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The reviews on this page are quotes taken from longer reviews because they
specifically pertain to Jim Stanek or the character he played in said performance.
The source of the article, whether web or print, as well as the author are however
included. Also, when avaliable, a link to the full review will also be provided.
Click on the poster to be taken to the corresponding reviews. All shows are
listed chronologically.
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A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
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“Here, replete with full new orchestrations, it is sung in grand style by Nathan Lane,
Jim Stanek and Jessica Boevers.”
Aisle Say CD Review
by: Jameson Baker
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“Jim Stanek (Hero) and Jessica Boevers (Philia) aren't exactly clowns, but they sing
beautifully and remain comically dim throughout.”
New York Times by: Vincent Canby
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CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS: THE MUSICAL
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“Jim Stanek, at least, despite his Slavic name, has a fine tenor -- genuine chantey Irish.”
NewYorkMetro.com
by: John Simon
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BOROUGH OF KINGS
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“Debuting star James Stanek seems to be living parallel roles -- real life meets fiction --
as the hungry young actor clinging to a career-making part in a play. He acquits himself nicely
despite the pressure of carrying his first movie.”
All Movie Guide by: Buzz McClain
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THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE
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“As Millie's love Jimmy, Jim Stanek quickly rises above the Roaring '20s "lingo du jour"
with which he begins.”
San Diego Union Tribune by: Anne Marie Welsh
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"On the plus side, the characters of Millie and her peppy suitor Jimmy Smith
(Jim Stanek,
solid and charming) have been given some actual human traits in this version."
Los Angeles Times by: Michael Phillips
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"But Millie's plans get confused when she begins falling for Jimmy Smith (a versatile and likable
Jim Stanek), a young man who's got the New York lingo, and checkered fashion style, down cold."
Variety By: Steven Oxman
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THE 3HREE MUSKETEERS
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“Jim Stanek stands out as D’Artagnan, at once boyish and full of fun. He has a great
voice and you instantly like his naivete. He's also the best actor in this production. I
remember him as Hero in the New York production of Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened
on the Way to the Forum and Saturday Night. He is an asset to this musical.”
TalkinBroadway.com
by: Richard Connema
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“The talented cast, led by Broadway veteran Jim Stanek as Luke Skywalker prototype
D'Artagnan, is loaded with vocal dynamos.”
Mercury News by: Mark de la Via
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DAMN YANKEES
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“Joe Hardy is played by Jim Stanek, properly naive with a puissant voice and especially
effective in the song 'Good-bye, Old Girl'. He shines in 'A Man Doesn't Know', the lovely duet,
with Lucinda Hitchcock Cone who plays his wife.”
Talkinbroadway.com by: Richard Connema
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THE THREEPENNY OPERA
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“Jim Stanek, Jack Noseworthy, Julio Monge, and John Ellison Conlee each retain the spark
of individuality while functioning as the well-oiled unit that is Macheath's gang.”
TheaterMania.com
by: Michael Portantiere
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MY FAIR LADY
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“Jim Stanek is a shade too sappy as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, but as the ever-patient suitor
he sings 'On the Street Where You Live' with the perfectly targeted thrust of a fervent heart.”
Variety
by: Robert L. Daniels
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“Jim Stanek, another chameleon who plays several characters, and Dennis Creaghan as Colonel
Hugh Pickering, a colleague of Professor Higgins, execute their parts well.”
New York Times by: Jane Gordon
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“As Freddy, the all-talk and no-action suitor, Jim Stanek allows his bright tenor voice
to endearingly spark 'On the Street where You Live.'”
TheaterScene.net by: Simon Saltzman
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SLUT
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“Stanek is enormously appealing in a puppy-doggish way.”
TheatreMania.com
by: Brian Scott Lipton
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“Best of all is Jim Stanek as the decent guy, who, once spurned by true love, tries to
emulate his rakish good friend — only to eventually rediscover his inner goodness. There's a hint of a real
person here.”
AP Drama Critic
- Michael Kuchwara
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"Jim Stanek makes a likable nice guy turned over-the-top stud."
Broadwayworld.com by: Michael Dale
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LESTAT
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“Jim Stanek has a strong voice as the weak-willed Louis who despises this eternal life.”
Talkinbroadway.com by: Richard Connema
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“Of the three who inhabit both books, Louis -- the narrator of Interview (which makes up
most of the second act) -- is a peripheral, one-dimensional image of unrelieved angst, strongly sung
by Jim Stanek.”
San Francisco Chronicle by: Robert Hurwitt
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“Jim Stanek (Louis), Roderick Hill (Nicolas) and Michael Genet (Marius) bring great
passion to the stage.”
Beyond Chron.org by: Lee Hartgrave
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"Jim Stanek makes for a nearly sympathetic Louis.”
Oakland Tribune by: Chad Jones
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"Jim Stanek, Roderick Hill, Michael Genet and Allison Fischer; do their best to keep
afloat a ship resolutely searching for icebergs."
New York Post by: Clive Barnes
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"Jim Stanek grapples admirably with moral dilemmas as Lestat's adult love."
Newsday.com by: Linda Winer
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"Jim Stanek was the embodiment of Lestat’s tragic grief-stricken partner, Louis."
AnneRice.com by: Anne Rice
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"Their cast is first-rate, with particularly noteworthy performances by Jim Stanek
as Louis, Roderick Hill as Nicolas, and Carolee Carmello as Gabrielle, Lestat's mother."
NYTheatre.com by: Martin Denton
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CARNIVAL!
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“The discomfort some may feel in watching Stewart's book...is alleviated somewhat by the beauty
of such moving ballads...and 'She's My Love,' sung by Stanek with quiet passion as he
emerges from his sullen stupor at the end."
TheatreMania.com by: Michael Toscano
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“In the lead role, Stanek gives us a Paul who has allowed anger to close his heart and
smother his charm.”
TheatreMania.com by: Michael Toscano
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"Stanek and Sevasti sing touchingly and with technical prowess, particularly in
their final duet."
The Washington Post by: Peter Marks
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"The chief exception is his dark love song, 'Her Face,' which is movingly reprised,
simultaneously and in counterpoint to Lili's 'I Hate Him.'"
BaltimoreSun.com by: J. Wynn Rousuck
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"Stanek brings a noble voice and...sings with enough heart to douse fears of death by puppet."
Metro Weekly by: Kate Wingfield
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FRANKENSTEIN: THE MUSICAL
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“Noll, Bruno, Jim Stanek (as a haranguing priest representing the religious stand against such
lab arrogance) -- all sound great, even if they're not otherwise shown off to good advantage.”
Talkinbroadway.com by: David Finkle
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THE PRODUCERS - NORTH SHORE MUSIC THEATRE
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“Scott Davidson, Bialystock, and Jim Stanek, Bloom, pull off their characters’ lust, greed,
and, ultimately, their friendship well. They can sing. They can dance. And they’re funny. That’s a
tough combination to find.”
Beverly Citizen by: Dan Mac Alpine
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"As Bloom, Stanek must erase memories of Matthew Broderick, and he doesn't waste any
time. With his strong tenor and expressive face, he is reminiscent of actor Bill Irwin,
combining a sense of naivete with impressive chops and charm."
The Boston Globe by: Terry Byrne
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"Stanek’s solo turn on 'I Wanna be a Producer' shows off a mellow tenor voice and major
dancing skills as he cavorts with a chorus line of improbably tall blondes."
The Taunton Gazette by: Sally Applegate
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"Leading men Scott Davidson as Bialystock and Jim Stanek as Bloom have colossal shoes to fill,
and for the most part their dysfunctional father-son chemistry and game efforts keep the show moving
at a brisk pace. However...Stanek frequently upstages him with his twittering, neurotic, boyish
vulnerability and nerdy charm."
BroadwayWorld.com by: Jan Nargi
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"Scott Davidson as Max Bialystock, the loser-of-a-producer, and Jim Stanek as the afraid-of-everything
accountant, Leo Bloom, play off each other just the way Lane and Broderick did. Their timing is perfect,
and so are they."
Danvers Herald by: Myrna Fearer
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ACE: THE MUSICAL
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“Notably, too, Noll, Paice, Stanek and Matthew Scott apply ear-pleasing lung power to Oberacker
and Taylor's generic-sounding ballads and conversation-mimicking song fragments."
The Washington Post by: Peter Marks
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“Jim Stanek and Matthew Scott as two generations of ace fighter pilots play their roles well, with the
appropriate macho swagger and equal parts humility. They are both a hero's hero. Mr. Stanek delivers the
complete version of the oft-reprised "In These Skies" very well.”
BroadwayWorld.com by: James Howard
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"Among the men, Jim Stanek as WWI pilot John Robert and Matthew Scott as his handsome son Ace
bring impressive power to the big numbers."
Variety by: Paul Harris
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"Jim Stanek radiates conviction as the hero of one of Elizabeth's stories."
TalkinBroadway.com by: Susan Berlin
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"Jim Stanek does have a number of charming moments as the WWI ace."
Arlington Connection by: Brad Hathaway
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NIGHT SKY
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“The rest of the ensemble members support Baker in polished style, not the least of them Stanek as the
short-tempered, yet abiding Daniel."
TheatreMania.com by: David Finkle
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“With her lover Daniel – an opera singer (a guilt ridden, frustrated, trying to compete with Anna’s excellence,
an excellent Jim Stanek)."
TalkEntertainment.com by: Oscar E. Moore
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“Daniel (Jim Stanek) and Jennifer (Ashley Carter) convincingly battle their difficulties, supportive and encouraging
while trying to cope with their own lives... They both display strong swings of impatience, deep love, and
individual strengths. These characters are compellingly drawn with color and life."
CurtainUp by: Elizabeth Ahlfors
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"Jim Stanek, as her dedicated but sorely tested partner, is enormously affecting. The scene of their near-breakup
may be the most shattering on our current stage."
Bloomberg.com by: John Simon
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"Jim Stanek, a veteran of several Broadway shows, makes a wonderful transformation as Daniel, from struggling,
insecure artist to confused but committed caregiver to a success with a future now encumbered by the woman who used to support him."
About.com by: Paul Cozby
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THE PRODUCERS - PITTSBURGH CLO
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“As the cowardly Leo, who blooms into a producer under Max's tutelage, the CLO and Broadway veteran [Stanek] channels Matthew
Broderick and the original Leo, Gene Wilder.”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by: Sharon Eberson
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A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN
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“Loyacano and Stanek work assiduously in both halves of the show. Early on, they find the sweetness in the couple's
impetuous early days, only occasionally allowing their performances to turn saccharine. And, as the marriage fails
and life becomes increasingly difficult... Equally effective is the sadness that creeps into Stanek's turn as Johnny's
dreams of fame as a singer disappear into the bottom of his bottle."
TheatreMania.com by: Andy Propst
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“Handsome ne'er-do-well Johnny, a singing waiter with a drinking problem, is played with an abundance of charm by
Jim Stanek, whose strong tenor and expressiveness are well-suited to this role. His soaring voice is masterful
on solos such as 'Don't Be Afraid,' and 'I'll Buy You a Star.' "
MercuryNews.com by: Oscar E. Moore
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“Her father, Johnny (Jim Stanek), is a charming alcoholic and a singing waiter who can't keep a job... it seemed
that Stanek was born to play an Irish tenor and woo Loyacano... It's hard not to love them and wish them well, knowing
full well their romance will not have a happy ending. "
CurtainUp by: Paulanne Simmons
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"There are some nice emotional moments between Mr. Stanek and Ms. Whittaker that support the music movingly
at the end of each act."
NYTimes.com by: Jason Zinoman
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CAMELOT
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“Jim Stanek is charming as young King Arthur during his opening scenes with the magician Merlyn (David Benoit)
and with his bride-to-be Guenevere, gracefully played by Kim Carson... Mr. Stanek and Ms. Carson make a cozy
pair as they sing 'What Do the Simple Folk Do?'... At the end, there is 'one shining moment' when Mr. Stanek’s
Arthur really connects with a star-struck boy (alternately played by Evan Flannery and Jared Ross) and tells him to spread
Camelot’s ideals to future generations."
NYTimes.com by: Aileen Jacobson
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“The familiar story focuses on the idealistic if socially awkward King Arthur (played with grace and theatrical
aplomb by Jim Stanek), who longs to create a kingdom free of violence and war."
TheatreMania.com by: Iris Wiener
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“The show is propelled by the dynamics of the trio, and Jim Stanek (King Arthur), Kim Carson (Guenevere), and
Jarid Faubel (Lancelot) rise admirably to the challenge. Stanek immediately wins over the audience with the comic,
'I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight,' and delivers the querying 'How To Handle A Woman' with the right amount of
romantic gusto. "
NorthPort Patch by: Elise Pearlman
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“The lead role of Arthur was dynamically played by Jim Stanek. His is a delightful tenor, occasionally reaching the
lyric stratum. Your scribe was particularly impressed with his rendition of the title number."
NorthPort Times by: Charles Morgan
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