Paul Batterson

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."


MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

Interview: Sean Cooney of VAN GOGH'S IN THE ATTIC
Interview: Sean Cooney of VAN GOGH'S IN THE ATTIC
March 18, 2024

“Most all of my plays happened in and around things in my life. People would say ‘Oh my God, Sean, what happened here?’ and I would be in the middle of it for some reason.” Sean Cooney

Review: SNS' THE PROM at Garden Theater
Review: SNS' THE PROM at Garden Theater
March 17, 2024

Broadway Musicals are often fantasies, musical representations about things that could not possibly happen. The saddest thing about Short North Stage’s production of THE PROM, which runs from March 14 through April 7 at the Garden Theater, is that it is based partly in truth.

Review: PAT METHENY at Riffe Center
Review: PAT METHENY at Riffe Center
March 10, 2024

In his two-hour set, Metheny, the only artist to win Grammys in 10 different categories, was like a magician as he revealed the skills that garnered him gold records for Still Life (Talking), Letter from Home, and Secret Story.

Interview: Joshua Henry at Southern Theater
Interview: Joshua Henry at Southern Theater
March 9, 2024

“The idea of sharing music, especially my personal, original music and music from the icons of soul is especially gratifying. I love that feeling because this is from the heart; it was born from the heart of the soul.”

Review: SKELETON CREW at Studio 2 At Riffe Center
Review: SKELETON CREW at Studio 2 At Riffe Center
March 4, 2024

Rico Parker joins a talented quartet of actors, performing with Wilma Hatton (Faye), Clarissa Rai (Shanita), and Alan Tyson (Reggie), in bringing this two-act, two-hour show to life. Each actor brings out certain nuances to his or her character, revealing the character’s strengths and concealing his or her secrets.

Interview: Pat Metheny of DREAM BOX TOUR at Davidson Theatre
Interview: Pat Metheny of DREAM BOX TOUR at Davidson Theatre
February 29, 2024

“I never really imagined (doing) anything other than doing what I’m doing. It has all felt like one continuous thing for me. I just want to understand music to the best of my ability.”

Interview: Raymond O. Chandler of SKELETON CREW at Studio 2 in the Riffe Center
Interview: Raymond O. Chandler of SKELETON CREW at Studio 2 in the Riffe Center
February 12, 2024

“The first time I read SKELETON CREW, I was enamored with it. It’s one of the first times that I got to see a play specifically about the Black working class. I think (SKELETON CREW) examines what happens to the people when industries collapse. I'm really excited to tell this story.”

Review: INFAMOUS LOVE SONGS: AN OVER THE RHINE VALENTINE'S CONCERT at Lincoln
Review: INFAMOUS LOVE SONGS: AN OVER THE RHINE VALENTINE'S CONCERT at Lincoln
February 11, 2024

The two seem to have that innate ability to write simple poetry without making them seem like something you would find at the Valentine’s cards bin at Walmart.

Interview: Judy McLane of COMPANY at Ohio Theater
Interview: Judy McLane of COMPANY at Ohio Theater
February 2, 2024

For most of her life, Judy McLane has tried to break out of the metaphorical boxes Broadway tries to put people into. In her most recent show, COMPANY, McLane has learned to act in a physical box.

Interview: OVER THE RHINE at Lincoln Theatre
Interview: OVER THE RHINE at Lincoln Theatre
February 2, 2024

Writing and performing became meaningful to us on a deeper level. Making and sharing music completes something. Songs have become essential to our own spiritual journey and curiosity.

Review: THE DREAM AND BEYOND at ShadowBox Live
Review: THE DREAM AND BEYOND at ShadowBox Live
January 31, 2024

Shadowbox Live reached deep into their skill sets to celebrate the 11 leaders’ achievements through art, words, dance and song while educating the audience on their significance.  

Review: THE WORRIES OF WESLEY (OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP HAVING ANXIETY, OR NOT REALLY, BUT I AM TRYING TO) at Riffe Center
Review: THE WORRIES OF WESLEY (OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP HAVING ANXIETY, OR NOT REALLY, BUT I AM TRYING TO) at Riffe Center
January 29, 2024

In lesser hands, THE WORRIES OF WESLEY could turn into an afterschool special on television. However, Alan Tyson’s direction and Moss’s idiosyncratic screenplay turn the issue of anxiety into something far deeper

Review: THE COLOR PURPLE at Garden Theater
Review: THE COLOR PURPLE at Garden Theater
January 26, 2024

A show about domestic violence and oppression doesn’t sound like a cheery night at the theater. Here’s what makes the show work: the music and lyrics, especially in the opening three numbers, are about as uplifting as one can get in a show and secondly, there are opportunities for redemption for every character

Interview: Caitlin Valentine of ALICE at BalletMet
Interview: Caitlin Valentine of ALICE at BalletMet
January 25, 2024

I really love this idea of this young girl who is curious of the world and is open to new experiences. That is a beautiful message.”

Review: THE DRUMS OF WAR at Abbey Theater of Dublin
Review: THE DRUMS OF WAR at Abbey Theater of Dublin
January 21, 2024

Director Joe Bishara uses overhead projections of the actual leaders in the play, allowing the audience to compare the actors on the stage and the Roosevelt and Churchills on newsreels.

Interview: Arielle Crosby of THE COLOR PURPLE at The Garden Theatre
Interview: Arielle Crosby of THE COLOR PURPLE at The Garden Theatre
January 21, 2024

When she was studying vocal performance with an emphasis on operatic singing at Kentucky State University, Arielle Crosby discovered opera was not the only thing she could do well.

Feature: STUDIO 8 Provides a Chance for High School Students to Explore Theater at Shadowbox Live
Feature: STUDIO 8 Provides a Chance for High School Students to Explore Theater at Shadowbox Live
January 18, 2024

“It’s amazing to see how far some people can go in eight days. The students have to have the curiosity, courage, and a willingness just to try and fail at something and then pick themselves back up again.” Stacie Boord

Interview: Julie Klein of THE DREAM AND BEYOND at Shadowbox Live
Interview: Julie Klein of THE DREAM AND BEYOND at Shadowbox Live
January 17, 2024

In THE DREAM AND BEYOND, Shadowbox Live examines how the words in King’s speech affect the lives of 11 people through acting, dancing and singing. The show opens on Jan. 25 and runs through April 14 at the troupe’s theater (503 S. Front Street in downtown Columbus)

Interview: Matthew Michael Moore of THE DRUMS OF WAR at Abbey Theater Of Dublin
Interview: Matthew Michael Moore of THE DRUMS OF WAR at Abbey Theater Of Dublin
January 11, 2024

After being cast as Winston Churchill for the upcoming play THE DRUMS OF WAR, Matthew Michael Moore has been at war with the letter R.

Review: PILLOW TALK Finds Soft Spot Among the Shadowbox Live Crowd
Review: PILLOW TALK Finds Soft Spot Among the Shadowbox Live Crowd
January 9, 2024

Produced and directed by Julie Klein, PILLOW TALK provides a collection of Shadowbox Live’s best skits of the past year, hits the right notes for a variety of patrons. the two-act mixture of rock and roll and comedy opened Jan. 5 and runs through April 13 at the troupe’s stage at 503 S. Front Street in downtown Columbus.



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