Jim Munson - Page 6

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.


BWW Review: Brian Stokes Mitchell in Concert at Lesher Center Leaves the Audience Floating on Air
BWW Review: Brian Stokes Mitchell in Concert at Lesher Center Leaves the Audience Floating on Air
March 1, 2022

BroadwayWorld reviews Brian Stokes Mitchell's glorious concert at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek on February 25th. When Mitchell announces at the top of his show that his hope is for you to leave the theater feeling better than you did when you came in, you had better believe he means it. By the end, he leaves the audience floating on air.

BWW Review: DON QUIXOTE at San Francisco Ballet Celebrates the Joy of Dancing
BWW Review: DON QUIXOTE at San Francisco Ballet Celebrates the Joy of Dancing
February 28, 2022

BroadwayWorld reviews San Francisco Ballet's fizzy production of the classic 'Don Quixote' running live onstage at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House through March 6th. The whole thing feels like a big ol' party.

BWW Interview: BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL at Lesher Center For The Arts Sings in Celebration of Life
BWW Interview: BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL at Lesher Center For The Arts Sings in Celebration of Life
February 22, 2022

BroadwayWorld talks to legendary actor and singer Brian Stokes Mitchell about the uplifting show he'll be performing at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on February 25th.

BWW Review: THE KIND ONES at Magic Theatre Explores the Legacy of Domestic Violence in This Darkly Comic Thriller
BWW Review: THE KIND ONES at Magic Theatre Explores the Legacy of Domestic Violence in This Darkly Comic Thriller
February 11, 2022

Magic Theatre makes a welcome return to live performance with the world premiere of Miranda Rose Hall's 'The Kind Ones' playing thru February 20th. Hall combines gothic thrills & dark humor in her searing new play.

BWW Interview: Dan Hoyle of TALK TO YOUR PEOPLE at The Marsh Explores the Messiness of Our Shared Humanity
BWW Interview: Dan Hoyle of TALK TO YOUR PEOPLE at The Marsh Explores the Messiness of Our Shared Humanity
February 10, 2022

BroadwayWorld speaks with acclaimed actor-playwright Dan Hoyle about 'Talk to Your People,' his new show running live at The Marsh San Francisco through April 16th that uses his trademark observational humor to delve into issues of race, privilege, power and masculinity.

BWW Interview: Lillian Groag of CARMEN at Opera San José Takes a Fresh Look at the All-Time Classic
BWW Interview: Lillian Groag of CARMEN at Opera San José Takes a Fresh Look at the All-Time Classic
February 9, 2022

BroadwayWorld checks in with celebrated director-actor-playwright Lillian Groag about her imaginative new staging of the classic opera 'Carmen' playing live onstage at Opera San Jose February 12th thru 27th.

BWW Interview: Miranda Rose Hall of THE KIND ONES at Magic Theatre Brings a Bold Theatricality to Characters Living on the Margins of Society
BWW Interview: Miranda Rose Hall of THE KIND ONES at Magic Theatre Brings a Bold Theatricality to Characters Living on the Margins of Society
February 8, 2022

BroadwayWord speaks to much in-demand playwright Miranda Rose Hall about her newest work, the darkly comic thriller 'The Kind Ones,' now receiving its world premiere production live onstage at San Francisco's venerable Magic Theatre through February 20th.

BWW Review: PROGRAM 2 at San Francisco Ballet Surprises and Delights
BWW Review: PROGRAM 2 at San Francisco Ballet Surprises and Delights
February 7, 2022

San Francisco Ballet's remarkable new Program 2 features 3 terrifically enjoyable works, including a new dance by William Forsythe set to the music of James Blake, and Jerome Robbins' rapturously romantic classic 'In the Night.' It runs through February 13th at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco.

BWW Review: San Francisco Ballet's PROGRAM 1 at War Memorial Opera House Literally Leaps for Joy
BWW Review: San Francisco Ballet's PROGRAM 1 at War Memorial Opera House Literally Leaps for Joy
February 3, 2022

San Francisco Ballet fairly leaps for joy in the opening program of its 2022 season live onstage at the War Memorial Opera House. Program 1 includes George Balanchine's eternally effervescent 'Symphony in C' and the world premiere of 'Mrs. Robinson' by Cathy Marston, based on the seminal novel 'The Graduate.' Performances continue thru 2/12/22.

BWW Review: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Offers a Gorgeous New Take on the Holiday Classic
BWW Review: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Offers a Gorgeous New Take on the Holiday Classic
December 23, 2021

BroadwayWorld reviews TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's gorgeous new production of 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' running thru December 26th at the Lucie Stern Theatre, with streaming available thru Jan 2nd.

BWW Interview: Adam Gwon & Giovanna Sardelli of ALICE BLISS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley & Montalvo Arts Center Bring a Heartrending New Musical to Life
BWW Interview: Adam Gwon & Giovanna Sardelli of ALICE BLISS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley & Montalvo Arts Center Bring a Heartrending New Musical to Life
December 17, 2021

BroadwayWorld talks to lyricist Adam Gwon and TheatreWorks Director of New Works Giovanna Sardelli about their collaboration with Montalvo Arts Center on the development of the new musical 'Alice Bliss.'

BWW Review: NUTCRACKER at San Francisco Ballet Returns with an Extra Dollop of Enchantment & Delight
BWW Review: NUTCRACKER at San Francisco Ballet Returns with an Extra Dollop of Enchantment & Delight
December 16, 2021

BroadwayWorld reviews San Francisco Ballet's enchanting production of the classic 'Nutcracker' ballet, now running at the SF Opera House through December 30th.

BWW Interview: Giovanna Sardelli of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Believes We Can All See Ourselves in This Timeless Tale
BWW Interview: Giovanna Sardelli of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Believes We Can All See Ourselves in This Timeless Tale
November 29, 2021

BroadwayWorld talks to Giovanna Sardelli, the irrepressible director of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' running December 1 to 26 at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto.

BWW Interview: Li-Leng Au of GREAT EXPECTATIONS at San Jose Stage Company Has Been Dying to Get Back Onstage
BWW Interview: Li-Leng Au of GREAT EXPECTATIONS at San Jose Stage Company Has Been Dying to Get Back Onstage
November 19, 2021

BroadwayWorld talks to actor Li-Leng Au, who is thrilled to be back onstage in San Jose Stage Company's production of Dickens' 'Great Expectations' as adapted by playwright Neil Bartlett, running thru December 12th.

BWW Interview: Elkhanah Pulitzer of DIDO AND AENEAS at Opera San José Sees Opportunities for Renewal and Rejuvenation in the Pain of Tragedy
BWW Interview: Elkhanah Pulitzer of DIDO AND AENEAS at Opera San José Sees Opportunities for Renewal and Rejuvenation in the Pain of Tragedy
November 5, 2021

BroadwayWorld talks to director Elkhanah Pulitzer about her new production of Henry Purcell's Baroque masterpiece 'Dido and Aneas' which marks Opera San Jose's return to live performances November 13th to 28th.

BWW Interview: Alison Ewing of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at 42nd Street Moon Is Thrilled to Be Back Onstage in a Sondheim Classic
BWW Interview: Alison Ewing of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at 42nd Street Moon Is Thrilled to Be Back Onstage in a Sondheim Classic
November 2, 2021

BroadwayWorld talks to leading lady Alison Ewing about playing Desiree in 42nd Street Moon's new production of Stephen Sondheim's 'A Little Night Music' playing November 4 to 21 in San Francisco.

BWW Interview: Doug Varone of DOUG VARONE AND DANCERS at The Hammer Theatre Center Offers a Whole New Way to Experience the Iconic Score to 'West Side Story'
BWW Interview: Doug Varone of DOUG VARONE AND DANCERS at The Hammer Theatre Center Offers a Whole New Way to Experience the Iconic Score to 'West Side Story'
October 22, 2021

BroadwayWorld talks to award-winning choreographer and director Doug Varone about his company's upcoming program in San Jose, which includes 'Somewhere,' his take on the iconic score from 'West Side Story.' They also discuss Varone's choreography for two musicals that have become cult classics - 'The Triumph of Love' and 'Murder Ballad.'

BWW Review: SPANKING MACHINE at The Marsh Offers a  Painfully Funny Exploration of Our Collective Fear
BWW Review: SPANKING MACHINE at The Marsh Offers a Painfully Funny Exploration of Our Collective Fear
October 7, 2021

'Spanking Machine' at The Marsh is Marga Gomez' latest theatrical memoir, a funny-scary tale of growing up brown and queer in Washington Heights.

BWW Interview: Justin Huertas of LIZARD BOY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Combines His Twin Passions for Comic Book Heroes & Musical Theater
BWW Interview: Justin Huertas of LIZARD BOY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Combines His Twin Passions for Comic Book Heroes & Musical Theater
October 3, 2021

BroadwayWorld talks to Justin Huertas, the multi-talented playwright, composer and star of 'Lizard Boy' at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. His new indie folk-rock music will be performed live in person Oct. 6 to 31 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, kicking off TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's 51st season.

BWW Interview: Wei Wang of THE MARSH FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICAL VOICES 2021 at The Marsh Makes the Leap to Film
BWW Interview: Wei Wang of THE MARSH FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICAL VOICES 2021 at The Marsh Makes the Leap to Film
September 28, 2021

BroadwayWorld talks to virtuoso ballet dancer, choreographer and director Wei Wang about his ambitious new film 'Aphrodisia' created in collaboration with Stephanie Weisman as part of The Marsh New Festival of Musical Voices 2021, which runs September 30 to October 10, 2021.



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