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Jim Munson

Jim Munson

Jim has been hooked on theater ever since being dazzled by a high school production of “Damn Yankees” in Wilmington, Delaware way back in 1972 featuring his older brother in a cameo role. Fortunately, his horizons have expanded just a bit since then. A longtime San Francisco resident, Jim is an avid theater- and dance-goer throughout the Bay Area. He has also followed the theater scene across the country and loves nothing more than the 3-show days that can occasionally be scheduled in New York City. For the record, he holds a BA in Theater Arts from SUNY Buffalo, but happily learned long ago that his skills as a discerning audience member far exceed his skills as an actor.




LEARN MORE ABOUT Jim Munson

First Show:

Raisin

Favorite Show:

"Falsettoland" at the Lucille Lortel in 1990. Even though I'd seen and loved "March of the Falsettos," I somehow went in having no idea what this sequel of sorts was about. I was absolutely gutted. Living in that time of the worst of the HIV pandemic, it felt like having my community as they actually were reflected right back at me from the stage. Faith Prince was a sublime Trina (the best I've ever seen). Her "Holding to the Ground" haunted me for weeks afterwards. Lonny Price had stepped in as Mendel and gave that character so much gravitas it was heartbreaking. And, of course, Michael Rupert and Stephen Bogardus were unparalleled as Marvin and Whizzer. I don't know if I've ever laughed and cried so hard at a performance. Afterwards, I remember taking a long, silent walk down along the Hudson River with my husband just because we weren't yet ready to be back in the real world, the emotions the show had brought to the surface were still too raw. I've been fortunate to see the full two-act "Falsettos" many times since then, on Broadway, on tour, in regional theaters, but nothing can top that first exposure to "Falsettoland."

Favorite Stories:

  • Interview: Laura Benanti at the Lesher Center for the Arts is a Golden-Age Star for Our Times - Laura was so approachable, direct, honest and generous with her time that it felt like talking to an old friend. Among other things, we took a deep dive into her conception of the character of Eliza Doolittle. I learned so much from her and yet it was like two theater geeks just shooting the breeze. Easiest interview I've ever done, and after it was published her husband told her it was the best interview she'd ever given.


MOST POPULAR ARTICLES


Interview: Giovanna Sardelli of KING JAMES at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Interview: Giovanna Sardelli of KING JAMES at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
October 7, 2024

BroadwayWorld talks to Giovanna Sardelli about directing the regional premiere of Rajiv Joseph's 'King James.' The funny and moving story of an enduring and emotionally fraught friendship between two very different basketball fans runs October 7th through November 1st in MountainView.

Interview: Jeffrey Lo of 21ST ANNUAL NEW WORKS FESTIVAL at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Interview: Jeffrey Lo of 21ST ANNUAL NEW WORKS FESTIVAL at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
August 12, 2024

BroadwayWorld chats with director/playwright Jeffrey Lo about producing TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's 21st Annual New Works Festival running through August 18th which offers staged readings of four exciting new plays.

Interview: Don Reed of THE DMV at The Marsh Berkeley
Interview: Don Reed of THE DMV at The Marsh Berkeley
July 30, 2024

BroadwayWord chats with perennially popular solo performer Don Reed about his show 'The DMV' playing at The Marsh Berkeley on Saturdays through September 14th

Interview: Andrea Gordon of READING SERIES EXTRAVAGANZA at Magic Theatre
Interview: Andrea Gordon of READING SERIES EXTRAVAGANZA at Magic Theatre
July 16, 2024

BroadwayWorld talks to Bay Area theater great Andrea Gordon about Magic Theatre's new 'Reading Series Extravaganza.' Gordon is presenting a different new play each month through December, featuring a bevy of well-known local actors. Tickets are available free of charge.

Interview: Juan Rebuffo of EVITA at San Francisco Playhouse
Interview: Juan Rebuffo of EVITA at San Francisco Playhouse
June 21, 2024

BroadwayWorld talks to Juan Rebuffo about San Francisco Playhouse's exciting new production of 'Evita' running June 27 to September 7. The native Argentinian serves as the production's dramaturg and cultural consultant.

Interview: Steve Budd of SEEING STARS at The Marsh Berkeley
Interview: Steve Budd of SEEING STARS at The Marsh Berkeley
June 7, 2024

BroadwayWorld chats with Steve Budd about 'Seeing Stars,' the actor-writer's hilarious and heartfelt world premiere solo show running at The Marsh Berkeley on Saturdays through July 13th. Budd calls it a comedy about family dysfunction, mental illness and father-son relationships.

Interview: Robert Kelley & William Liberatore of BEING ALIVE: A SONDHEIM CELEBRATION at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Interview: Robert Kelley & William Liberatore of BEING ALIVE: A SONDHEIM CELEBRATION at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
June 5, 2024

BroadwayWorld chats with Robert Kelley and William Liberatore about 'Being Alive: A Sondheim Celebration,' the new musical revue they've created to close out TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's 53rd season. It runs June 5th to 30th in Mountain View.

Interview: Mengjun Chen & Tess Lane of Smuin Contemporary Ballet in Celebration of AAPI Heritage Month
Interview: Mengjun Chen & Tess Lane of Smuin Contemporary Ballet in Celebration of AAPI Heritage Month
May 13, 2024

In celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Broadway World checks in with Smuin Contemporary Ballet's Mengjun Chen and Tess Lane.

Interview: Jeffrey Lo of THE GLASS MENAGERIE at San Francisco Playhouse Offers a Fresh Take on an American Classic
Interview: Jeffrey Lo of THE GLASS MENAGERIE at San Francisco Playhouse Offers a Fresh Take on an American Classic
May 7, 2024

BroadwayWorld talks to director Jeffrey Lo about his poetic and visually striking production of the Tennessee Williams classic 'The Glass Menagerie' running at San Francisco Playhouse through June 15th.

Review: TIGER STYLE! at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Review: TIGER STYLE! at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
April 16, 2024

What did our critic think of TIGER STYLE! at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley? BroadwayWorld reviews Mike Lew's riotous and biting comedy 'Tiger Style!' running through April 28th in Mountain View.

Review: DOS MUJERES at San Francisco Ballet
Review: DOS MUJERES at San Francisco Ballet
April 7, 2024

What did our critic think of DOS MUJERES at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews this pairing of two very different ballets by Latina choreographers running through April 14th at the War Memorial Opera House.

Review: NEXT@90 CURTAIN CALL at San Francisco Ballet
Review: NEXT@90 CURTAIN CALL at San Francisco Ballet
April 4, 2024

What did our critic think of NEXT@90 CURTAIN CALL at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews this program of 3 marvelously varied dances being reprised from last year's festival of world premieres.

Interview: Francis Jue of TIGER STYLE! at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Hits His Stride by Being True to Himself
Interview: Francis Jue of TIGER STYLE! at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Hits His Stride by Being True to Himself
April 2, 2024

BroadwayWorld talks to Obie Award-winning actor Francis Jue about returning to TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, where he has appeared so often in the last 35 years, in Mike Lew's trenchant comedy, 'Tiger Style!'

Review: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at San Francisco Ballet
Review: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at San Francisco Ballet
March 14, 2024

What did our critic think of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews the delightful production running through March 23rd at the War Memorial Opera House.

Review: SWAN LAKE at San Francisco Ballet
Review: SWAN LAKE at San Francisco Ballet
February 29, 2024

What did our critic think of SWAN LAKE at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews the smashing production of the all-time classic running through March 3rd at San Francisco's War Memorial Opera House.

Review: BRITISH ICONS at San Francisco Ballet
Review: BRITISH ICONS at San Francisco Ballet
February 11, 2024

What did our critic think of BRITISH ICONS at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews San Francisco Ballet's 'British Icons,' an immensely rewarding program running through February 15th

Interview: Hershey Felder of HERSHEY FELDER AS GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE & HERSHEY FELDER'S GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK SING-ALONG at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Interview: Hershey Felder of HERSHEY FELDER AS GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE & HERSHEY FELDER'S GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK SING-ALONG at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
February 1, 2024

BroadwayWorld chats with virtuoso actor/pianist/filmmaker Hershey Felder about his return to TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in his popular 'George Gershwin Alone' & 'Great American Songbook Sing-Along' shows February 7th thru 12th.

Review: MERE MORTALS at San Francisco Ballet
Review: MERE MORTALS at San Francisco Ballet
January 30, 2024

What did our critic think of MERE MORTALS at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews the world premiere of 'Mere Mortals' at San Francisco Ballet, a wildly ambitious collaboration between much in-demand choreographer Aszure Barton and composer Sam Shepherd.

Interview: Tim Bond of HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Relishes the Opportunity to Spend Time with August Wilson Once Again
Interview: Tim Bond of HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Relishes the Opportunity to Spend Time with August Wilson Once Again
January 16, 2024

BroadwayWorld chats with director Tim Bond about his production of August Wilson's theatrical memoir 'How I Learned What I Learned' starring Steven Anthony Jones at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley January 17 to February 3. Bond was a friend and colleague of the master playwright, and relishes the opportunity to bring him back to life.

Interview: Andrea Gordon of MIRIAM AND ESTHER GO TO THE DIAMOND DISTRICT at Magic Theatre Excavates Her Own Family History to Create a Music-Filled Tale of Forgiveness
Interview: Andrea Gordon of MIRIAM AND ESTHER GO TO THE DIAMOND DISTRICT at Magic Theatre Excavates Her Own Family History to Create a Music-Filled Tale of Forgiveness
January 12, 2024

BroadwayWorld talks to director/playwright/producer Andrea Gordon about her new play 'Miriam and Esther Go to the Diamond District' running at San Francisco's Magic Theatre January 18-28. The play tells a story of 2 sisters (daughters of an opera singer & concert pianist) meeting to go through their mother's belongings 45 years after she's died.



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