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Richard Muenz
Richard Muenz
Richard Muenz
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Richard Muenz (born March 9, 1948) is an American actor and baritone who is mostly known for his work within American theatre. Muenz has frequently performed in musicals and in concerts. He has also periodically acted on television.

Early life and education

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Born in Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up in the Ridgewood, New Jersey, area. He graduated from Ridgewood High School and then attended Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, where he was a voice major.

Career

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He began his career as a member of the New York City Opera's chorus with whom he sang for three seasons during the early 1970s. At the same time he became a member of the Gregg Smith Singers, with whom he made nine recordings over a couple of years; including William Schuman's The Mighty Casey. He also had the honor of performing Brahms's Liebeslieder Waltzes at Carnegie Hall with the ensemble.[1]

In 1975 Muenz performed the role of Sam in a production of Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti at the Whitney Museum. Bernstein was in the audience and after the show he invited Muenz personally to join the cast of his upcoming Broadway musical 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He accepted and made his Broadway debut when the production premiered in the Spring of 1976 portraying a variety of smaller roles. The following year he joined the long running Off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks as El Gallo. In 1979 he returned to Broadway as Joe in the revival of The Most Happy Fella which was recorded live for television broadcast on PBS's Great Performances.[1] That same year he joined the cast of Ryan's Hope, portraying the role of Joe Novak from 1979 to 1980.[2]

In 1980 Muenz was cast as Lancelot in the revival of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot with Richard Burton as King Arthur and Christine Ebersole as Guenevere. When the show moved from the New York State Theater to the Winter Garden Theatre the following year, he stayed with the production, now sharing the stage with Richard Harris as Arthur and Meg Bussert as Guenevere.[3] This second cast was recorded live for television broadcast on HBO.[4] In 1983 he portrayed Cadet Dick Thorpe in George Gershwin and Sigmund Romberg's Rosalie at Town Hall with the New Amsterdam Theater Company.[5] In 1985 he appeared as a guest star on the Scarecrow and Mrs. King episode "Over the Limit". In 1986 he was a guest star on Highway to Heaven in the episode "To Bind the Wounds" and the following year he appeared on Kate & Allie in the episode "Ted's Fix-Up". In 1988 he returned to Broadway as Joe in the original cast of Chess. In 1989 he appeared in the world premiere of the Off-Broadway hit of Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire's Closer Than Ever at the Cherry Lane Theatre. A critical success, the show ran for 312 performances and a CD recording was made on the RCA Victor label.[6]

In 1990 Muenz portrayed the role of Samuel Cooper in Kurt Weill's Love Life at the American Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia.[7] In 1995 he appeared as Frank Sinatra in the television movie Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story.[8] In 1996 he appeared Off-Broadway as Eddie Flagrante in John Dempsey's Zombie Prom at the Variety Arts Theatre.[9] In 1998 he was a guest star on the Law & Order episode "Scrambled". In 1999 he stepped in to cover a few performances for Tom Wopat as Frank Butler in the Broadway revival of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, portraying the role opposite Bernadette Peters. In 2000 he appeared as Robert Baker in New York City Center Encores!'s production of Bernstein's Wonderful Town.[10] In 2001 he narrated Great Performances's tribute to Aaron Copland, Copland's America. In 2005 he returned to Broadway as Pat Denning in the revival of 42nd Street, a role he had previously portrayed on Broadway in 2001.[11]

Muenz's other performing credits include appearances on three seasons of Garrison Keillor’s The American Radio Company of the Air, Jean-Luc on Guiding Light, Dr. Kessler on Another World, the national tour of Jerry Zaks’ revival of Guys and Dolls as Sky Masterson,[12] the National tour of The Sound of Music, performances with the Night Kitchen Radio Theater, and the Broadway companies of High Society and Nick & Nora. He has also appeared in several productions with the New York City Opera, including Bob in Wonderful Town,[13] File in 110 in the Shade,[14] Danilo in The Merry Widow,[15] and Sid in The Pajama Game,[16] the latter of which garnered him a Drama Desk Award nomination.[2]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 Leonard Bernstein's New York Self Documentary

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1979–1980 Ryan's Hope Joe Novak 119 episodes
1980, 2001 Great Performances Narrator / Joe 2 episodes
1982 Camelot Lancelot du Lac Television film
1985 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Eric Sullivan Episode: "Over the Limit"
1986 Crazy Like a Fox Peter Episode: "You Can't Keep a Good Corpse Down"
1986 Highway to Heaven Gary Lee Episode: "To Bind the Wounds"
1987 Kate & Allie Roger Episode: "Ted's Fix-Up"
1988 William Tell Lord Montal Episode: "Ladyship"
1990 H.E.L.P. Paul Butler Episode: "Steam Heat"
1990 Working It Out Brian Burnell Episode: "Old Boyfriends"
1995 Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story Frank Sinatra Television film
1998 Trinity Tall Guy Episode: "In Loco Parentis"
1998 Law & Order Derek Sloan Episode: "Scrambled"

References

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[edit]
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Richard Muenz

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''Richard Muenz'' is an American actor and baritone known for his distinguished career in musical theater and Broadway productions. Born on March 9, 1948, in Hartford, Connecticut, and raised in Ridgewood, New Jersey, Muenz developed his talents as a singer and performer early on, establishing himself as a versatile baritone capable of handling both dramatic and musical roles. He has appeared in numerous Broadway productions, including 42nd Street (as Pat Denning and understudy for Julian Marsh), High Society, and standby roles in Nick & Nora. His notable stage performances include portraying Lancelot in Camelot and the King of Siam in The King and I at the Muny in St. Louis. Muenz earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his work in The Pajama Game. Beyond Broadway, he has made television appearances in shows such as Ryan's Hope, Law & Order, and Great Performances, demonstrating his range across stage and screen. His contributions to American musical theater highlight his consistent presence in classic revivals and ensemble works over several decades.

Early life and education

Richard Muenz was born on March 9, 1948, in Hartford, Connecticut. He was raised in the Ridgewood, New Jersey area, and his surname originates from his German grandfather's family. Muenz graduated from Ridgewood High School before attending Eastern College in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, where he studied as a voice major. His formal vocal training there laid the foundation for his later transition to a professional singing career in New York in the early 1970s.

Career

Opera, choral work, and early performances

Richard Muenz began his professional performing career in the early 1970s as a member of the New York City Opera chorus, where he sang for three seasons. During this period, he also performed with the Gregg Smith Singers, contributing to nine recordings of classical music for labels including Vox and Columbia, such as William Schuman’s The Mighty Casey, and appearing in Brahms’s Liebeslieder Waltzes at Carnegie Hall. In 1975, Muenz performed the role of Sam in Leonard Bernstein's one-act opera Trouble in Tahiti at the Whitney Museum, presented with a full orchestra conducted by Gregg Smith. His Broadway debut followed in 1976 with multiple smaller roles in the short-lived musical 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, including Singing Ensemble, South Carolina, and Budgen, in the Leonard Bernstein and Alan Jay Lerner production. In 1977, he portrayed El Gallo in the off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks at the Sullivan Street Playhouse. These foundational experiences in opera chorus, choral ensembles, and early stage roles established Muenz as a versatile baritone and paved the way for more prominent opportunities in musical theater and television.

Broadway and major musical theater roles

Richard Muenz established himself as a leading baritone in Broadway musical theater through a series of prominent revivals and original productions, often portraying strong, charismatic male leads in classic American musicals. His notable Broadway appearances began with the 1979 revival of The Most Happy Fella, in which he played Joe at the Majestic Theatre from October 11 to November 25, 1979. In 1980, he starred as Lancelot Du Lac in the revival of Camelot, initially appearing opposite Richard Burton at the New York State Theater before the production transferred to the Winter Garden Theatre, where Richard Harris later assumed the role of King Arthur; the revival ran from July 8 to August 23, 1980, with a return engagement from November 15, 1981, to January 2, 1982. The Camelot cast recording was released in association with HBO. In 1988, Muenz joined the original Broadway cast of Chess at the Imperial Theatre, performing as Joe and ensemble while understudying Anatoly from April 28 to June 25, 1988. He later returned to Broadway in 1999 as a replacement for Frank Butler in the revival of Annie Get Your Gun at the Marquis Theatre, appearing opposite Bernadette Peters. Muenz also portrayed Pat Denning in the 2001 revival of 42nd Street at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts (now the Hilton Theatre), remaining with the production through its run ending in 2005. Beyond Broadway, Muenz delivered leading baritone performances with the New York City Opera, including Bob in Wonderful Town, File in 110 in the Shade, Danilo in The Merry Widow, and Sid in The Pajama Game, the latter earning him a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. These roles underscored his affinity for robust, emotionally layered baritone characters in the musical theater canon.

Off-Broadway, tours, and other stage work

Muenz participated in several off-Broadway productions and concert stagings that highlighted his versatility in musical theater. In 1983, he played Cadet Dick Thorpe opposite Marianne Tatum in a concert presentation of the 1928 Gershwin/Romberg musical Rosalie at Town Hall, produced by the New Amsterdam Theater Company. He starred in the world premiere of the musical revue Closer Than Ever in 1989 at the Cherry Lane Theatre, appearing alongside Brent Barrett, Sally Mayes, and Lynne Wintersteller in a production that ran for 312 performances and featured songs by David Shire and Richard Maltby Jr. In 1990, Muenz portrayed Samuel Cooper in a revival of Kurt Weill and Alan Jay Lerner's Love Life at the American Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia. He later appeared as Eddie Flagrante in the off-Broadway production of Zombie Prom at the Variety Arts Theatre in 1996. In 2000, he played Robert Baker in the New York City Center Encores! semi-staged concert revival of Wonderful Town, opposite Donna Murphy. Muenz also sustained his stage career through national tours and regional engagements. He starred as Sky Masterson in the national touring production of the Jerry Zaks-directed revival of Guys and Dolls, which ran from 1992 to 1994. These appearances in off-Broadway premieres, limited-run productions, concert formats, and tours complemented his Broadway work and demonstrated his ongoing commitment to musical theater across various venues.

Television roles

Richard Muenz gained notable recognition on television for his role as Joe Novak on the ABC soap opera Ryan's Hope, appearing in 119–120 episodes from 1979 to 1980. He portrayed the character during a key period in the series' storyline, contributing to its daytime drama ensemble. Muenz made several guest appearances across prime-time and other series during the 1980s and 1990s. These included episodes of Scarecrow and Mrs. King in 1985, Highway to Heaven in 1986, Crazy Like a Fox in 1986, Kate & Allie in 1987, Crossbow in 1988, Working It Out in 1990, H.E.L.P. in 1990, Another World in 1996 as Dr. Kessler (3 episodes), Trinity in 1998, and Law & Order in 1998 as Derek Sloan. He also appeared as Jean-Luc on Guiding Light. In addition to episodic work, Muenz contributed to public television programming. He appeared and narrated on Great Performances in 1980 and 2001, including involvement with Copland's America. In 1997, he appeared as himself in the documentary Leonard Bernstein's New York. His performance in The Most Happy Fella was also broadcast on Great Performances, though primarily noted in his stage career.

Film and television movie appearances

Richard Muenz's appearances in film and television movies have been selective, consisting primarily of made-for-television productions rather than theatrical releases. He reprised his stage role as Lancelot du Lac in the 1982 HBO television movie Camelot, a filmed adaptation of the Broadway revival in which he had performed opposite Richard Burton. This production captured the Lerner and Loewe musical in a televised format, preserving Muenz's portrayal of the knight for home viewing audiences.) No, never cite Wikipedia. Wait, avoid that. Better: He reprised his stage role as Lancelot in the 1982 HBO television movie Camelot. In 1995, Muenz played Frank Sinatra in the CBS television movie Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story, a biographical drama focusing on Mia Farrow's life and relationships. The role required Muenz to portray the singer in scenes depicting his marriage to Farrow. These television movie credits represent Muenz's primary contributions to filmed media outside of his extensive stage career.

Concert, radio, and additional work

Richard Muenz, a baritone, has maintained a parallel career in concert, choral, and radio performances separate from his stage and screen acting roles. Early in his professional life, he sang with the Gregg Smith Singers for two seasons, contributing as a vocalist to nine albums of classical music released on the Vox and Columbia labels. His work with the ensemble included solo and ensemble contributions to recordings such as Thomas Ravenscroft's The Whole Booke of Psalmes, where he sang individual psalms, and other contemporary chamber works by composers like Paul Reif. Muenz appeared as a performer on three seasons of Garrison Keillor's The American Radio Company of the Air, participating in the radio variety series' musical and dramatic segments alongside Garrison Keillor and other regular cast members. His involvement extended to live broadcasts and related events, including appearances in New York-based episodes featuring original arrangements and humorous sketches. Additionally, Muenz has performed with the Night Kitchen Radio Theater, contributing to their radio-style productions and live performances aimed at family and children's audiences. These engagements highlight his continued activity in vocal narration, choral work, and radio theater as a baritone outside traditional theatrical productions.

References

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/1980/07/25/archives/new-face-richard-muenz-a-baritone-aspiring-to-be-an-arthurian.html
  2. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/richard-muenz-69723
  3. https://playbill.com/person/richard-muenz-vault-0000107740
  4. https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/03/nyregion/theater-in-review-love-and-growth-in-camelot.html
  5. https://playbill.com/article/last-chance-st-louis-muny-ends-king-and-i-w-muenz-denniston-july-11-com-83037
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0611139/
  7. https://castalbums.org/people/Richard-Muenz/1543
  8. https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/14/archives/music-rare-bernstein-whitney-series-portrays-composer-as.html
  9. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/1600-pennsylvania-avenue-3837
  10. https://ovrtur.com/production/role-profile/1111989
  11. https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/21/theater/music-noted-in-brief-1928-musical-rosalie-in-concert-at-town-hall.html
  12. https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/07/theater/review-theater-closer-than-ever-revue-from-maltby-and-shire.html
  13. https://masterworksbroadway.com/music/closer-than-ever-1989/
  14. https://ovrtur.com/production/2897619
  15. https://ovrtur.com/production/2898933
  16. https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/sound/nov14.html
  17. https://playbill.com/article/muenz-benanti-join-murphy-in-encores-wonderful-town-may-4-7-com-88646
  18. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0611773/
  19. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0612373/
  20. https://classical.music.apple.com/au/recording/thomas-ravenscroft-1588-pp27-458139492
  21. https://www.discogs.com/release/14485193-The-Gregg-Smith-Singers-Contemporary-Chamber-Theater
  22. https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-cf02bb67cd9
  23. https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-526-0p0wp9v215
  24. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/06/15/wobegon-days-in-the-vienna-woods/ccb13ec6-5127-4856-ba45-868b776cbe21/
  25. https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Richard_Muenz/
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