Dr. Paul Michael Thomson

Paul Michael recently received his PhD in Afro-American Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst after defending his dissertation, “Who’s Afraid of Martin Luther Queen?: Gender, Sexuality, and Drama in the Black Power Movement.” He is beyond proud and grateful for his time in the W.E.B. Du Bois Department!

Paul Michael & Quenna Lené Barrett recently received a DCASE Individual Artist’s grant from the City of Chicago to support the development of their play, Bobby & Lorraine, or Something Left to Love. This play centers the love and legacy of Lorraine Hansberry and Robert Nemiroff, and it is about to SWEEP the Tonys in 2029 (manifesting). Read an article about the grant here!

Paul Michael was recently featured in THE American Theatre Magazine to discuss his play Pot Girls, the collectivist process of building it, and what the hell it all means for the future of American theatre. The article is called “What Was Caryl Churchill Smoking?”, and it’s a trip.

Paul Michael’s new play Pot Girls received its world-premiere production, directed by Ayanna Bria Bakari, this year! This smoky meditation on the power of women, words, and weed ran February 12 - March 8 (extended!), and we sold out every show! Kerry Reid at the Chicago Reader called “a glorious and heady world premiere” and “simply one of the best shows I’ve seen this year,” and Paul Michael agreed.

Paul Michael will be presented his research at the National Council for Black Studies conference in Baltimore in March on a panel titled "New Perspectives on Black Collective Life: Performance, Testimony, and Community beyond Erasure." He was beyond honored to be among scholars like Yolanda Covington-Ward, Jessica Marie Johnson, Jasmine Blanks Jones, McIntosh Bazile, and Nadejda Webb.

In January 2026, Paul Michael presented his paper “Revolting Queers: Gender, Sexuality, and the Theatre of the Black Arts Movement” at the African-American History Seminar through the Massachusetts Historical Society on January 8. His respondent was the incredible Pulitzer Prize winner, Dr. Salimishah Tillet! He was honored to receive her feedback and enthusiasm for this project!