Jim Munson - Page 3

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.

Interview: Min Kahng of the 20TH ANNIVERSARY NEW WORKS FESTIVAL at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Uses Absurdity to Explore Humanity
July 27, 2023

BroadwayWorld talks to celebrated Bay Area playwright/composer Min Kahng about his rollicking new show 'Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical,' which is part of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's 20th Anniversary New Works Festival at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto August 11th to 20th.

Interview: Fred Pitts of AREN'T YOU...? at The Marsh Offers a Fresh Take on the History of Race Relations in America
July 13, 2023

BroadwayWorld talks to actor/writer Fred Pitts about his humorous and insightful solo show 'Aren't You...?' running at The Marsh in San Francisco July 21 to August 18.

Interview: Nicole Helfer of A CHORUS LINE at San Francisco Playhouse Finally Gets Her Chance on Another Go at a Dream Role
June 22, 2023

BroadwayWorld talks to Nicole Helfer, who is both choreographing and starring as Cassie in San Francisco Playhouse's new production of 'A Chorus Line' running June 22 to September 9.

Interview: Josh Kornbluth of CITIZEN BRAIN at The Marsh Berkeley Explores Our Collective Dementia in an Effort to Foster Empathy
June 16, 2023

BroadwayWorld chats with eminent Bay Area monologist Josh Kornbluth about his latest work, 'Citizen Brain,' running through July 29th at The Marsh Berkeley.

Interview: Elizabeth Carter of STEEL MAGNOLIAS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Explores the In-Between Places That Foster Community
May 18, 2023

BroadwayWorld chats with director Elizabeth Carter about her new production of Robert Harling's 'Steel Magnolias' running at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in Mountain View June 7 to July 2 with a multicultural cast of stage veterans.

Interview: Timothy Near of THE ROAD TO MECCA at Z Below Reunites with Her Lead Actors to Present Another Fugard Classic
May 17, 2023

BroadwayWorld talks to director Timothy Near about her new production of Athol Fugard's incandescent 'The Road to Mecca' playing at Z Below in San Francisco June 4 to 30.

Feature: The 2023 Season at San Francisco Ballet Left Memories to Last a Lifetime
May 5, 2023

BroadwayWorld takes a look back at highlights from San Francisco Ballet's just-concluded 2023 season.

Review: ROMEO & JULIET at San Francisco Ballet Concludes the Season on a Gloriously Romantic High Note
April 28, 2023

What did our critic think of ROMEO & JULIET at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews San Francisco Ballet's gloriously romantic 'Romeo & Juliet' running through April 30th.

Interview: Itamar Moses of AN AMERICAN TAIL THE MUSICAL at CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY Adapts the Beloved Animated Film for the Stage
April 20, 2023

BroadwayWorld chats with Itamar Moses, Tony-winning book writer for 'The Band's Visit,' about his new show 'An American Tail the Musical' enjoying its world premiere at Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis April 25- June 18.

Interview: Tara Branham of TOSCA at Opera San José Shines a New Light on the Operatic Canon
April 12, 2023

BroadwayWorld chats with Tara Branham who is making her mainstage debut as director at Opera San Jose with the Puccini classic 'Tosca' running April 15 to 30.

Review: ENGLISH at Berkeley Rep Shows How Language Runs Deeper Than Just Words
April 10, 2023

What did our critic think of ENGLISH at Berkeley Rep? BroadwayWorld reviews Sanaz Toossi's beguilingly serious comedy running through May 7th.

Interview: Kareem Fahmy & Giovanna Sardelli of A DISTINCT SOCIETY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Bring a New Play to Life That Makes the Political Personal
March 31, 2023

BroadwayWorld talks to playwright Kareem Fahmy and director Giovanna Sardelli about TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's world premiere production of 'A Distinct Society' inspired by the Muslim travel ban. The intensely moving play runs April 5th to 30th in Mountain View, CA.

Review: A MUSICAL CONVERSATION ABOUT STEPHEN SONDHEIM Sheds New Light on the Composer's Genius
March 22, 2023

What did our critic think of A MUSICAL CONVERSATION ABOUT STEPHEN SONDHEIM at Hershey Felder Presents? BroadwayWorld reviews pianist-actor Hershey Felder's fascinating and entertaining new film exploring the composer's genius.

Review: THE COLORS OF DANCE at San Francisco Ballet Is Truly a Thing of Beauty
March 16, 2023

What did our critic think of THE COLORS OF DANCE at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews SFB's 'The Colors of Dance,' a gorgeous new program of 3 contemporary ballets running through March 19th at the War Memorial Opera House.

Interview: Greta Oglesby of FANNIE: THE MUSIC AND LIFE OF FANNIE LOU HAMER at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Has Clearly Found Her Calling
March 9, 2023

BroadwayWorld speaks with acclaimed actor Greta Oglesby about playing a civil rights icon in Cheryl L. West's 'Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer' running at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley through April 2.

Review: GISELLE at San Francisco Ballet Casts an Otherworldly Spell
February 28, 2023

What did our critic think of GISELLE at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews SFB's stunning production of 'Giselle,' a classic ballet that still has the power to startle and move us, running through March 5th at the War Memorial Opera House.

Interview: Hershey Felder of GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE at Mountain View Center For The Performing Arts Reprises the Role that First Brought Him International Acclaim
February 24, 2023

BroadwayWorld chats with virtuoso pianist/actor/playwright Hershey Felder about returning to the Bay Area in 'George Gershwin Alone,' the show that initially brought him international acclaim. It will run in a strictly limited engagement at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts March 2nd to March 5th

Interview: Ashley Cowl of ANYTHING GOES at 42nd Street Moon Straps on Her Tap Shoes to Play Reno Sweeney
February 21, 2023

BroadwayWorld chats with Ashley Cowl, who is starring as Reno Sweeney in 42nd Street Moon's new production of Cole Porter's gloriously tuneful and riotously funny 'Anything Goes' in San Francisco February 23 to March 12.

Review: THE HEADLANDS at A.C.T. Tells a True Crime Tale That Hits Close to Home
February 17, 2023

What did our critic think of THE HEADLANDS at A.C.T.? BroadwayWorld Christopher Chen's beguiling true crime tale that also serves as a love letter to San Francisco, running now through March 5th.

Interview: Luis Alfaro of THE TRAVELERS at Magic Theatre Explores the Heartland, Our Migrant Roots & Lost Connections
February 15, 2023

BroadwayWorld talks to celebrated playwright Luis Alfaro about the world premiere production of his new play 'The Travelers' running at San Francisco's Magic Theatre February 15 to March 5. The play explores the heartland, our immigrant roots and lost connections.

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