Who is James Blanshard?

Born and bred in sunny Sydney, Australia, James (or Jim, as he is better known) is a graduate of the intensive 2 year Musical Theatre and Professional Workshop Program at Circle in the Square Theater School.  He began his paid career during the training’s Summer break with 5 leading roles at the same theatre where John Travolta got his start.  Straight out of school he played the lead role to strong reviews in "Just Us Boys" at the Midtown International Theatre Festival and subsequently began to perform regularly in New York and regionally, including a 6 month US National Tour in the lead role of Susan Stroman's "contact", the musical.   Jim has been a member of the BAT theatre company at the famous Flea Theatre under Jim Simpson's stewardship, during which he performed in a world premier musical of the 5 time Tony nominee, Liz Swados, and a reading of "Vultures" with Kathleen Turner and Bebe Neuwirth.  He has also enjoyed a recurring role on CBS's "As The World Turns" since 2006 and has appeared in a number of independent films.  As a manager and leading performer for the Village Playback Theatre Company, Jim is in the enviable position of being able to pursue his passions professionally whilst at the same time serving the under-represented in the community with an impressive program of improvisational dramatic and musical theatre.  His other passions include travel (Jim has journeyed through all 5 continents and lived in 6 different countries, learning a number of foreign languages), outdoor sports (Jim has a history of excellence in many sports and still maintains a strong level of fitness, recently winning his category in the New York inline skating marathon) and family (Jim and his wife, Eva, have two young girls, Maya and Vivian) with whom he resides in Park Slope, Brooklyn.