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!”
BWW Blogs: 'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for March 10th, 2010
March 10, 2010
March 10, 2010
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 Fantasticks,' '13,' Three Missing Tours, 'Porgy And Bess,' 'Oh Coward!,' Sean Hayes, 'Million Dollar Quartet,' more.....
'Show Us Your Love' Is A Tasty And Rewarding Sampler Of American Musical Theater
March 9, 2010
March 9, 2010
Playing on Sunday nights in February and March in Mary's Attic, that casual and funky space above Hamburger Mary's restaurant in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, is the equally casual and funky "Show Us Your Love," a fundraiser cum audience development activity cum consumer survey vehicle that has somehow morphed into a performance event on its own very enjoyable terms.
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for March 3rd, 2010
March 3, 2010
March 3, 2010
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, Stephen Sondheim, Broadway In Chicago, 'The Addams Family,' 'Fiddler On The Roof,' 'Ragtime,' more.....
Lincolnshire's 'Fiddler': A Must-See, With Quibbles
March 1, 2010
March 1, 2010
Now through April 25, 2010, at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois, is a 'Fiddler On The Roof' for our time. It is true that we still have fresh memories of the not-quite ageless actor Topol as Tevye the dairyman, appearing in productions of this Bock-Harnick-Stein musical for almost 45 years (including last year in Chicago) but who is now 74 years old. As of late, actors, directors and designers are in the process of reimagining this jewel of the American musical theater (arguably the last masterpiece of the Golden Age) for 21st century audiences.....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 24th, 2010
February 24, 2010
February 24, 2010
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Breakfast Club,' 'Pride And Prejudice,' 'Love Never Dies,' 'Ragtime,' 'Rent,' more....
Joffrey 'Cinderella' A Marvelous Mix of Music, Theater and Dance
February 21, 2010
February 21, 2010
On view this weekend and next (through February 28, 2010) at the landmark Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt Unversity (in downtown Chicago) is an impressive, lovely, and sweetly moving mounting of Sir Frederick Ashton's 1948 choreography for Sergei Prokofiev's "Cinderella."
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 17th, 2010
February 17, 2010
February 17, 2010
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. '101 Dalmatians,' Patti and Mandy, 'Billy Elliot,' 'Candide,' 'Aida,' 'Fiddler On The Roof,' more....
Willy Shives And Matthew Adamcyk Take on 'The Stepsisters' in CINDERELLA
February 16, 2010
February 16, 2010
When Sir Frederick Ashton's 'Cinderella,' with music by Sergei Prokofiev, is revived this month by the Joffrey Ballet at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, the roles of the two stepsisters will be portrayed at select performances by two dancers at very nearly the opposite ends of the career spectrum, Willy Shives and Matthew Adamcyk....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 8th, 2010
February 10, 2010
February 10, 2010
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 Lion King,' 'The Wild Party,' 'Rush Limbaugh,' 'The Ring Cycle,' '13,' Stephen Sondheim, more.....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 3rd, 2010
February 3, 2010
February 3, 2010
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Grammy Awards, Oscar Nominations, 'The 101 Dalmatians Musical,' 'Beauty And The Beast,' 'Fiddler On The Roof,' 'A Tale Of Two Cities, new musicals, more.....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for January 26th, 2010
January 27, 2010
January 27, 2010
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Million Dollar Quartet,' Writers' Theatre, 'Chess,' 'Ragtime,' 'Dreamgirls,' 'Wicked,' more.....
The Joffrey Ballet Presents Sir Frederick Ashton's Timeless 'Cinderella'
January 24, 2010
January 24, 2010
The Joffrey Ballet's 2009-2010 'Season of Legends' continues with Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella, back by popular demand. Widely considered one of the greatest ballet interpretations of this timeless fairytale, Ashton's Cinderella is an enchanting fantasy full of splendor, humor and magic. The Chicago Sinfonietta, the official orchestra of The Joffrey Ballet, under the baton of conductor Scott Speck, will provide live musical accompaniment of Sergei Prokofiev's classic score.
'Annie' Thrives, Even In A Non-Equity Tour With Wrinkled Scenery
January 22, 2010
January 22, 2010
Boy, this one was a struggle to write! Tuesday night's opening performance of the weeklong stand of the now and forever "Tomorrow" musical, "Annie," still on a national tour that dates back to 2005, was enough to make this reviewer take a very deep breath. On the one hand were the direction, choreography and design concepts of this production,.....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for January 19th, 2010
January 19, 2010
January 19, 2010
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Annie,' 'Mamma Mia!,' 'Dreamgirls,' 'Billy Elliot,' Michael Ingersoll, 'Parade,' more.....
Sara Sheperd, Star, Lights Up Oakbrook's 'Funny Girl'
January 17, 2010
January 17, 2010
Chills. I got chills! When Sara Sheperd as Fanny Brice let loose the other night with her remarkable voice at the end of those legendary Brice/Barbra standards "I'm The Greatest Star," "Don't Rain On My Parade" and (even) "The Music That Makes Me Dance" .....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for January 13th, 2010
January 13, 2010
January 13, 2010
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Chicagoans in New York, Splash, Therapy, Marie's Crisis Cafe, 'Funny Girl,' Noel Coward, 'Chess,' more.....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for January 5th, 2010
January 5, 2010
January 5, 2010
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Mid-season closings, plus 'Nine,' 'The Princess And The Frog,' 'Shrek,' 'Funny Girl,' 'Passing Strange,' more.....
BWW Blogs: 'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 29th, 2009
December 30, 2009
December 30, 2009
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadwy. The Mosh Pit 'Top Ten Hot Topics' for the latter half of 2009: 10. 'Yeast Nation,' 9. 'Cabaret,' 8. 'In The Heights,' 7. 'South Pacific,' more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 23rd, 2009
December 23, 2009
December 23, 2009
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Nine,' 'The Addams Family,' Davenport's, 'In The Heights,' Broadway In Chicago, 'George Gershwin Alone,' more.....
Marriott Theatre Mounts An Unusual And Loverly 'My Fair Lady'
December 19, 2009
December 19, 2009
At the "theater-in-the-round" Marriott Theatre in Chicago's northern suburb of Lincolnshire, for the next two months or so, theatergoers will find a different sort of "My Fair Lady" than the one they might expect to find. Now, it is hilarious, very truthful and detailed, and its leading performances are gutsy and intelligent,....
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