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 January 26th, 2011
January 26, 2011
January 26, 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 Paramount Theatre, 'White Noise,' Oscar nominations, 'The 50 People Who Really Perform...,' 'A Little Night Music,' Liz Callaway, more....
BroadwayWorld Chicago Now Has A Facebook Page!
January 22, 2011
January 22, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011, marked another milestone for BroadwayWorld.com, the biggest theater site on the web. Editor-in-Chief Robert Diamond established a Facebook Page for BroadwayWorld Chicago, one of the oldest and busiest regional service sites on the international BroadwayWorld.com system.
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for January 19th, 2011
January 19, 2011
January 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. '9 To 5,' 'Wicked,' 'Working,' 'Spamalot,' Hollis Resnik, 'Tomorrow Morning,' more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for January 12th, 2011
January 11, 2011
January 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. The January-May lineup of national tours, Lea Salonga, 'Chicago Theatre Rock Stars,' Davenport's, a Mary Martin surprise, more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for January 5th, 2011
January 5, 2011
January 5, 2011
It's the Mosh Pit's 'Top Ten Hot Topics' for July through December of 2010! Did your favorite subject make the list?
Chicago’s Theater Community And Fans Come Together At The First Annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards Celebration!
January 2, 2011
January 2, 2011
Wednesday evening, December 29th, BroadwayWorld Chicago hosted the first annual Celebration of the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards (the BCAs, or The Broadys) at The Call nightclub, 1547 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue in the Andersonville neighborhood.
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 29th, 2010
December 29, 2010
December 29, 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 Broady Awards Celebration at The Call, the Kennedy Center Honors broadcast, 'Spiderman' rumors, January show closings, 'Spamalot,' 'Les Miserables,' 'White Noise,' more....
RAGTIME, PHILADELPHIA STORY, SUPERSTAR, CHESS Top BWW Chicago 2010 Awards!
December 24, 2010
December 24, 2010
BroadwayWorld, the biggest theater site on the web, today announces the winners of its 2010 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards! Productions and artists representing thirteen shows have come out on top, after online voting by fans of Chicago theater from November 1 through December 20, 2010. The 121 nominees in the 25 categories were drawn from 57 different theater productions in the Chicago area which opened between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010.
BWW Blogs: 'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 22nd, 2010
December 22, 2010
December 22, 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. 'Welcome Yule!,' 'Spamalot,' 'Guys and Dolls,' 'Grey Gardens,' Linda Eder, more....
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 15th, 2010
December 15, 2010
December 15, 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. 'White Christmas,' 'The Wind In The Willows,' 'Striking 12,' 'The Nativity,' 'The Other Cinderella, 'Cats,' music theater at Lyric Opera of Chicago, more....
Voting Deadline Approaches For The BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards (And Don’t Forget That Party)!
December 11, 2010
December 11, 2010
The deadline is almost here! Monday, December 20, 2010, is the final date you can cast your vote for the first ever Theatre Fans' Choice Awards from BroadwayWorld Chicago. We're honoring productions which opened between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010 with awards in 25 categories, all voted on by you!
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 8th, 2010
December 8, 2010
December 8, 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 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards Celebration, 'Wicked,' 'The Story Of My Life,' 'The Apple Tree,' 'Hello, Dolly!,' 'Working,' Ann Reinking, more....
BroadwayWorld Chicago Is Hosting An Awards Celebration December 29th, And You’re Invited!
December 5, 2010
December 5, 2010
BroadwayWorld, the biggest theater site on the web, is proud to announce that there will be a live Celebration of the first annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Theatre Fans' Choice Awards. And you're invited! Come celebrate Chicago's 2010 BroadwayWorld Awards with us!!
"Boojum!" What is it? Exactly. (An American Stage Premiere)
December 2, 2010
December 2, 2010
This show has only been staged one other time in its entire existence, in Australia in 1986, and certainly deserves a wider viewing. It is "Boojum!: Nonsense, Truth and Lewis Carroll," and it is on the boards at the DCA Theater on Randolph Street (now through December 19), a co-production of Chicago Opera Vanguard and Caffeine Theatre.
BWW Blogs: 'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 1st, 2010
December 1, 2010
December 1, 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. 'Sondheim!,' 'The Mikado,' 'The Pirates Of Penzance,' the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus, success at the Marriott Theatre, 'Cats,' Grammy Award nominations, more....
'A Civil War Christmas' Proves A Hard History Lesson At Northlight Theatre
November 25, 2010
November 25, 2010
Playwright Paula Vogel has wrought a researched and resonant snapshot of our nation's capital at a moment of waiting, a fullness not yet fulfilled. And that, unfortunately, describes the play as well.
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for November 24th, 2010
November 24, 2010
November 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. 'Burlesque,' 'Tangled,' Monday night's weekly showtune happenings, 'Miracle On 34th Street,' various holiday theater remounts, 'Boojum!,' more....
The Verismo Opera Club Wades Into The Waters Of Chicago’s Off-Loop Opera Scene
November 22, 2010
November 22, 2010
Chicago is home to any number of small, hard-working, barely-funded opera and operetta companies, some professional, some all-volunteer, and these for the most part fly entirely under the radar of traditional media and even of the internet itself. Some of these companies have been around in one form or another for years, and others emerge quickly and vanish just as quickly.
Actor Tanner Spears Critiques Changes Made To 'The Story Of My Life'
November 22, 2010
November 22, 2010
Now playing in Chicago is a revised production of the show, directed by its original director, the very capable Richard Maltby, Jr. The original authors, Neil Bartram and Brian Hill have written some new material.... Eagle-eyed readers of BroadwayWorld.com know that what is believed to be the very first non-Equity production of this show anywhere (still in its original version, of course) played in Chicago's far northwest suburbs in September of 2009. One of those two actors....
Marriott's 'Music Man' Brings A Singing, Dancing Town To Vivid Theatrical Life
November 17, 2010
November 17, 2010
Now through January 9, 2011, a most miraculous thing is happening onstage at the Marriott Theatre in far north suburban Lincolnshire, Illinois. An entire town is coming to life. Its citizens sing, they dance, they hum, they can't tell where talking starts and singing begins.... It's 'The Music Man.'
Videos