Eric Kunze Reviews and Articles

Miss Saigon at the Walnut Street Theater:

6/1/11
From the Walnut Street Newsletter:

When you have a man like Eric Kunze playing Chris in MISS SAIGON, it's easy to understand how Kim can carry a torch for him after so many years. There's no denying that he's a handsome fella, but furthermore, he's an enormously talented performer with the kind of leading-man good looks you'd expect for the role. And boy, does he deliver the goods!

6/2/11
Review of Miss Saigon in STAGE, by Patricia Bradford

As one would expect in a musical production of this caliber, all the voices in the cast are excellent; but it is the quality of the acting that sets the WST production apart from others. The chemistry between the American GI, Chris (Eric Kunze) and the young Vietnamese girl, Kim (Melinda Chua) is palpable in the duet, “Sun and Moon”, aided in part by the tender staging, deftly handled by veteran director, Bruce Lumpkin. This team has worked together before, so perhaps that accounts for the level of intimacy achieved in the lovers’ early scenes. Whatever the reason, the result is beautiful to behold. Chua makes a fine Kim, fragile and sweet of voice, but with the core of strength the role demands. Kunze’s vocals are masterful and his portrayal of Chris completely truthful.

Damn Yankees at the Muny:

Director Ron Kellum said Kunze’s reputation precedes him.'You completely know why he plays these roles,” Kellum said. “He is the essence of these characters from Jesus Christ to Joseph to Chris in Miss Saigon. He walks into the room and there’s not an ounce of pretense. He is so open to the creative process and he’s so available even though he’s done these roles so many times. He always approaches it from a fresh place. I watched his process when we did ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ last year. He’s done that role thousands of times and yet he was open to try new things, to sing it a different way. He’s just talented. He can stand and deliver a song with the best of them.' "

South Bay "Dreamcoat" Wears Well: Review in LA Daily Breeze

"Kunze, whose powerhouse vocals shined last season in the CLOSBC production of "Jesus Christ Superstar," again serves as a solid anchor. His Joseph is kind, but with a twinge of conceit that adds to the humor. Kunze's emotional range remains impressive, in particular during the show's low soulful number, Close Every Door."

MUNY REVIEW: A buoyant "Godspell" stars divine Eric Kunze
Boosted by Eric Kunze’s charismatic turn as Jesus and a fresh makeover of the nearly 40-year-old musical, “Godspell” provided another peppy opening night this Muny season...

The emotion comes through, centering on Muny favorite Kunze as a different Jesus (he’s appeared twice as the title character in “Jesus Christ, Superstar”). While most of his songs here don’t show off his glorious tenor like past star vehicles – such as Chris in “Miss Saigon” last year and as the lead in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” the year before, the handsome Broadway veteran certainly can fill up a stage with his presence, passionate acting and powerful voice no matter what he’s given to sing. "Alas for You" is heart-wrenching. Lynn Venhaus for the News-Democrat

Muny Continues Summer Season with Godspell
The Muny is presenting a very good production buoyed by a talented and energetic cast. Even if you're not a particularly religious person, you'll still find plenty to appreciate in this family-friendly show...
Eric Kunze makes a fine Jesus, taking command of his followers and gently guiding them down the righteous path while relating tales designed to make them understand whatfaith really means. His strong voice comes through clearly on numbers like "Save the People", "All for the Best" and "Alas for You". BroadwayWorld.com (Chris Gibson)

Here's a great interview with Eric from St.Louis Today:

Eric Kunze is a Muny favorite and for good reason," said Paul Blake, the Muny's executive producer. A slender, well-muscled tenor with a killer smile, Kunze is unfailingly gracious with the fans — mainly teenage girls — who wait for him at the stage door after every Muny performance. He autographs programs and poses for photos and always seems glad to oblige. Judith Newmark, St. Louis Today

Well, we agree about the killer smile, but it's not only teenaged girls at the stage door... :-)

http://www.onstageboston.com/Articles/2008/6/June/revjoseph.html

Jesus Christ Superstar at CLOSBC

From The Beach Reporter, April 29, 2009:Director Stephanie A. Coltrin infuses an already rich show with contemporary spice and flavoring. Her use of the apron, which extends past the orchestra pit, puts the audience right in the action. More than half of a director's battle is casting strong, passionate talent, and Coltrin has assembled a cast of Broadway veterans whose voices shake the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center's rafters with muscle. The principal players including Eric Kunze (Jesus), Josh Tower (Judas), Karole Foreman (Mary), Ron Kellum (Peter), Jody Ashworth (Caiaphas), Kevin Bailey (Pilate), Robert Sean Thompson (Annas), Jason Webb (Simon) and Harrison White (Herod) embody their roles with such commitment and power they transcend previous interpretations. The passion of the ensemble matches and supports the principals eloquently.

From Backstage:

Kunze sings with great skill and passionate conviction. His characterization hits all the right notes of humanity for us to accept Christ as a fallible, feeling human rather than a religious icon. His stirring rendition of "Gethsemane" is particularly affecting.From the Daily Breeze:Kunze, who sparkled as Jesus several years ago in a national tour, remains at the top of his skills.

Two Rancho Buena Vista High grads returning to local stage Sign On San Diego 5/5/07
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20070505-9999-lz1mi5rancho.html

Voices Put Power in Superstar
News and Observer 2/27/07
Eric Kunze's firm, smooth tone gives Jesus' emotions full vent, from the frustration in "What's the Buzz" to the tenderness of "Poor Jerusalem" and the anguish of "Gethsemane," a showstopper of mesmerizing power.

"I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett" SanDiego.com 6/15/07
http://www.sandiego.com/option,com_sdca/target,4134642f-671d-485e-8684-5d33a558c4d6/
Let it be said that three more glorious voices have scarcely been heard on the Welk stage before, for Damon Kirsche, Eric Kunze, and Kevin McMahon do possess remarkable instruments.

Updating a Superstar News8Austin 10/29/04

"The music takes you on a great ride and the story, of course, takes you along as well. And you're working with incredible actors and a great company and getting tremendous feedback at the end of the show too. So, it's a two-hour rush," Eric Kunze, who plays Jesus Christ, said.
Playing a worshipped character is no easy task, he said. He tries to make Jesus as human as possible.
"We all have different images, I think, and pictures that we grew up with as children and or as adults in our own Bibles that we had or the pictures on the wall at the churches we attend. And, I think, when people do show up, it's completely not what they expected," Kunze said.

20-Year-Old Gets Chance of a Lifetime Stage: Eric Kunze, college junior from Vista, lands a Broadway role in `Les Miserables' LA Times 5/19/92
Eric Kunze's journey to his Friday audition began last August when he went to see Davis Gaines, star of the Los Angeles production of "The Phantom of the Opera." Kunze had met Gaines through his roommate at United States International University, where Kunze was a student for two years before transferring to UC Irvine.
Kunze went backstage after a performance of "The Phantom" to meet the actor. Coincidentally, two casting agents for Cameron Mackintosh, the producer of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals as well as "Miss Saigon" and "Les Miserables," were also backstage visiting Gaines. They were looking for actors for Mackintosh's latest, "Five Guys Named Moe." Gaines introduced them to Kunze. The casting agents invited him to audition.
[James Cook] added that Kunze has been "the most incredible success story" both because of his natural talent and because he worked so hard at his voice and progressed so rapidly. But Cook has worked with others privately and at Moonlight who have gone on to become professionals. Misty Cotton, an Oceanside woman who now lives in Los Angeles, performed with Kunze at Moonlight and studied with Cook before being cast as Eponine in the San Francisco touring production of "Les Miserables" two years ago.

These reviews are from 1991, when Eric was only 20 years old. They foreshadow the successful career ahead of him:

Eric Kunze Reviews and Articles

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Jesus Christ Superstar at CLOSBC