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Paul Batterson - Page 6

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."


Feature: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at Ohio Theatre
Feature: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at Ohio Theatre
June 3, 2023

Actor Justin Mark doesn’t remember reading TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD when he was in high school. Now he’s living in an English teacher’s twisted, TWILIGHT ZONEish fantasy, as he performed in the Harper Lee classic over 500 times in the last two years.

Review: REVIEW: THE WILD PARTY at Garden Theater
Review: REVIEW: THE WILD PARTY at Garden Theater
May 15, 2023

What did our critic think of REVIEW: THE WILD PARTY at Garden Theater?

Feature: Inside THE WILD PARTY At Garden Theater
Review: REVIEW: PRINCESS BRIDE at Palace Theater
Review: REVIEW: PRINCESS BRIDE at Palace Theater
May 1, 2023

What did our critic think of REVIEW: PRINCESS BRIDE at Palace Theater? The throng of attendees turned the showing into part rock concert, part Episcopal Church “call and response” worship service. Every joke received a burst of laughter and applause like the crowd was seeing the movie for the first time. Yet every memorable line was recited in time with the actors on the screen.

Feature THE PRINCESS BRIDE at Palace
Feature THE PRINCESS BRIDE at Palace
April 24, 2023

THE PRINCESS BRIDE won no Oscars, was a moderate box office success ($30.8 million on a $16 million production budget), and had only a few established TV stars (Billy Crystal, Peter Falk, and Andre the Giant) when it was released, However, it is listed as 50th in Bravo's '100 Funniest Movies' and 88th on the American Film Institute's list of the 100th greatest film love stories.

Review: REVIEW: A YANKEE GOES HOME at At Abbey Theater Of Dublin
Review: REVIEW: A YANKEE GOES HOME at At Abbey Theater Of Dublin
April 17, 2023

What did our critic think of REVIEW: A YANKEE GOES HOME at At Abbey Theater Of Dublin? When he first learned the Abbey Theater of Dublin was interested in doing the world premiere of A YANKEE GOES HOME, Irish American playwright Sean Cooney was thrilled to be doing a production in his homeland. Then Cooney learned the Abbey Theater was located off Emerald Parkway in Dublin, Ohio, not in the Capital City of the Emerald Isle.

Review: CAPA SEASON at Ohio And Palace Theatres
Review: CAPA SEASON at Ohio And Palace Theatres
April 5, 2023

What did our critic think of CAPA SEASON at Ohio And Palace Theatres? Be it their birthday, anniversary, Halloween, or the Fourth of July, everyone has a special day to which they look forward.

Review: REVIEW: INTO THE WOODS at Short North Stage
Review: REVIEW: INTO THE WOODS at Short North Stage
March 20, 2023

What did our critic think of REVIEW: INTO THE WOODS at Short North Stage? There are two adages most people know about the theatre: 'Break a leg' and 'The show must go on.' Short North Stage experienced both as it prepared for its 19-show run of INTO THE WOODS.

Review: HITS! THE MUSICAL at Southern Theatre
Review: HITS! THE MUSICAL at Southern Theatre
March 19, 2023

What did our critic think of HITS! THE MUSICAL at Southern Theatre?

Feature: HITS! THE MUSICAL at Southern Theatre
Feature: HITS! THE MUSICAL at Southern Theatre
March 12, 2023

When HITS! THE MUSICAL was gearing up to embark on a 48-city tour of the United States, a reality TV crew was brought on board to document the journey. The thought of 29 young adults between the ages of 10 to 22 traveling as an army across the United States seems to be ready made for a sudsy docudrama.

Feature: INTO THE WOODS at Short North Stage
Feature: INTO THE WOODS at Short North Stage
March 9, 2023

After reciting the 'The Witch's Entrance' for 19 shows in Short North Stage's production of INTO THE WOODS, Diana DeGarmo may never look at a salad the same way again.

Review: SLAVE PLAY at Short North Stage
Review: SLAVE PLAY at Short North Stage
February 5, 2023

What did our critic think of SLAVE PLAY at Short North Stage? People always ask critics two questions: “did you like it?” and “is it worth seeing?” When it comes time to discuss SLAVE PLAY, these two questions are going to be tough to answer. Did I like it? From a theatrical rubric, it checks off the boxes of fantastic acting and wonderful direction, and powerful message. However, is it enjoyable? At times yes … and sometimes it felt like a punch to the stomach.  

Review: SIX: THE MUSICAL at Ohio Theatre
Review: SIX: THE MUSICAL at Ohio Theatre
January 26, 2023

What did our critic think of SIX: THE MUSICAL at Ohio Theatre?

Review: THE PRICE OF POWER at Abbey Theater Of Dublin
Review: THE PRICE OF POWER at Abbey Theater Of Dublin
January 17, 2023

What did our critic think of THE PRICE OF POWER at Abbey Theater Of Dublin? As the director of THE PRICE OF POWER, Abbey Theater of Dublin director Joe Bishara is up against an interesting challenge. How does one present a show about John F. Kennedy, one of the most famous faces in the history of American politics?

Interview: THE PRICE OF POWER at Abbey Theater
Interview: THE PRICE OF POWER at Abbey Theater
January 6, 2023

What did our critic think of THE PRICE OF POWER at Abbey Theater?

Feature: 2022 HOLIDAY SHOWS In Columbus
Feature: 2022 HOLIDAY SHOWS In Columbus
December 19, 2022

I will proudly admit it. I don't like Christmas shows. I once videotaped HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS and purposely stopped taping right about the time the Grinch was about to dump the presents off the edge of Mount Crumpet. I empathize with Miles Finch and Mr. Potter more than I do with Buddy the Elf and George Bailey.

Interview: ELF: THE MUSICAL at Palace Theater
Interview: ELF: THE MUSICAL at Palace Theater
December 7, 2022

Most Christmas shows seem to follow a simple pattern: Someone doesn't have that festive spirit meets someone who does, a miracle happens, and the bah humbuger sees the joy in the holidays.

Review: VETSAID at Nationwide Arena
Review: VETSAID at Nationwide Arena
November 16, 2022

What did our critic think of VETSAID at Nationwide Arena? When the Eagles appeared in Columbus for the 'The History of the Eagles' tour, the members of the band appeared in nearly identical black suits. One of the first questions readers always ask is: 'Joe Walsh has a suit?'

Review: ASSASSINS at Columbus Performing Arts Center
Review: ASSASSINS at Columbus Performing Arts Center
November 14, 2022

What did our critic think of ASSASSINS at Columbus Performing Arts Center? Stephen Sondheim issued a not-so-subtle warning to critics attending his musical ASSASSINS. In the song, 'the Ballad of Booth,' the balladeer questions the Abraham Lincoln killer for his motives: 'Some say you killed a country, John/Because of bad reviews.'

Feature: VETSAID at Nationwide Arena
Feature: VETSAID at Nationwide Arena
November 9, 2022

For the last three days, Haiden (no last name given) and his mother have kept a lonely vigil at Used Kids records (2500 Summit St. in Columbus), waiting to meet guitar hero Joe Walsh.



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