Jim Walton (actor)
Encyclopedia
Jim Walton is an American actor, most notable for his leading performance in the original production of Stephen Sondheim
's Merrily We Roll Along
as Franklin Shephard.
and moved to New York City in 1979, and he was in Big Bad Burlesque. He was first a part of the 42nd Street
tour in 1980, and would later be in Perfectly Frank, a review of Frank Loesser
's songs.
At auditions for Merrily, Sondheim asked him how old he was, at that time he was 26, and decided to tell the truth about his age rather than lie because he did not want to get off on a bad foot. He told them the truth and was sure he would be cut because they were looking for people closer to 18. He was relieved when they announced to the room that this was the cast of Merrily, but would have to wait a year because Sondheim had not finished the score at this time. Jim Weissenbach was originally cast as Franklin Shepard, but left and Walton was chosen as his replacement.Merrily only lasted for 16 performances.
He was next in the 1987 musical revue Stardust, a musical of Mitchell Parish
's songs. He next starred as Anthony Hope in the 1989 revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
, with Bob Gunton
as the title character. In that same year he was in the musical revue Closer Than Ever
.
He was in the 1991 original Off-Broadway cast of And the World Goes 'Round
.
He was also in the 2000 revival of The Music Man
. He was in the 2004 Off-Broadway musical Chef's Theater: A Musical Feast. He returned to Broadway in 2009 as Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls
and as Charles F. Maude in Bye Bye Birdie, as well as the 2011 production of Company
.
He was also in the 2011 limited engagement of the new musical by Maury Yeston
, Death Takes a Holiday
.
He has been in three PBS performances. He performed in the 1985 Philharmonic concert of Sondheim's Follies
as Young Buddy, with Mandy Patinkin
portraying the older Buddy. The two day concert was recorded and released on CD. He was also in Crazy for You
and The All Night Strut.
, Nebraska
. The show starred Beth King, Dustin Witte, Cris Rook, and Brent Welch.
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
's Merrily We Roll Along
Merrily We Roll Along (musical)
Merrily We Roll Along is a musical with a book by George Furth and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. It is based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart....
as Franklin Shephard.
Career
He graduated with a musical theatre degree from Cincinnati Conservatory of MusicCincinnati Conservatory of Music
The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music was a conservatory, part of a girls' finishing school, founded in 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It merged with the College of Music of Cincinnati in 1955, forming the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, which is now part of the University of Cincinnati.The...
and moved to New York City in 1979, and he was in Big Bad Burlesque. He was first a part of the 42nd Street
42nd Street (musical)
42nd Street is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren. The 1980 Broadway production, directed by an ailing Gower Champion and orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit...
tour in 1980, and would later be in Perfectly Frank, a review of Frank Loesser
Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
's songs.
At auditions for Merrily, Sondheim asked him how old he was, at that time he was 26, and decided to tell the truth about his age rather than lie because he did not want to get off on a bad foot. He told them the truth and was sure he would be cut because they were looking for people closer to 18. He was relieved when they announced to the room that this was the cast of Merrily, but would have to wait a year because Sondheim had not finished the score at this time. Jim Weissenbach was originally cast as Franklin Shepard, but left and Walton was chosen as his replacement.Merrily only lasted for 16 performances.
He was next in the 1987 musical revue Stardust, a musical of Mitchell Parish
Mitchell Parish
Mitchell Parish was an American lyricist.-Early life:Parish was born Michael Hyman Pashelinsky to a Jewish family in Lithuania. His family emigrated to the United States, arriving on February 3, 1901 on the SS Dresden when he was less than a year old...
's songs. He next starred as Anthony Hope in the 1989 revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1936 British film produced and directed by George King.-Plot:The film features Tod Slaughter in one of his most famous roles as barber Sweeney Todd. Sweeney Todd was wrongly sentenced to life in prison. After his release 15 years later, he begins...
, with Bob Gunton
Bob Gunton
Robert Patrick "Bob" Gunton, Jr. is an American actor. He is known for playing strict, authoritarian characters, with his best known roles as Warden Samuel Norton in the 1994 prison film The Shawshank Redemption, Chief George Earle in 1993's Demolition Man, and President Juan Peron in the original...
as the title character. In that same year he was in the musical revue Closer Than Ever
Closer Than Ever
Closer Than Ever is a musical revue in two acts, with words by Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire. The revue contains no dialogue, and Maltby and Shire have described this show as a "bookless book musical"...
.
He was in the 1991 original Off-Broadway cast of And the World Goes 'Round
And the World Goes 'Round
And the World Goes 'Round is a musical revue showcasing the songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb. The revue takes its title from a tune the songwriting team wrote for Liza Minnelli to sing in the film New York, New York-Productions:...
.
He was also in the 2000 revival of The Music Man
The Music Man
The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
. He was in the 2004 Off-Broadway musical Chef's Theater: A Musical Feast. He returned to Broadway in 2009 as Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably...
and as Charles F. Maude in Bye Bye Birdie, as well as the 2011 production of Company
Company (musical)
Company is a musical with a book by George Furth and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The original production was nominated for a record-setting fourteen Tony Awards and won six....
.
He was also in the 2011 limited engagement of the new musical by Maury Yeston
Maury Yeston
Maury Yeston is an American composer, lyricist, educator and musicologist.He is known for writing the music and lyrics to Broadway musicals, including Nine in 1982, and Titanic in 1997, both of which won Tony Awards for best musical and best score. He also won a Drama Desk Award for Nine...
, Death Takes a Holiday
Death Takes a Holiday
Death Takes a Holiday is a 1934 romantic drama starring Fredric March, Evelyn Venable and Guy Standing, based on the Italian play La Morte in Vacanze by Alberto Casella.-Synopsis:...
.
He has been in three PBS performances. He performed in the 1985 Philharmonic concert of Sondheim's Follies
Follies
Follies is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The story concerns a reunion in a crumbling Broadway theatre, scheduled for demolition, of the past performers of the "Weismann's Follies," a musical revue , that played in that theatre between the World Wars...
as Young Buddy, with Mandy Patinkin
Mandy Patinkin
Mandel Bruce "Mandy" Patinkin is an award-winning American actor of stage and screen and a tenor vocalist. He is a noted interpreter of the musical works of Stephen Sondheim, and is best-known for his work in musical theatre, originating iconic roles such as Georges Seurat in Sunday in the Park...
portraying the older Buddy. The two day concert was recorded and released on CD. He was also in Crazy for You
Crazy for You
Crazy for You is a musical with a book by Ken Ludwig, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and music by George Gershwin. Billed as "The New Gershwin Musical Comedy", it is largely based on the songwriting team’s 1930 musical, Girl Crazy, but interpolates songs from several other productions as well...
and The All Night Strut.
Works
Walton and his brother Bob wrote My Brother's Keeper, Double Trouble, and Midlife! The Crisis Musical, the latter of which premiered at the Tada Theatre in LincolnLincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. The show starred Beth King, Dustin Witte, Cris Rook, and Brent Welch.