Jim Munson

First Show

Favorite Show

Favorite Stories

• Interview: Laura Benanti at the Lesher Center for the Arts is a Golden-Age Star for Our Times - They say never meet your heroes, but Benanti was so approachable, 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, a role she'd longed to play since she was a kid. Easiest interview I've ever done, and after it was published her husband told her it was the best interview she'd ever given.
• Feature: MANON at San Francisco Ballet Showed How Great Dancers Can Put Their Own Unique Imprint on the Same Story - I love dance as much as I love theater so it's always a pleasure to cover San Francisco Ballet, one of the top companies in the world. I also rarely get a chance to issue a mea culpa, and in this case I had underestimated a ballet on opening night, yet subsequent viewings revealed depths and nuances I hadn't grasped on initial exposure so I appreciated the chance to correct the record.
• Interview: Khori Dastoor of THREE DECEMBERS at Opera San Jose Is Up to the Job of Making Art That Is Relevant for Our Times - I don't get to cover opera as often as theater and dance so this was the first time I got to talk to the leader of an opera company. I went in not knowing what to expect, plus it was the afternoon of election day 2020 and I was feeling very anxious about where our country was headed. I decided to fess up about that first thing and Dastoor told me she was feeling the same way and thanked me for giving her something else to think about for the next hour. We had a delightful conversation and I went away impressed with - 1) what a kind and down-to-earth person she was and 2) how incredibly smart she was. As soon as I got off the phone, I remember telling my husband, "That woman is amazing. I'm surprised a larger company hasn't already snapped her up." About a month later, she was announced as the new general manager for Houston Grand Opera.
• nterview: Francis Jue of TIGER STYLE! at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Hits His Stride by Being True to Himself - I had interviewed Jue 5 years earlier and he'd been so delightful and forthcoming that I couldn't wait to talk to him again. He did not disappoint - so kind and honest, and it is a pleasure talking with theater artists who've been around long enough to know who they are in this world and no longer feel a need to play games. After the interview, I saw the play "Tiger Style" and reviewed it for BwayWorld. He was so fabulous in it that I thought to myself, "Francis is such an amazing actor. Why can't a guy like him ever win a Tony?" Bingo!
• Interview: Hershey Felder of GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE at Mountain View Center For The Performing Arts Reprises the Role that First Brought Him International Acclaim - I've had the pleasure of interviewing Felder over a dozen times and I could have chosen any one of those here. He's always super interesting, coming up with interesting facts and funny stories. As the child of immigrants who grew up in Montreal, yet largely makes his career in the U.S. and has chosen to reside in Florence, Italy he's just an intrinsically fascinating guy. Plus he's super intelligent and has a mind like a steel trap so you he keeps me on my toes. I love that!