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 September 7th, 2011
September 8, 2011
September 8, 2011
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 breakdown of the Equity Jeff Award nominations, plus a world premiere Jane Austen adaptation, 'Guys And Dolls,' 'Starting Here...,' 'Rodgers And Hart...' a Leonard Bernstein tribute and more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 31st, 2011
August 31, 2011
August 31, 2011
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Drury Lane lays out its plans, a new theater opens in Plainfield, new seasons at Fireside and Northwestern, plus Gilbert, Sullivan, satire, sketch and all that!
BWW Reviews: The World Premiere of FOR THE BOYS Is Good. Could It Be Better?
August 30, 2011
August 30, 2011
The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois, north of Chicago, has an enormous subscription base, deep pockets, a talented and experienced in-house design team and a film property to adapt that touches on a number of important, stage-worthy themes (military patriotism, family, nostalgia, a timely re-visit to accusations of communism in America, parenthood, mid-century entertainment history and censorship, both military and network). And the show's lawyers have acquired the rights to a Hit Parade of jukebox-musical-worthy tunes. But is that enough to make a new stage musical out of the 1991 film 'For The Boys'?
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 24th, 2011
August 24, 2011
August 24, 2011
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 return of 'Mary Poppins' and 'Jersey Boys,' the premiere of 'For The Boys,' Mandy Patinkin, Nathan Gunn, Laura Benanti, 'Oprah! A Comedy!,' more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 17th, 2011
August 18, 2011
August 18, 2011
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Darren Criss live in concert, Adam Pascal/Anthony Rapp, 'Sweeney Tod' with Gregg Edelman, 'The Student Prince,' new works at House and the Old Town School, more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 10th, 2011
August 10, 2011
August 10, 2011
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to New York. 'West Side Story' on stage and screen, Darren Criss of 'Glee' in 3D, Amy & Freddy, another 'Evita,' 'Schoolhouse Rock Live!,' Jessie Mueller on Broadway and more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 3rd, 2011
August 3, 2011
August 3, 2011
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Paul McCartney, 'Enough,' 'Jersey Shore: The Musical,' 'Follies' in Chicago, the world premiere of Schwartz's 'Snapshots,' more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for July 27th, 2011
July 27, 2011
July 27, 2011
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 summer theater tour of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and northern Indiana, plus the Muny in St. Louis and some thoughts upon returning from Toronto.
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for July 20th, 2011
July 19, 2011
July 19, 2011
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Kristin Chenoweth at Sidetrack, Jennifer Hudson at Ravinia, 'Carousel,' 'West Side Story,' 'Jim Caruso's Cast Party,' 'For The Boys,' more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for July 13, 2011
July 13, 2011
July 13, 2011
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 BroadwayWorld party tonight at The Call, a new 'Pinocchio,' 'Pinkalicious,' 'Aladdin,' that Blues Brothers show, 'The Wiz,' Midwest New Musicals, Part II, more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for July 6, 2011
July 6, 2011
July 6, 2011
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,' Midwest New Musicals, 'The Homosexuals,' 'Godspell' at 40, 'The Rose Of Stambul,' a BroadwayWorld Chicago party and more!
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for June 29, 2011
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. We've got the Mosh Pit 'Top Ten Hot Topics' for January-June, 2011, including the 'Company' concert, 'The Original Grease,' 'Next To Normal,' 'Working' and more!
BWW Reviews: Love In The "Dating Game" Era - SHOUT Is Reconceived By Lincolnshire’s Marriott Theatre
June 27, 2011
June 27, 2011
The Marriott Theatre in far north suburban Lincolnshire has long been a testing ground-- for newly-written musicals, or for musicals never before produced in the round. (When you have that many subscribers, you can take a few highly visible risks.) Now, through August 14, 2011, the theatre is trying to breathe new life into the 2006 off-Broadway musical "Shout!," which you may remember didn't fare so well in a commercial run at the Drury Lane Theatre, Water Tower Place, in the summer of 2008. Award-winning director-choreographer Rachel Rockwell and music director and Northwestern University staff member Ryan T. Nelson have grappled with the jukebox songs originally assembled by others, and they use the Marriott's top-notch team of singers, dancers, arrangers and designers to very nearly come up with a winning 90-minute, intermissionless theatrical diversion. Very nearly.
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for June 22, 2011
June 22, 2011
June 22, 2011
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 Glee Project,' 'A Celebration Of Charles Strouse,' 'Shout!,' 'Broadway In Chicago Concert At Taste Of Chicago,' dueling productions of 'Follies,' more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for June 15, 2011
June 15, 2011
June 15, 2011
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Tony Awards wrap-up, 'Sweeney Todd' cast at Drury Lane Oakbrook, extensions for 'Murder For Two' and 'Trogg!,' summer theater for kids, more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for June 8th, 2011
June 8, 2011
June 8, 2011
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Jeff Awards wrap-up, Tony Awards predictions, 'Glee' live, 'Chicago' in Chicago, 'Million Dollar Quartet,' 'A Minister's Wife,' more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for June 1st, 2011
June 1, 2011
June 1, 2011
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Jeff Awards, 'Brigadoon,' two musicals from Chamber Opera Chicago, '1776' in Wheaton, 'The Mommies,' 'A Christmas Story,' summer stock and more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for May 25th, 2011
May 25, 2011
May 25, 2011
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to New York. 'Smash,' new CD releases, 'Follies,' 'Trogg!,' 'Earthqueef,' 'Show Boat' at Lyric Opera, Alan Cumming, more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for May 18th, 2011
May 18, 2011
May 18, 2011
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to New York. Our top rated musicals, 'Porgy And Bess,' 'Murder For Two,' 'Something's Afoot,' 'Street Scene,' 'Adding Machine,' 'A Minister's Wife,' more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for May 11th, 2011
May 11, 2011
May 11, 2011
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,' 'White Noise,' 'Porgy And Bess,' 'The Wiz,' 'Adrift In Macao,' 'Glee,' more.
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