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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.




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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

Review: BROKEN LOVE at San Francisco Ballet
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What did our critic think of BROKEN LOVE at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews the program of two contrasting ballets that runs through April 18th at the War Memorial Opera House.

Review: VAN MANEN: DUTCH GRANDMASTER at San Francisco Ballet
Review: VAN MANEN: DUTCH GRANDMASTER at San Francisco Ballet
April 8, 2025

What did our critic think of VAN MANEN: DUTCH GRANDMASTER at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews the mix-rep program of 4 works by the celebrated choreographer running through April 19th.

Interview: Jennifer Chang of THE HEART SELLERS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Interview: Jennifer Chang of THE HEART SELLERS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
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BroadwayWorld chats with director Jennifer Chang about her production of 'The Heart Sellers,' Lloyd Suh's humorous and heartwarming play running at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley April 2 to 27 in Mountain View, CA.

Interview: Devin A. Cunningham of FAT HAM at San Francisco Playhouse
Interview: Devin A. Cunningham of FAT HAM at San Francisco Playhouse
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BroadwayWorld chats with actor Devin A. Cunningham, who is starring as Juicy in San Francisco Playhouse's production of James Ijames' Pulitzer-winning 'Fat Ham' running March 20th thru April 19th.

Interview: Pearl Ong of NIGHT DRIVER at The Marsh
Interview: Pearl Ong of NIGHT DRIVER at The Marsh
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BroadwayWorld chats with Pearl Ong about 'Night Driver,' her solo show about leaving behind her cosseted Hong Kong childhood to drive a cab at night in wild and crazy late 70s San Francisco, running through April 5 at The Marsh.

Interview: Min Kahng of HAPPY PLEASANT VALLEY: A SENIOR SEX SCANDAL MURDER MYSTERY MUSICAL at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
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BroadwayWorld chats with composer Min Kahng about his cheeky new show, 'Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical' enjoying its world premiere at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley March 5-30 in Palo Alto.

Review: COOL BRITANNIA at San Francisco Ballet
Review: COOL BRITANNIA at San Francisco Ballet
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What did our critic think of COOL BRITANNIA at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews 'Cool Britannia' at San Francisco Ballet, a rewarding mixed rep program of contemporary ballets by British choreographers.

Feature: MANON at San Francisco Ballet Showed How Great Dancers Can Put Their Own Unique Imprint on the Same Story
Feature: MANON at San Francisco Ballet Showed How Great Dancers Can Put Their Own Unique Imprint on the Same Story
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BroadwayWorld compares three different pairs of leading dancers in San Francisco Ballet's recent run of Kenneth McMillan's Manon.

Interview: Robert Townsend of LIVING THE SHUFFLE at The Marsh Berkeley
Interview: Robert Townsend of LIVING THE SHUFFLE at The Marsh Berkeley
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BroadwayWorld chats with trailblazing actor/writer/director Robert Townsend about 'Living the Shuffle,' his rollercoaster ride of a one-man show running at The Marsh Berkeley January 30th to March 9th

Review: MANON at San Francisco Ballet
Review: MANON at San Francisco Ballet
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The chance to see a classic full-length ballet for the first time is always a rare and welcome opportunity, so it’s especially exciting that San Francisco Ballet is kicking off its 2025 Repertory Season with Kenneth McMillan’s Manon, choreographed in 1974 and subsequently performed all over the world, but never before in San Francisco.

Interview: Keiko Green of EXOTIC DEADLY: OR THE MSG PLAY at San Francisco Playhouse
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BroadwayWorld chats with playwright Keiko Green about her anime-infused adventure comedy 'Exotic Deadly: Or The MSG Play' making its Northern California premiere at San Francisco Playhouse January 30 to March 8.

Interview: Hershey Felder of RACHMANINOFF AND THE TSAR at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Interview: Hershey Felder of RACHMANINOFF AND THE TSAR at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
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BroadwayWorld chats with perennially popular pianist/actor/playwright Hershey Felder about 'Rachmaninoff and the Tsar,' which he says will be his last composer play, running at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley January 10th to February 9th in Mountain View, CA.

Interview: Andrew Lippa of LIPPA @ 60: A BIRTHDAY BENEFIT FOR THEATREWORKS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Interview: Andrew Lippa of LIPPA @ 60: A BIRTHDAY BENEFIT FOR THEATREWORKS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
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Interview: Sophie Oda of MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Comes Home for the Holidays
Interview: Sophie Oda of MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Comes Home for the Holidays
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BroadwayWorld chats with Bay Area native Sophie Oda about her return to TheatreWorks Silicon Valley after 20 years to appear in 'Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley' playing through December 29th in Palo Alto.

Interview: Susi Damilano of WAITRESS at San Francisco Playhouse
Interview: Susi Damilano of WAITRESS at San Francisco Playhouse
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BroadwayWorld talks with director Susi Damilano about her new production of 'Waitress,' the popular musical featuring a delightful score by Sara Bareilles, running at San Francisco Playhouse through January 18th.

Interview: Giovanna Sardelli of KING JAMES at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Interview: Giovanna Sardelli of KING JAMES at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
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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
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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.



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