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Paul W. Thompson - Page 6

Paul W. Thompson 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!”





BWW REVIEWS: PIANO DIARIES in the Athenaeum Theatre's Studio One: Striving for Something Just Out of Reach
BWW REVIEWS: PIANO DIARIES in the Athenaeum Theatre's Studio One: Striving for Something Just Out of Reach
June 3, 2014

Chicago native, pianist, composer, singer, teacher and thinker Peter Saltzman, now a playwright, producer and actor as well, is putting himself quite on display in the new theater piece, "Piano Diaries," which opened in Studio One at the venerable Athenauem Theatre last weekend for a run through July 6, 2014.

The Second City, Writers Theatre, Theo Ubique and UP Comedy Club Add Free Ticket Offers To BWW Chicago's Tony Party Prize List!
The Second City, Writers Theatre, Theo Ubique and UP Comedy Club Add Free Ticket Offers To BWW Chicago's Tony Party Prize List!
May 31, 2014

Since May 13, four of Chicago's most prominent live performance venues have added their names to the list of free ticket offers available to guests attending the BroadwayWorld Chicago Tony Award Viewing Party! The Second City and its sister, UP Comedy Club, along with Glencoe's Writers Theatre and Rogers Park's Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, have joined the previously announced Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, American Blues Theatre, First Folio Theatre and more. Be the first person to answer a "Chicago At The Tonys" trivia question, and take home a voucher good for tickets to one of Chicago's hottest theater spaces!

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for May 28th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for May 28th, 2014
May 28, 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 Jeff Awards, Tony Tunes and our very own Tony Award Viewing Party are upon us! Plus 'Carrie' and 'Godspell,' the new musicals 'Days Like Today,' 'Saudade' and 'Flux Capacitor,' news from Annoyance Theatre, Movies In the Parks and more!

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for May 21st, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for May 21st, 2014
May 21, 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. Our very own Tony Award Viewing Party (you're invited), new takes on 'Hair' and 'Myths And Hymns,' tryouts of 'Amazing Grace' and 'On Your Feet!,' that reading of 'Bedknobs And Broomsticks,' Chicago originals 'Mister Kelly' and 'Caged Dames,' more film news, the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus and more!

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for May 14th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for May 14th, 2014
May 14, 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. Michael Urie ignites the night, 'Mamma Mia!' returns, the original musicals 'One Hit Wonders,' 'The Last Ship' and 'Hey! Dancin'!,' a new 'Big Fish' and 'Seussical,' plus all the latest on showtune movies, TV shows and more!

Mark Your Calendars: BroadwayWorld Chicago's Tony Award Viewing Party Is On!
Mark Your Calendars: BroadwayWorld Chicago's Tony Award Viewing Party Is On!
May 13, 2014

BroadwayWorld Chicago is excited to announce details for our annual Tony Award Viewing Party, when Chicago's theater community (professionals and fans alike) will come together to enjoy the televised broadcast of the 68th Annual Tony Awards from New York. The biggest night of the year for live theater is a great chance to root for your favorites, glimpse a colleague in the audience, plan your future theatrical experiences, or just enjoy the company of like-minded folks from all across the Chicagoland area.

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for May 7th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for May 7th, 2014
May 7, 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. Welcome to the '60s, with 'How To Succeed,' 'Motown,' 'Cabaret' and 'Hair,' plus tributes to Jack Lemmon and the Carpenters, the upcoming 'Jersey Boys' film, 'Option Up!,' that one-night 'Parade' concert and the BroadwayWorld Chicago Tony Award Viewing Party!

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for April 30th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for April 30th, 2014
April 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. 'The Sound Of Music' and 'The Wizard Of Oz' live, a local 'Ragtime' and 'Avenue Q,' premieres of 'Juno' and 'The Next Thing,' 'Hit The Wall' and 'Waa-Mu' return, CCT announces two world premieres, and Illinois has its high school musical theater champs--plus even more!

BWW REVIEWS: Sumptuous Sights and Sounds Make “The Sound of Music” Thrilling at Lyric Opera of Chicago
BWW REVIEWS: Sumptuous Sights and Sounds Make “The Sound of Music” Thrilling at Lyric Opera of Chicago
April 28, 2014

I hardly know where to begin in describing the beautiful, world-class, but dramatically uneven production of the beloved and immortal 'The Sound of Music' that opened at the Civic Opera House over the weekend. All the resources of Lyric Opera of Chicago have been brought to bear on a brand-new production of a title that is known throughout the world, and the result is occasionally thrilling--a feast for the eyes, and usually one for the ears as well.

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for April 23rd, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for April 23rd, 2014
April 23, 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 latest Jeff Award nominations, 'Brigadoon' gets cast, 'The Sound Of Music' and 'Motown' light up the Loop, new musicals from Writers Theatre and American Theater Company, 'Nunsense,' 'The Wild Party,' a new web series to support and more!

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for April 16th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for April 16th, 2014
April 16, 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. 'Cats,' 'Les Miserables' and 'Songs From An Unmade Bed,' rake in the reviews, 'Road Show' and 'Passion' will be followed by 'Assassins,' Theo readies 'The Andrews Sisters,' Kokandy brings back 'The Full Monty' and 'Loving Repeating,' plus two kids shows and more!

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for April 9th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for April 9th, 2014
April 9, 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. Hold onto your hats! Shows beginning in late April include 'Avenue Q,' 'Ragtime,' 'Juno,' 'Hey! Dancin'! Hey! Musical!,' 'How To Succeed...,' 'Hair,' 'The Sound Of Music,' 'Motown' and 'The Wizard Of Oz!' AMAZING! Plus news from The Second City, the Goodman, that JCS arena tour, a 2015 'Little Shop' and the return of the Mormons! Whew!

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for April 2nd, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for April 2nd, 2014
April 2, 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. 'Peter' plays Monroe Street, new musicals try out in Wicker Park and Bucktown, 'Evita' lights up Cicero, 'Hot Mikado' jazzes up Rogers Park, The Hypocrites announce a trilogy, three Tony winners start rehearsal here and Las Vegas calls on the Windy City's finest!

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for March 26th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for March 26th, 2014
March 26, 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. 'Cats' and 'Les Miserables' open in major suburban productions, a world premiere from Hershey Felder, a Chicago premiere from Pride Films And Plays, 'Carnival' spins, Harms and Scrofano feted, season announcements from Porchlight, Williams Street and Milwaukee Skylight, and more!

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for March 19th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for March 19th, 2014
March 19, 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. 'Passion,' 'Road Show' and 'Into The Woods' celebrate Sondheim's birthday, 'Dessa Rose' and 'Rent' rake in the reviews, Black Ensemble and Bailiwick announce spring shows, new musicals from Writers Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare, plus Ravinia and Court plan summers 2014 and 2015 and more....

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for March 12th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for March 12th, 2014
March 12, 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. 'Cats,' 'Evita' and 'Joseph' all appear, Broadway In Chicago brings new shows and old friends, the 'Annie' film, 'Rent' and next year at the Paramount, two versions of JRB's first show, and Davenport's dishes out the talent.

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for March 5th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for March 5th, 2014
March 6, 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 Mosh Pit's exclusive Oscar wrap-up, Billy Zane announced for Lyric Opera, DLO's 'Les Miz' aims high, Porchlight tries 'How To Succeed,' Bailiwick's 'Dessa Rose' begins, as does 'Heartbeat Of Home' from BIC, 'Option Up! ' returns, voice students compete at NATS, and more!

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 26th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 26th, 2014
February 27, 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. 'Ring Of Fire' opens, 'Road Show' readies, 'Gypsy' and 'Chicago' thrive, 'Carnival' prepares, 'Queenie Pie' reschedules, Boho brings the Mozart, plus the new musicals 'Period Piece' and 'Shining Lives,' and more!

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 19th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 19th, 2014
February 19, 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 Last Ship' sails, 'Chicago' and 'The Heartbeat Of Home' stop by, 'Chicago's Golden Soul,' and 'Ain't Misbehavin' pack 'em in, catch 'Dessa Rose,' 'Love Story' and 'A New Brain,' and the Waa-Mu Show announces 2014, plus more!

'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 12th, 2014
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 12th, 2014
February 12, 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. 'Gypsy' at CST and 'Into The Woods' from The Hypocrites begin, Paula Scrofano honored, Bernadette performs, another out-of-town tryout announced, a Barrel Of Monkeys revue, casting news from the Paramount and the Lyric, the Sarah Siddons Society show and more!



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