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:
RaisinFavorite 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: 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
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
November 2, 2022
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
October 26, 2022
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
October 20, 2022
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
October 13, 2022
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
October 7, 2022
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'
October 3, 2022
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
September 21, 2022
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
September 19, 2022
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
September 14, 2022
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
August 12, 2022
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.
Review: DEAL WITH THE DRAGON at Magic Theatre Weaves an Unforgettable Magical Spell
July 28, 2022
July 28, 2022
What did our critic think of DEAL WITH THE DRAGON at Magic Theatre? BroadwayWorld reviews Kevin Rolston's spellbinding 'Deal with the Dragon' playing live at Magic Theatre through August 13th.
Interview: Sharifa Yasmin of CLOSE TO HOME at Bay Area Playwrights Festival Creates Queer and Arab Characters in Their Full Complexity
July 25, 2022
July 25, 2022
BroadwayWorld chats with playwright-director Sharifa Yasmin, whose new play 'Close to Home' is part of the 45th annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival, running July 29 to August 7 in a hybrid online/in-person format.
Interview: Kevin Rolston of DEAL WITH THE DRAGON at Magic Theatre Transforms His Own Shame into a Captivating Work of Theater
July 20, 2022
July 20, 2022
BroadwayWorld talks to actor & playwright Kevin Rolston about his captivating comedy 'Deal with the Dragon.' The grown-up fairy tale laced with terror runs live at San Francisco's Magic Theatre July 22 to August 13.
Interview: Jessica Dickey of NAN AND THE LOWER BODY at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Connects with Her Own Family History to Tell a Big, Deep, Humorous, Complex Story
July 5, 2022
July 5, 2022
BroadwayWorld talks to playwright Jessica Dickey about TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's world premiere production of her frank and funny play 'Nan and the Lower Body' running July 13 to August 7 in Palo Alto.
Review: Laura Benanti in Concert at the Lesher Center for the Arts Delivered Heart, Humor and High Notes
June 29, 2022
June 29, 2022
What did our critic think of Laura Benanti in Concert at Lesher Center For The Arts? BroadwayWorld reviews Benanti's wildly entertaining show full of heart, humor and high notes.
Interview: LAURA BENANTI at Lesher Center for The Arts Is a Golden-Age Musical Theater Star for Our Times
June 20, 2022
June 20, 2022
BroadwayWorld talks to Broadway musical star Laura Benanti about her show at the Lesher Center for the Arts on June 25th. Effortlessly engaging and chatty, Benanti also talks about her amazingly varied career, having worked with everyone from Patti LuPone to Chita Rivera, Steve Martin, Richard Chamberlain and the late Rebecca Luker.
Review: DANA H. at Berkeley Rep Recounts a Harrowing True Tale to Startlingly Theatrical Effect
June 16, 2022
June 16, 2022
What did our critic think of DANA H. at Berkeley Rep? BroadwayWorld reviews Lucas Hnath's fascinating and deeply unsettling play, now running in a pitch-perfect production through July 10th.
BWW Interview: Christine Dwyer of RAGTIME at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Charts Her Own Course to Find the Character of 'Mother'
June 3, 2022
June 3, 2022
BroadwayWorld speaks to Broadway star Christine Dwyer about playing 'Mother' in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's new production of 'Ragtime,' which runs live in Mountain View June 1 to 26.
BWW Interview: Ashley Garlick of THE PAJAMA GAME at 42nd Street Moon Finally Gets to Take on the Classic Musical Comedy
June 2, 2022
June 2, 2022
BroadwayWorld talks to Ashley Garlick, who is starring as Babe in 42nd Street Moon's new production of the Golden Age musical comedy 'The Pajama Game,' running live in San Francisco June 2 to 19.
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