford ready to test road waters in band’s NomadBand tour - Chris Difford pens some of the most poetic, thoughtful lyrics out there. It was interesting to sit down with him (via the miracle of Zoom) and see how he does it.
  • DEAR EVAN, Thanks For Everything. Sincerely, Columbus. - I truly enjoyed DEAR EVAN HANSEN because of the way it took the audience on a journey through despair to hope. It tackles some of the big issues of today (teenage suicide and social media) in a way that didn't sound preachy or like an afterschool special.
  • TOXIC AVENGER Earns a Glowing Review - You have to love a show whose opening line is a warning: The story we're about to tell you is so disturbing, we've stationed a registered nurse outside in the lobby. She is armed with a tranquilizer dart gun for those needing sedation. She also has Xanax and Vicodin she got off the internet."


MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

Review: THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Ohio Theatre
Review: THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Ohio Theatre
February 25, 2026

What did our critic think of THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Ohio Theatre?

Review: COLUMBUS CHILDREN'S THEATRE'S CABARET at Riffe Center
Review: COLUMBUS CHILDREN'S THEATRE'S CABARET at Riffe Center
February 23, 2026

In the Columbus Children’s Theatre production of CABARET, nothing is what it appears to be. A line can be repeated but cast a completely different meaning and things that are commonplace in the first act take on a darker symbolic meaning by the second.

Review: BRIT FLOYD'S THE MOON, THE WALL, AND BEYOND TOUR at Palace Theater
Review: BRIT FLOYD'S THE MOON, THE WALL, AND BEYOND TOUR at Palace Theater
February 23, 2026

In the Columbus Children’s Theatre production of CABARET, nothing is what it appears to be. A line can be repeated but cast a completely different meaning and things that are commonplace in the first act take on a darker symbolic meaning by the second.

Interview: Eden Espinosa of SNS SOIREE at Garden Theater
Interview: Eden Espinosa of SNS SOIREE at Garden Theater
February 19, 2026

In WICKED, Eden Espinosa’s skin was green. In LEMPICKA, the Tony-nominated actress had to age from 19 to 85 in a musical. On Feb. 28, Espinosa gets to perform in the skin she feels the most comfortable – her own.

Review: THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY at Southern Theatre
Review: THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY at Southern Theatre
February 10, 2026

What did our critic think of THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY at Southern Theatre?

Review: LEATHER AND LACE at Shadowbox Live
Review: LEATHER AND LACE at Shadowbox Live
February 6, 2026

Shadowbox’s latest production is more leather than lace, offering a wide variety of power ballads from each generation.

Interview: Brendan Jacob Smith of THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY at Southern Theatre
Interview: Brendan Jacob Smith of THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY at Southern Theatre
February 4, 2026

Most singers would kill to have Brendan Jacob Smith’s resume. Smith has been in a hit musical for over five years, released two albums, and joined an a cappella trio that reached the quarterfinals of AMERICA’S GOT TALENT -- all before the age of 30.

Interview: Remi Wortmeyer of PETER PAN at Ohio Theatre
Interview: Remi Wortmeyer of PETER PAN at Ohio Theatre
February 3, 2026

PETER PAN may be a story about never growing up, but BalletMet’s upcoming production offers a mature update to the children’s classic.

Interview: Damian Darlington of Brit Floyd's THE MOON, THE WALL AND BEYOND TOUR at Palace Theatre
Interview: Damian Darlington of Brit Floyd's THE MOON, THE WALL AND BEYOND TOUR at Palace Theatre
February 2, 2026

Those who attend the Columbus stop of THE MOON, THE WALL AND BEYOND tour at the Palace Theatre might be checking to make sure this is Brit Floyd instead of the actual Pink Floyd, which last played together with singer Roger Waters July 2, 2005, at the Live 8 Concert.

Review: LES MISERABLES at Ohio Theatre
Review: LES MISERABLES at Ohio Theatre
January 29, 2026

Reviewing the revered LES MISERABLES is always a mixed bag. The show, running Jan. 27–Feb. 1 at the Ohio Theatre (39 E. State Street, downtown Columbus), is a towering piece of musical theater history. It has a cadre of powerful songs (“Do You Hear The People Sing?,” “I Dreamed a Dream,” and “One More Day” … that’s just in the first act), and characters that linger with you long after the curtain falls.

Review: Short North Stage's COME FROM AWAY at Garden Theatre
Review: Short North Stage's COME FROM AWAY at Garden Theatre
January 25, 2026

What did our critic think of SHORT NORTH STAGE'S COME FROM AWAY at Garden Theatre?

Review: THE CALL at The Shedd Theater
Review: THE CALL at The Shedd Theater
January 24, 2026

What did our critic think of THE CALL at The Shedd Theater?

Interview: Adam Williams And Kristin Kelleher of COME FROM AWAY at Short North Stage
Interview: Adam Williams And Kristin Kelleher of COME FROM AWAY at Short North Stage
January 20, 2026

As a flight attendant years after the Sept. 11 attacks, Adam Williams used to think it was a minor inconvenience every time his plane was diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, and Labrador because of a storm in New York City.

Interview: Francesca DiFrancesco of THE CALL at Shedd Stage
Interview: Francesca DiFrancesco of THE CALL at Shedd Stage
January 16, 2026

Columbus-based playwright Francesca DiFrancesco latest work, THE CALL, was sparked during a visit to Disney World’s “Country Bear Jamboree.”

Previews: 2026 SCHEDULE OF SHOWS at The Abbey Theater Of Dublin
Previews: 2026 SCHEDULE OF SHOWS at The Abbey Theater Of Dublin
January 15, 2026

As he enters his sixth season with the Abbey Theater of Dublin, director Joe Bishara is overseeing a lineup of shows that brings elementary school students, high school and college-aged performers, and senior citizens to the stage.

Review: BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL at Ohio Theatre
Review: BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL at Ohio Theatre
January 7, 2026

Comedian John Mulaney has famously raised a few uncomfortable questions about BACK TO THE FUTURE — why a teenager is best friends with a decades-older nuclear scientist, why no one uses a time machine for anything meaningful, and why the story hinges on Marty nearly romancing his own mother.

Interview: Robert Cooperman of STAGE RIGHT THEATRICS SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL at Abbey Theatre Of Dublin
Interview: Robert Cooperman of STAGE RIGHT THEATRICS SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL at Abbey Theatre Of Dublin
January 4, 2026

As he gears up for the Stage Right Theatrics Short Play Festival, director Robert Cooperman doesn’t have to look far to see how far the 10th annual event has come.

Interview: Mike Bindeman of BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL at Ohio Theatre
Interview: Mike Bindeman of BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL at Ohio Theatre
December 21, 2025

The challenges couldn’t be more different for actor Mike Bindeman. The actor went from playing laidback guitarist Gregg Allman during THE CHER SHOW to playing super geek George McFly in BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL.

Interview: Reese Cameron of SIX THE MUSICAL at the Palace Theatre
Interview: Reese Cameron of SIX THE MUSICAL at the Palace Theatre
December 10, 2025

Read out interview with Reese Cameron of SIX THE MUSICAL at the Palace Theatre



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