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!”
An Authentic 'Man of La Mancha,' Courtesy of Harms, Perkovich and Pullinsi
September 21, 2009
September 21, 2009
Onstage now at the Theatre at the Center, a quick drive from Chicago in Munster, Indiana, is a 'Man of La Mancha' that is about as authentic an evocation of the legendary 1960s New York staging as you are ever likely to see.....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for September 15th, 2009
September 15, 2009
September 15, 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. 'Jersey Boys,' Apple Tree Theatre, 'Avenue Q,' U2 and more......
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for September 8th, 2009
September 8, 2009
September 8, 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. 'Glee,' 'ComedySportz,' 'Yeast Nation' and more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for September 1st, 2009
September 1, 2009
September 1, 2009
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars. 'A Little Night Music,' '101 Dalmations,' 'Animal Crackers' and more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 25th, 2009
August 25, 2009
August 25, 2009
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars. 'Jersey Boys,' 'Million Dollar Quartet,' 'Poseidon' and more......
Oakbrook's 'Cabaret' a Seamless, Compelling Theatrical Vision
August 20, 2009
August 20, 2009
Run. Do not walk. Run to Oakbrook Terrace-or, at least, run to your car, train, bus, taxi or helicopter-in order to get to Chicago's western suburbs. There you will witness an extraordinary night of theater, Jim Corti's staging of 'Cabaret,' which is seamless, courageous and frequently state-of-the-art.
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 18th, 2009
August 18, 2009
August 18, 2009
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars. 'My Fair Lady,' 'Cabaret,' 'The Merry Widow' and more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 11th, 2009
August 11, 2009
August 11, 2009
The latest unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 5th, 2009
August 5, 2009
August 5, 2009
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars
'FOOTLOOSE' Is 'Flat' At Theatre at the Center
July 19, 2009
July 19, 2009
When a professional theater in suburban Chicago bills a lone actor above the title, expect great things. I mean, it doesn't happen very often. In the opening seconds of Theatre at the Center's production of the musical stage version of 'Footloose' now open in Munster, Indiana, the actor in question, Matt Raftery (starring as Ren), executes an impressive aerial move, half hip-hop and half gymnastics. The show explodes to an exciting start!
Oakbrook's 'Curtains' Adds Show Solidly to the Repertoire
March 28, 2009
March 28, 2009
Two important post-Broadway mountings of 21st-century musicals opened in the Chicago area this week. One, 'Mary Poppins,' has had a great deal of attention. Now you can forget about it. This review concerns itself with the other one! 'Curtains,' the exemplary 2007 Kander and Ebb post-modern musical comedy, is now receiving its first post-Broadway mounting anywhere at our very own west suburban Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace. That?s right! This major coup for Oakbrook continues the very high standards for musicals that the theatre set last year, with no end in sight.
An Astounding 'Miss Saigon' for Drury Lane Oakbrook
January 12, 2009
January 12, 2009
A helicopter very nearly lands on stage every night at the astounding, frequently breathtaking production of 'Miss Saigon' now on view at the Drury Lane theater in Chicago?s western suburb of Oakbrook Terrace. Said helicopter is the most viscerally exciting aspect of this high quality local mounting of Broadway?s 10th longest running musical, but is by no means its only emotionally affecting moment.
'The Santaland Diaries:' Chicago's Acquired Seasonal Taste
December 4, 2008
December 4, 2008
I understand there is someone called David Sedaris. Now, don't shoot me-I've been busy.
'St. Louis' Comes to Water Tower: It's a Perfect Match!
November 20, 2008
November 20, 2008
You couldn't throw at rock at the Wednesday night opening performance of 'Meet Me In St. Louis' at the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place without striking the cream of Chicago's hometown musical theater talent. And THAT was if you threw a rock at the audience!
Petersen/Morton 'Dublin Carol:' Sadness and a Wish for Hope
November 18, 2008
November 18, 2008
The very first snowflakes of Chicago?s coming winter season started to fall on me this past Sunday afternoon, as I made my way out of Steppenwolf Theatre Company?s Near North Side complex and a press performance in the Upstairs Theatre of Conor McPherson?s ?Dublin Carol.? That is the most Christmasy thing that happened to me the entire afternoon. Well, there ARE a few decorations strewn about the set.
John Herrera Anchors the Engaging, Tricky 'Medium at Large'
October 22, 2008
October 22, 2008
After extensive development in New York at the York Theatre and the Vineyard Theatre, the world premiere of the musical 'The Medium at Large' took place Sunday afternoon, October 19, 2008, at the Village Players Performing Arts Center in Oak Park, Illinois, just over Chicago's western border. Starring Tony Award nominee John Herrera (Neville in 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood') as the titular spiritualist, the show shows promise in negotiating a tricky premise and an even trickier payoff.
Tommy Tune's 'Turn:' It's Good and Could Be Great!
October 3, 2008
October 3, 2008
Where to begin? I have so many things to say about the world premiere production of the musical 'Turn of the Century' at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, a show with more than a dash of incisive sophistication, that I hardly know how to start this review. I'll just say that it is an extraordinarily beautiful production,
'The Producers:' Old-School Hilarity Recreated Live!
September 22, 2008
September 22, 2008
There is a big, steaming bowl of borscht on display in northwest Indiana, where Theatre at the Center's production of the 2000-2001 hit stage musical 'The Producers' is playing now through October 19th.
'Mamma Mia!' Tour Pop-Rocks the Historic Auditorium Theatre
September 18, 2008
September 18, 2008
I have news for all you fans of Donna Sheridan: 'Mamma Mia!' isn't about her, it's about her daughter!
Porchlight's 'Candide' a Delightful, Tuneful Romp
September 17, 2008
September 17, 2008
For the zippiest and most whimsical performance on the boards in Chicago this fall, look no further that the under-two-hours, no intermission production of the legendary 'Candide,' produced by Porchlight Music Theatre at Lakeview's Theatre Building Chicago.
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