Paul Glaser was born into a family of music and theatre, with the classical composer Werner Wolf Glaser as his grandfather and director/actor Etienne Glaser as his uncle. He studied music and several instruments and wrote songs from early on. He started his professional career as a trained classical dancer after graduating from the Royal Swedish Ballet School. He was awarded the Carina Ari Award upon his graduation. He also studied with Robert Denver in New York. During these years, he also studied voice and theatre. 

His international career spans over 35 years and incorporates just about every aspect of the performing industry.

He has worked professionally as a dancer, singer, actor, director, choreographer, composer, music producer, writer, and teacher.

While in school, he performed in productions such as Verdi’s FALSTAFF or ONEGIN by Tchaikovsky at the Royal Swedish Opera.

During this time, he also acquired an education in singing and acting which led him to the role of “Baby John” in his first production of WEST SIDE STORY at Parkteatern in Stockholm–the next time he is to play it, many years later, it will be as the lead role “Tony” at Slagthuset in Malmö. After this first production, Paul is cast as “Fritz” in the production of PELLE SVANSLÖS at the famous Oscars Theatre in Stockholm. At the same time, he is seen in a number of commercials in cinemas all over Scandinavia for products such as “Smör,” “Findus,” “Polly Peanuts,” and many more.

Paul gets offered a unique contract at one of the largest theatres in Sweden as both a singing and dancing soloist. He remains in this contract for three years, performing in many ballets such as GAITÉ PARISIENNE (Léonide Massine), SYMPHONY IN D (Jiri Kylian), THE NUTCRACKER (Marius Petipa), being coached by classical ballet legends such as Olga Lepeshjinskaya and Hans Brenaa. During this time, he also performed in operettas and musicals where he played roles such as Robert in OH, MEIN PAPA, Nicole in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES with the Swedish star actor and singer Jan Malmsjö and many more, before accepting a contract from the Hamburg production of CATS.

Here as well, Paul gets offered a unique contract. The singing role of “Rum Rum Tugger” was never offered in the same contract as the dancing role of “Mr Mistoffelees” worldwide.

Before moving to Hamburg, Paul was offered the job as Choreographer and dancer for the Swedish TV series SOLSTOLLARNA where he worked with stars such as SAMANTHA FOX, MANDY SMITH, LENA PHILIPSON, ANNA BOOK, PERNILLA WAHLGREN.

After CATS, Paul returned to Sweden to play “Jack” in INTO THE WOODS. Then back to Germany for another LA CAGE AUX FOLLES production followed by “Seymour” in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Kina Theatre in Stockholm. “Ritchie Valence” in the Hamburg production of BUDDY HOLLY STORY. Other productions in both Germany and Sweden include “Romeo” in SHAKESPEARE & ROCKN’ROLL in Berlin, “Danny/Kenickie” in GREASE in Düsseldorf and Berlin, “Riff Raff” in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW in Ulm, “Charles” in FREAK OUT in Hamburg and “Tony” in WEST SIDE STORY in Malmö, Sweden.  He also became a sought-after performer for galas and events.

Paul has continuously written music and is now a published author with the book ATT ODLA PAPAYA PA ÖSTERLEN (Prisma publishing), parallel to his performing career. Soon after he arrived in Germany, Paul was offered a recording contract with EAST WEST RECORDS and a publishing deal with MCA where he released his first single VOICES. Parallel to his engagements in musicals, Paul grew into a sought-after composer and songwriter. Some examples of that work include; Let it rain, Fire, Rainbow for Lee Baxter (former member of Caught in the Act), the album Annika for singer and musical performer Annika Bruhns, Voice of an Angel and We’ll be Alright for musical performer Petter Bjällö and Where you Are for the musical performers Anton Zetterholm and Ana Milva Gomes. He was hired by companies like NIKON, CASIO, VW, AIR HAMBURG, PLUS SIZE FASHION WEEK, for which he wrote the song HANDS IN THE AIR, PEACE BRUSH, JENA PHARM, ADEXAR, OPTICLICK, POMP, DUCK AND CIRCUMSTANCE, and SPECIAL OLYMPICS to name a few, to write corporate songs and music for launches and other events. He was also commissioned to compose music for the show “YMA” at FRIEDRICHSTADTPALAST in Berlin, for the MENDELSSOHN CHOIR in Hamburg, for whom he wrote “HOME” as well as for films such as SHUT (in which he also acted a lead role) or PROFILE OF FEAR as well as for the German national TV station NDR and THE ENGLISH THEATRE OF HAMBURG for plays such as SHAKESPEARES 12th NIGHT, THE FOX, SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS (which he also choreographed), VISITING MR. GREEN, THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES, BIG BOYS, and many more. He has currently composed music and created sound design for over 40 plays in theatres, including for his own productions, which he directed as well, such as THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GREY (Oscar Wilde), THE WOMAN IN BLACK (Stephen Mallatratt), DEATH KNELL (James Cawood), MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS (Ron Hutchinson). APOLOGIA (Alexi Kaye Campbell) SHIRLEY VALENTINE (Willy Russell) , Patrick Barlow’s THE 39 STEPS. Paul wrote and directed his own adaptation of GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Charles Dickens; he recently directed THE PRIDE (Alexi Kaye Campbell) and is currently working on THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson, which will premiere in November 2023. In April of 2024, he will direct the European premiere of the Broadway hit musical LIZARD BOY at The English Theatre of Hamburg.

In 1999, Paul wrote the book and music and directed his musical, PEGGY, which he premiered in the Star Theatre in Hamburg and received outstanding reviews and audience responses. At the beginning of 2016, he composed the music for the new musical VOM FISCHER UND SEINER FRAU with book by Christian Berg. Together they would write another five musicals together, within the period of 3 years: DAS GESPENST VON CANTERVILLE, RAPUNZEL, BAMBI, FRAU HOLLE, and DAS PHANTOM VON OPA, some of them commissioned by the well-known Komödie am Winterhuder Fährhaus theatre in Hamburg. DAS GESPENST VON CANTERVILLE was also performed at the famous Komödie am Ku’damm in Berlin, and the other musical went on tour throughout Germany. He wrote music and lyrics for the musical 3 KVINNOR, which premiered on the 21st of July 2022 in Sweden, and shows like ME, MYSELF, AND JANIS JOPLIN, starring the singer Floy. He is currently writing music and lyrics for BEST IN TOWN, a new musical in collaboration with writer Jo Quirin, and was commissioned to write the opening number for the show SIXTIES GIRLS, which will premiere in Oktober 2023 in Capitol Theater Düsseldorf, Germany.

As Paul went more and more into directing, he was not only hired by theatres, but also, due to his experience and vast network (which led the management of OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN to contact Paul about finding a pianist to accompany her in a gala in Berlin), he was also hired by companies to create innovative and impressive shows for companies like CASIO, VISIT SWEDEN, CLAAS, NRW as well as gala versions of LES MISERABLES for Verdi Bundeseröffnungsveranstaltung, ALL FOR ONE an adaptation of THE THREE MUSKETEERS, HAIR. Some of that work can be seen in this VIDEO. Glaser also directed and choreographed the stadium tour for the classic/pop singing group ADORO in 2012.

For a period of ten years, he directed and choreographed fashion shows for the acclaimed designer Sibilla Pavenstedt, a TV spot of another example here, as well as being one of the most sought-after voice-over artists with a client list including COCA COLA, MERCEDES BENZ, BMW, NIVEA, DEICHMANN, CASIO, MINI and many more for studios like LOFT, FUNK, GERMAN WAHNSINN, THE SOUND SHACK, VOXHAUS, …

Following his director’s debut in LONDON’S WEST END, with his production of Stephen Dolginoff’s musical THRILL ME at the Jermyn Street Theatre in 2016, he was offered the position of Artistic Director of THE ENGLISH THEATRE OF HAMBURG. “This still allows me to work on projects outside of the theatre,” – says Paul. Working on several projects at the same time is something he’s done throughout his whole career. 

In 2023, Paul Glaser was awarded the distinguished THEATERPREIS HAMBURG - ROLF MARIS as Best Director.

“My experience gives me such a unique advantage as a director and composer for the stage. I direct mostly straight plays and the occasional musical. Still, for my clients outside the theatre, it can be anything, and that’s very exciting,”  says Paul, who occasionally is also a teacher at the Musical Academy in Rome/Italy, where he travels when he can to give MASTER CLASSES in musical theatre. 

Invited as the Artistic Director of The English Theatre of Hamburg, a representative of British culture in northern Germany, he greeted the Royal Couple King Charles and Queen Camilla on their state visit in 2023.