Biography
Born into a prestigious artistic lineage in Uppsala, Sweden, Paul Glaser’s career is a testament to the enduring influence of his grandfather, the German - Swedish composer Werner Wolf Glaser, and his uncle, the director Etienne Glaser. Initially trained as a classical dancer at the Royal Swedish Ballet under Konstantin Damianov, Glaser was awarded the Carina Ari Prize upon graduation - a distinction that launched a versatile career spanning the stages of Stockholm, Malmö, Hamburg, and London.
Glaser’s early performance career was defined by technical duality. At the Malmö Stadsteater, he balanced classical roles in The Nutcracker and Coppelia with starring turns in musical theatre, such as Tony in West Side Story and Nicole in La Cage Aux Folles. In 1988, he achieved a global milestone in the Hamburg production of Cats, becoming the first performer worldwide to hold a dual contract for both the singing role of Rum Tum Tugger and the dancing role of Mr. Mistoffelees.
As a prolific composer and songwriter, Glaser has scored over 46 theater productions, including Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and a suite of German -language family musicals. His original work Peggy, published by Concord Theatricals, holds the distinction of being Germany’s first comedy Country Musical. His melodic reach extends to corporate compositions for brands like Nikon and VW, and his single Voices was released under East West Records.
In 2017, following a successful London West End directorial debut with Thrill Me, Glaser was appointed Artistic Director of The English Theatre of Hamburg. Under his leadership, the theater has reached new artistic heights. His recent directorial portfolio is particularly distinguished, featuring the European premiere of Lizard Boy (2024) and his own critically acclaimed adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations.
The 2024–2026 seasons highlight Glaser’s ongoing momentum. Recent and upcoming directorial credits include Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense (2024/25), Anthropology (Düsseldorf and Hamburg, 2025/26), and the 2026 production of All New People. His 2023 receipt of the Rolf Mares Award for Best Director solidified his standing as a premier creative force in Europe. Beyond the stage, Glaser’s cultural impact was recognized in 2023 when he represented British culture during the state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Whether composing the theme for ’60s Girls or directing contemporary premieres, Glaser continues to blend classical discipline with modern innovation.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS & CREDITS
Theater Directing & Choreography
* Artistic Direction:The English Theatre of Hamburg (2017–Present).
* International & West End:Thrill Me (London West End Debut, 2016); HAP (Copenhagen); Anthropology (Düsseldorf).
* Directorial Highlights:The Pride, Apologia, The 39 Steps, The Woman in Black, Shirley Valentine, Death Knell, Lizard Boy (European Premiere, 2024).
* Upcoming (2025–26):Jeeves & Wooster, Gaslight, All New People.
* Choreography:Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks; Stadium tour for ADORO (2012); Fashion shows for designer Sibilla Pavenstedt (10-year tenure).
* Gala & Event Direction:Les Misérables (Verdi Bundeseröffnungsveranstaltung), All for One (Three Musketeers adaptation), Hair.
Musicals & Theater Scores
* Original Musicals:Peggy (Writer/Director/Composer); 3 Kvinnor (Sweden, 2022); Best in Town (Current collaboration with Jo Quirin).
* Christian Berg Collaborations:Vom Fischer und Seiner Frau, Das Gespenst von Canterville, Rapunzel, Bambi, Frau Holle, Das Phantom von Opa.
* Theater Scores: Over 40 plays including 12th Night, The Fox, The Subject Was Roses, Big Boys, Visiting Mr. Green, and Moonlight and Magnolias.
* Commissioned Works: Opening number for Sixties Girls (Düsseldorf, 2023); Me, Myself, and Janis Joplin.
Performance & Acting Career
* Early Opera: Performed in Verdi’s Falstaff and Tchaikovsky’s Onegin at the Royal Swedish Opera.
* Signature Musical Roles:Cats (Rum Tum Tugger & Mr. Mistoffelees - world-first dual contract), West Side Story (Tony in Malmö; Baby John in Stockholm), Grease (Danny/Kenickie), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), Buddy Holly Story (Ritchie Valens), Into the Woods (Jack), Rocky Horror Show (Riff Raff).
* Ballet & Operetta: 3-year soloist contract at Malmö Stadsteater (The Nutcracker, Gaité Parisienne, Symphony in D, Oh Mein Papa).
* Film & Group: Lead role in the film SHUT; member of jazz-vocal group E-Clipse with Roger Cicero.
Music Composition & Songwriting
* Discography:Voices (East West Records/MCA); Songs for Lee Baxter (Let it Rain, Fire), Annika Bruhns (Annika album), Petter Bjällö, and Anton Zetterholm.
* Corporate & Large Scale: Composed for YMA (Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin) and Mendelssohn Choir (Home).
* Brand Clients: Original music/launches for Nikon, Casio, VW, Air Hamburg, Special Olympics, Plus Size Fashion Week (Hands in the Air), Jena Pharm, Adexar, and Visit Sweden.
Voice Acting & Media
* Commercial Voice: A leading voice-over artist for Coca-Cola, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Nivea, Deichmann, and Mini.
* Television: Choreographer/performer for Swedish series Solstollarna (working with Samantha Fox and Mandy Smith).
* Early Media: Commercials for Scandinavian brands including Smör, Findus, and Polly Peanuts.
Leadership & Education
* Academic: Master Classes at Musical Academy (Rome); Guest teacher at Joop van den Ende Academy and R1 Academy.
* Heritage: Grandson of classical composer Werner Wolf Glaser; nephew of Etienne Glaser. Trained with Robert Denver (NYC) and Konstantin Damianov.
Publication & Writing
* Author:Att odla papaya på Österlen (Prisma Publishing).
* Stage Adaptations: Wrote the critically acclaimed adaptation of Great Expectations.
Awards & Distinctions
* Honors:Theaterpreis Hamburg - Rolf Mares (Best Director, 2023); Carina Ari Award (Ballet Excellence).
* Diplomatic: Represented British culture for the 2023 State Visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.