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Jim Munson - Page 4

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.


Review: NEXT@90 CANIPAROLI / BREINER / OISHI PREMIERES at San Francisco Ballet Shows Just How Thrillingly Relevant Ballet Can Be
Review: NEXT@90 CANIPAROLI / BREINER / OISHI PREMIERES at San Francisco Ballet Shows Just How Thrillingly Relevant Ballet Can Be
January 24, 2023

What did our critic think of NEXT@90 CANIPAROLI / BREINER / OISHI PREMIERES at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews the 2nd program of San Francisco Ballet's 'next@90' festival featuring immensely rewarding world premieres by Val Caniparoli, Bridget Breiner & Yuka Oishi.

Review: NEXT@90 GARLAND / ROBERTS / ROWE PREMIERES at San Francisco Ballet Offers a Trio of World Premieres
Review: NEXT@90 GARLAND / ROBERTS / ROWE PREMIERES at San Francisco Ballet Offers a Trio of World Premieres
January 23, 2023

What did our critic think of NEXT@90 GARLAND / ROBERTS / ROWE PREMIERES at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews the first program of San Francisco Ballet's 'next@90' festival featuring an eclectic lineup of world premieres by choreographers Robert Garland, Jamar Roberts & Danielle.

Interview: Michael Barakiva of IN EVERY GENERATION at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Revisits His Own Family Memories of Passover in This Inherently Theatrical Play
Interview: Michael Barakiva of IN EVERY GENERATION at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Revisits His Own Family Memories of Passover in This Inherently Theatrical Play
January 18, 2023

BroadwayWorld talks to acclaimed director Michael Barakiva about his new production of Ali Viterbi's award-winning 'In Every Generation' playing at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley through February 12th.

Review: AS YOU LIKE IT at San Francisco Playhouse Offers a Vision of a Truly Inclusive Community
Review: AS YOU LIKE IT at San Francisco Playhouse Offers a Vision of a Truly Inclusive Community
December 20, 2022

What did our critic think of AS YOU LIKE IT at San Francisco Playhouse? BroadwayWorld reviews Shaina Taub & Laurie Woolery's fanciful musical adaptation of Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' running through January 14 at San Francisco Playhouse.

Interview: Unique Derique of FOOL LA LA: HOLIDAY GIFT! at The Marsh Berkeley Is All About Joy & Gratitude
Interview: Unique Derique of FOOL LA LA: HOLIDAY GIFT! at The Marsh Berkeley Is All About Joy & Gratitude
December 19, 2022

BroadwayWorld chats with master clown Unique Derique (aka Lance McGee) about 'Fool La La: Holiday Gift!' his whimsical show combining vaudeville and African American hambone at The Marsh Berkeley December 21 to 30.

Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Takes a New Look at the Campy Cautionary Musical Tale
Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Takes a New Look at the Campy Cautionary Musical Tale
December 14, 2022

What did our critic think of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley? BroadwayWorld reviews TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's new production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's 'Little Shop of Horrors' reset in San Francisco's Chinatown.

Review: NUTCRACKER at San Francisco Ballet Delivers a Flurry of Holiday Cheer
Review: NUTCRACKER at San Francisco Ballet Delivers a Flurry of Holiday Cheer
December 12, 2022

What did our critic think of NUTCRACKER at San Francisco Ballet? BroadwayWorld reviews San Francisco Ballet's wondrous production of the classic Tchaikovsky holiday balletr.

Interview: Jeffrey Lo of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Offers a Fresh Take on the Beloved Musical
Interview: Jeffrey Lo of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Offers a Fresh Take on the Beloved Musical
December 12, 2022

BroadwayWorld chats with Jeffrey Lo about TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's new production of 'Little Shop of Horrors' that he is directing. Lo has reset the action to San Francisco's Chinatown to explore the musical's underlying themes of cross-cultural community.

Interview: Bill English of AS YOU LIKE IT at San Francisco Playhouse Loves Everything That Theatre Can Do
Interview: Bill English of AS YOU LIKE IT at San Francisco Playhouse Loves Everything That Theatre Can Do
November 22, 2022

BroadwayWorld talks to Bill English, Artistic Director & Co-Founder of San Francisco Playhouse, about his new production of the musical adaptation of Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' featuring an rollicking folk-pop score by Shaina Taub running November 17 to January 14.

Interview: Sheldon Epps of MY OWN DIRECTIONS: A BLACK MAN'S JOURNEY IN THE AMERICAN THEATRE Recounts the Highs & Lows of His Amazing Career
Interview: Sheldon Epps of MY OWN DIRECTIONS: A BLACK MAN'S JOURNEY IN THE AMERICAN THEATRE Recounts the Highs & Lows of His Amazing Career
November 17, 2022

BroadwayWorld talks to Sheldon Epps about his new memoir 'My Own Directions: A Black Man's Journey in the American Theatre' that recounts his struggles and successes leading the Pasadena Playhouse for two decades and directing the Tony-nominated musicals 'Blues in the Night' and 'Play On!' on Broadway and beyond.

Interview: Alma Deutscher of CINDERELLA at Opera San José Knows the Score - Because She Wrote It
Interview: Alma Deutscher of CINDERELLA at Opera San José Knows the Score - Because She Wrote It
November 2, 2022

BroadwayWorld chats with 17-year-old classical music phenom about her opera 'Cinderella' which she will be conducting in Opera San Jose's lavish production November 12 to 27.

Interview: Christopher Chen of THEATREWORKS NEW WORKS FESTIVAL at Montalvo Arts Center Delights in the Element of Surprise
Interview: Christopher Chen of THEATREWORKS NEW WORKS FESTIVAL at Montalvo Arts Center Delights in the Element of Surprise
October 26, 2022

BroadwayWorld chats with OBIE-winning playwright Christopher Chen about his incendiary new play 'The Motion' which will be part of the TheatreWorks New Works Festival at Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga November 6 to 13. The Festival offers a first look at three intriguing and wonderfully different new plays.

Review: ON BECKETT at A.C.T. Serves Up Bill Irwin's Enthralling Take on the Iconic Writer's Work
Review: ON BECKETT at A.C.T. Serves Up Bill Irwin's Enthralling Take on the Iconic Writer's Work
October 20, 2022

What did our critic think of ON BECKETT at A.C.T.? Master clown Bill Irwin is the perfect guide through the world of Samuel Beckett in this beguiling and exceedingly entertaining show that excavates the humor in the great master's work while still honoring its underlying existential angst.

Review: GRANDMA & ME: AN ODE TO SINGLE PARENTS at The Marsh Brims with Humor and Humanity
Review: GRANDMA & ME: AN ODE TO SINGLE PARENTS at The Marsh Brims with Humor and Humanity
October 13, 2022

What did our critic think of GRANDMA & ME: AN ODE TO SINGLE PARENTS at The Marsh? Brian Copeland's funny and moving new solo show runs at The Marsh in San Francisco through November 19th.

Interview: Kathryn Keats of THE HUMMINGBIRD at The Marsh Tells the Truth to Create a Gripping New Piece of Musical Theatre
Interview: Kathryn Keats of THE HUMMINGBIRD at The Marsh Tells the Truth to Create a Gripping New Piece of Musical Theatre
October 7, 2022

BroadwayWorld talks to performer/writer Kathryn Keats about her gripping new solo musical 'The Hummingbird' running at The Marsh San Francisco from October 14 - November 18. It tells her true story of coming to New York at 17 with Broadway dreams only to find herself in an abusive relationship that led to her living in anonymity for 22 years.

Interview: Tina D'Elia of OVERLOOKED LATINAS at The Marsh Uses Her Love of Screwball Comedy to Create a 'Queer Telenovela Farce of the Century'
Interview: Tina D'Elia of OVERLOOKED LATINAS at The Marsh Uses Her Love of Screwball Comedy to Create a 'Queer Telenovela Farce of the Century'
October 3, 2022

BroadwayWorld chats with writer & performer Tina D'Elia about her new solo show 'Overlooked Latinas' running at The Marsh San Francisco October 6 to 29. Her show is a riotously funny “queer telenovela farce of the century” about two queer Latinx best friends collaborating on a TV pilot highlighting Latinx movie stars during the McCarthy era.

Interview: Irma Herrera of WHY WOULD I MISPRONOUNCE MY OWN NAME? at The Marsh Berkeley Uses Humor to Explore Issues of Othering and Belonging
Interview: Irma Herrera of WHY WOULD I MISPRONOUNCE MY OWN NAME? at The Marsh Berkeley Uses Humor to Explore Issues of Othering and Belonging
September 21, 2022

BroadwayWorld talks to writer-performer Irma Herrera about 'Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name?' which she has newly revised for a return engagement at The Marsh Berkeley running September 23 to October 21. Herrera uses humor to explore issues of othering and belonging, and ask what kind of society we want to be.

Review: THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO at Opera San José Transports the Action to Colorful Northern India
Review: THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO at Opera San José Transports the Action to Colorful Northern India
September 19, 2022

What did our critic think? BroadwayWorld reviews Opera San Jose's vibrant new production of Mozart's 'The Marriage of Figaro' set in a colorful Northern India, running through September 25th.hat did our critic think of THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO at Opera San Jose?

Interview: Brian Copeland of GRANDMA & ME: AN ODE TO SINGLE PARENTS at The Marsh Shares His Experiences of Having Been on Both Sides of the Situation
Interview: Brian Copeland of GRANDMA & ME: AN ODE TO SINGLE PARENTS at The Marsh Shares His Experiences of Having Been on Both Sides of the Situation
September 14, 2022

BroadwayWorld talks to acclaimed actor-playwright Brian Copeland about his funny & touching new solo show 'Grandma & Me: An Ode to Single Parents' running at The Marsh San Francisco thru November 19. Copeland is best known for 'Not a Genuine Black Man,' the longest running solo show in San Francisco theatre history.

Interview: Hershey Felder of HERSHEY FELDER: CHOPIN IN PARIS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Makes a Much-Anticipated Return to the Bay Area
Interview: Hershey Felder of HERSHEY FELDER: CHOPIN IN PARIS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Makes a Much-Anticipated Return to the Bay Area
August 12, 2022

BroadwayWorld catches up with virtuoso pianist & actor Hershey Felder about his new show 'Hershey Felder: Chopin in Paris' running live at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley August 19 to September 11 in Mountain View, CA. This marks Felder's long-awaited return to the Bay Area, where he has developed a quite a devoted following over the years.



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