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!”
September 24, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. All the scoop from the amazing FWD Theatre Project gala, and 'The Last Unicorn' gets some big backers. Plus concerts by Chita Rivera, Felicia P. Fields, Sierra Boggess and Donna McKechnie, 'Sweeney Todd' on PBS and 'From Here To Eternity' on movie screens, plus the Marriott announces two casts!
September 17, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. '50 Shades' joins the fall-winter lineup at the Broadway Playhouse, 'Stomp' and 'Rain' join BIC, Halloween musicals begin, two sketch musicals at pH, the Muellers and Mason headline FWD's gala, Weill and Porter shows prepare to open, and Barbra goes for six straight decades!
September 10, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Remembering Bernie Yvon and honoring Bebe Neuwirth. And the show goes on with Route 66's Alanis Morissette tribute, 'Cats' at the Paramount, Bailiwick's 'Wild Party' and BoHo's 'Parade,' music improv at MCL Chicago, the new Refuge Theatre Project, and Chicagoans on tour with 'Sister Act!'
September 3, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's our Super September Fall Preview! 'Evil Dead,' a South African 'Magic Flute,' Aurora's 'Cats,' 'Women On The Verge...,' Theo's Kurt Weill and LOW's Cole Porter, Bailiwick's 'Wild Party,' Porchlight's 'Sweeney Todd' and more!
August 27, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Equity Jeff Award nominations are out, and 'On The Town' is open. Peck and Lindley, Jessie Mueller and more are set for concerts here, and 'I Love Lucy' and the Grinch will return. Plus Theo Ubique's Andrews Sisters and Kurt Weill in rep, 'Titanic' and 'In The Heights' prepare, Munster announces 2015, and NBC flies its 'Peter Pan' cast. Ahh!!
August 21, 2014
When the Marriott Theatre in far north suburban Lincolnshire announced it was mounting a production of the 1944 landmark musical comedy 'On The Town,' most cognoscenti were excited. I mean, this is a show that everyone who takes musical theater seriously has studied, but that few have actually seen.
August 20, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. A BIC 'Beautiful' announcement, dates confirmed for Estefan musical 'On Your Feet,' both versions of 'The Wild Party' get local productions, Porchlight sings Disney, 'Toulouse' takes a stage, Tony winners Levi Kreis and Chita Rivera set solo dates here, and much more!
August 13, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's the Mosh Pit's 5th Birthday! We start off with the Broadway In Chicago Millennium Park concert, and bring you casting news for 'Evil Dead' and Dee Snider's 'Christmas Tale,' plus the latest from the Marriott Theatre, two northside shows about popular music, The Improvised Sondheim Project and Aurora's cast of 'Cats!' I think I need some cake....
August 6, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Special nights at the Marriott and Stage 773 this weekend, plus three shows opening ('Coraline,' 'Reefer Madness' and 'Fiddler') and four shows closing ('Motown,' 'Big Fish,' 'Godspell' and 'Hillbillies'). We'll tell you the three shows that have one additional week, plus a Christmas movie has us all a-buzz!!
July 30, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Our biggest musical theaters check in: Broadway In Chicago, the Marriott, the Drury Lane, the Paramount and Munster's TATC, plus Victory Gardens' special events, BoHo's 2015 season, 'The Book Of Merman' and new works from Jane Austen and the Everleigh Club!
July 23, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's the Chicago Summer Musical Theater Guide! With half the summer gone, our stages still burn bright with great showtune entertainment. Here's a rundown, from downtown to Indiana, to west and north. We've got 24 productions to keep your spirits up from now till Labor Day!
July 16, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Seussical' splashes, 'The Beverly Hillbillies,' 'Clemente' and 'Hansel & Gretel' bow, 'Hank Williams' returns, 'Charlie Brown' takes a hike, plus 'Reefer Madness' at Mayne, Bill Larkin at Davenport's and showtunes at Ravinia. Plus:'Titanic' arrives as 'The Last Ship' sails!
July 9, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. All the latest on the Goodman's 'Brigadoon,' cast announcements of major titles from Light Opera Works, the Paramount and Porchlight, see Team Starkid and 'Ball At The Savoy' at Stage 773, local premieres of 'Suds' and 'Big Fish,' plus the #1 high school actor in America and more!
July 2, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's the TOP TEN HOT TOPIX for the first half of 2014! Did your favorites make the list?
June 25, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Brigadoon' and 'The Last Ship' bust their moves, 'Kinky Boots' and 'Jersey Boys' announce returns, midsummer closings loom, 'Marvelettes,' 'Spelling Bee' and 'Seussical' open, the new shows 'Jim And Dave' and 'Apes Of Wrath,' plus a noteworthy trio at Davenport's and more!
June 23, 2014
Chicago's improv and sketch comedy scene is justifiably world-famous, and attracts young talents from across the country as surely as sugar attracts bees. Such institutions as The Second City, iO and the Annoyance Theatre train, entertain and inspire performers, writers and audiences with a variety of styles, venues and opportunities.
June 18, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Read about the EIGHT new musicals from Broadway In Chicago, the BIC Millennium Park concert, extensions for 'Days Like Today' and 'Avenue Q,' new work from Kokandy and New Colony, 'Caged Dames,' 'Myths And Hymns,' two films in downtown Aurora and Petterino's in downtown Chicago!
June 11, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's our annual Regional Summer Musical Theater Guide, featuring the best summer theaters in Illinois, Wisconsin, western Michigan and northern Indiana, plus the Muny in St. Louis! Timber Lake, American Folklore, Mason Street, Wagon Wheel, Little Theatre On The Square and more!
June 9, 2014
Between graduating from Syracuse University in 2005, and getting her Broadway break opposite Harry Connick, Jr., in 2011, Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller was a Chicago-based actress, following in the steps of her Evanston-based parents, Roger Mueller and Jill Shellabarger. And what a career she had in the Windy City!
June 4, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Jeff Awards, Theo Ubique's future plans, Jennifer Hudson performs, 'Damn Yankees' at LOW, 'The Beverly Hillbillies,' 'Coraline,' 'The Last Ship' and the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival debut, 'Spelling Bee' starts, 'Avenue Q' extends and BroadwayWorld Chicago hosts a Tony Party!
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