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!”
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 5th, 2014
February 5, 2014
February 5, 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. 'Ain't Misbehavin' and 'Ragtime' get ready, the 'Lyle' and 'Schoolhouse' kids' musicals, two stagings of 'Cabaret,' The Phantom and Raoul to visit Stage 773, KT Sullivan in Hyde Park, the Belmont Theater District is born, and more!
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for January 29th, 2014
January 30, 2014
January 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. 'Into The Woods,' the Chicago Musical Theater Festival, new music for Tom Stoppard, Rob Ashford to direct Lyric's 'Carousel,' Ellington's 'Queenie Pie,' 'Love Story,' NU's 'Shrek,' my Grammy and Oscar views, and more!
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for January 22nd, 2014
January 22, 2014
January 22, 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. Sondheim shows 'Gypsy,' 'Road Show,' 'Passion' and 'Waltz,' plus Gambatese in Lyric's 'SOM,' NBC's follow-up, Lamont Dozier's show, Bailiwick's Casting Auction results, Chris and Aaron start a monthly variety show, and more!
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for January 15th, 2014
January 15, 2014
January 15, 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. News about the 'Phantom' and 'Cinderella' tours, suburban theaters mount 'Cabaret,' 'Young Frankenstein,' 'Ring Of Fire' and more, plus 'A New Brain,' Hollis Resnik's Milwaukee turn as Judy, and more this month from Circle Theatre!
2013 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Winners Announced! Celebration Honors MENAGERIE, SWEENEY, DeShields, Menzel And More
January 9, 2014
January 9, 2014
BroadwayWorld.com and BroadwayWorld Chicago are proud to announce the winners of the fourth annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, the only comprehensive, fan-voted theater awards system in the Chicago area. And the big winner at the 2013 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards Celebration, held on Wednesday evening, January 8, 2014 at The Call Bar, was the Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company production of 'The Glass Menagerie,' which carried off five of the coveted award Certificates.
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for January 8th, 2014
January 8, 2014
January 8, 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 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award winners will be announced tonight! Plus 'Ghost' and 'Phantom' haunt the Loop, 'Wicked' casts Tim Kazurinsky, productions like 'Sweet Smell' and 'Nunsense,' The Midtown Men, news out of Circle Theatre and more!
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for January 1st, 2014
January 1, 2014
January 1, 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 'Top Ten Hot Topix' for the second half of 2013!!
Best of 2013: Chicago's Ten Best!
December 30, 2013
December 30, 2013
Elee Schrock and Paul W. Thompson pick the ten best theater productions in Chicago for 2013.
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 25th, 2013
December 26, 2013
December 26, 2013
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Davenport's serves up the holidays, Theo Ubique's January Cabaret Series, Kevin Cole on the Marvin Hamlisch PBS special, the Muellers make the 'Post,' BET announced rep, and a listing of Chicago shows to catch this week, plus the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards and more!
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 18th, 2013
December 18, 2013
December 18, 2013
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 Get Your Gun' from LOW, '42nd Street' at the Paramount, the Mercury Theatre's season announcement, 'Dolly' and 'Young Frankenstein' in Oakbrook, a 'Carnival' in concert, a recap of the BIC spring tours and more!
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 11th, 2013
December 12, 2013
December 12, 2013
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. That 'Sound Of Music' show becomes a national conversation, 'Saving Mr. Banks,' The House 'Nutcracker,' two Scrooge twists, our January 'Phantom,' Dee Snider's show, the 'Meet John Doe' OSCR and our latest Broadway transfers!
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 4, 2013
December 4, 2013
December 4, 2013
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 a non-holiday edition! With 'The Mikado,' 'Triumph Of Love,' 'Sweet Smell Of Success,' 'Cabaret' at the Marriott, 'Ain't Misbehavin',' CST's 'Gypsy' and more, plus Streisand and Sondheim on TV, and 'The Sound Of Music' at Sidetrack!
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for November 27th, 2013
November 27, 2013
November 27, 2013
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Wicked' at Sidetrack, three more versions of 'A Christmas Carol,' four radio productions of 'It's A Wonderful Life,' BET's original 'dancesical,' Davenport's, the 'Black Nativity' and sing-a-long 'Grease' films, the Bar Show and more!
Theo Ubique's Original (But Very Brief) A VERY MERRY MADRIGAL
November 27, 2013
November 27, 2013
Most theater companies try to mount something during the holiday season. And so it is that the powers that be at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, that most storefront of all of the Chicago area non-Equity musical theater companies, has mounted a clever idea and unique holiday entertainment called "A Very Merry Madrigal," directed by David Heimann.
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for November 20th, 2013
November 20, 2013
November 20, 2013
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Holiday perennials 'The Christmas Schooner,' 'Winter Pageant,' 'Christmas In Chicago' and more, plus 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,' 'Carrie' casting, Griffin's 'Bee,' two from Disney and NBC's 'The Sound Of Music!'
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for November 13th, 2013
November 13, 2013
November 13, 2013
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 BCA nominations are out, Levi Kreis leads a reading, 'We Three Lizas' return, two holiday shows from Broadway In Chicago, three more versions of 'A Christmas Carol,' more reindeer, and Palatine's 'White Christmas.' And it's still early November!
BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Nominations for 2013 Announced: BoHo, CST, MENAGERIE, HANK WILLIAMS And More Lead the Way!
November 13, 2013
November 13, 2013
BroadwayWorld.com is proud once again to announce the nominations for the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, Chicago's only comprehensive, fan-voted theater award now in its 4th fabulous year. And the Bohemian Theatre Ensemble leads the way, with a whopping 15 nominations overall, including 10 for its summer production of 'Kiss of the Spider Woman.' Chicago Shakespeare Theater is next overall, with 12 nods, spread out over an impressive 7 different productions, including 'Othello: The Remix,' 'Henry VII,' 'The School for Lies' and its Shakespeare in the Parks production of 'The Comedy of Errors,' nominated as Best Theatrical Event.
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for November 6th, 2013
November 6, 2013
November 6, 2013
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 winners, the Q Brothers tackle Christmas, The Rascals visit, 'The Dead Prince' debuts, plus three shows extend, the Kiss Kiss Cabaret explodes, Christine Andreas in in Indy and Bruce Vilanch plays Sidetrack!
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for October 30th, 2013
October 30, 2013
October 30, 2013
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Big local openings ('Miss Saigon,' 'Hello, Dolly!' and 'Mary Poppins'), holiday fare like Menken's 'A Christmas Carol,' the return of 'We Three Lizas' and more, season announcements from MTC and LOW, plus the Season Of Concern CD and a BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards deadline!
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for October 23rd, 2013
October 23, 2013
October 23, 2013
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Three touring shows are playing this week, with 'Wicked' beginning next week, plus a lot at Northwestern, two spelling bees, more Halloween shows, appearances by Joan Crawford and Elaine Stritch, and more!
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