Paul Stancato, a trailblazing force in the entertainment industry, boasts over a decade of visionary contributions to the world of visual storytelling. His career, marked by innovation and collaboration, has left an indelible mark on stages across the globe.

At the helm of new musicals, Paul has directed and choreographed premieres that have captivated audiences from Off-Broadway to international stages, including the original production of "Friends: The Parody Musical" in Las Vegas, Australia, and Europe. His directorial excellence extends to the world premiere of "What A Wonderful World" at Timber Lake Playhouse, a production recognized with a live stream by Broadway OnDemand and DePaul University's School of Cinematic Arts. Notable projects also include the regional premiere of "A Bronx Tale" at the John Engeman Theatre, NY, and "Forever Plaid" & “Grease” for Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago.

With an extensive list of credits, Paul has made his mark on national tours, including "Jekyll & Hyde" (Helen Hayes Nomination), the 1st National Tour of "The Wedding Singer" (IRNE, SALT, BroadwayWorld nominations for Best Musical), and the international tour of "Flashdance the Musical" (Wellington Award for Best Production, New Zealand).

He has collaborated with such notable brands/artists as Universal Studios, Cirque du Soleil, Stryker, Santander Bank, Clay Walker & WAGMI Games.

His artistic contributions have earned recognition from prestigious awards bodies, including the Ovation Awards, IRNE Awards, Helen Hayes, and Jeff Awards. A dedicated board member of the Illinois Theatre Association, Paul has served as the Artistic Director for Timber Lake Playhouse and the Artistic Director of Franco Dragone's House of Dancing Water in Macau, China.

As a Resident Director, Paul has collaborated with luminaries such as Julie Taymor on "The Lion King" for four years and assisted Tony Award winner Rob Ashford on "The Wedding Singer" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on Broadway.

Paul's journey includes affiliations with esteemed organizations such as the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, NAMT, Drama League, Ars Nova, The Public Theatre (Joe's Pub), and participation in the SDCF Observership Program. He holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Western Illinois University.

Paul is also a founder and creative producer for Nova Coda Productions.