Before I was on camera...I was on stage

I'll be honest, I didn't dream of being a news anchor when I was a little girl. I wanted to be a performer. Singing, dancing, playing instruments... whatever it was I wanted to be on stage. My dad was a professional violinist all his life and my mom danced all through school and is still a beautiful calligrapher. So needless to say, my sisters and I grew up in a very artistic world. We all started dancing when we were 3 years old, played violin or cello at a young age, and performed in nearly every theatrical production that was put on in, or around, Yankton, SD... my hometown. 

My first dance redital

My sisters and my dad and I used to play as a quartet all together (yes, I'm the baby) :)

I was very fortunate to have a dance instructor from Poland who just happen to move to Yankton when I was young. Which is a big part of why I started to take dance so seriously. I probably took ten classes a week by the time I was in high school and was teaching dance classes when I wasn't dancing. I started working at a local radio station, 1450 KYNT, when I was 16... but my true passion was still dance/theater.

I think I played every role possible in the Nutcracker. :) Here Snow Queen and an angel.

One of my favorite roles... Dorothy in Wizard of Oz!

I think if I had set my goals higher... like if I had a desire to one day be on Broadway... I might still be chasing that dream. But my dream was to get into a theater near Minneapolis called Chanhassen Dinner Theaters. I had seen musicals there since I was a little girl. And that was the stage that I wanted to be on. Well after moving to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota (hoping to get a musical theater or dance degree) I auditioned at Chanhassen and got cast in the show Can Can! I was only 18 and I thought I had hit the jackpot! It really was an amazing experience. We did 302 shows, 8 shows a week... and I never missed a show. We did nearly 100 kicks a show which meant about 800 kicks a week...what a workout! Truly talented people, amazing production value, and overall a wonderful experience!

Yep, that's me on the wall. Still the same "teethy" grin :)

When I was little I would point to this wall and say "someday my picture will be up there!" (top left if you can't find it)

The Can Can dancers!

I spent four years performing in various theaters in the Twin Cities while still going to school...although I changed my major to Broadcast Journalism as the "backup plan."

My 8X10 headshot

My resume

As much as I loved the theater, it really is a crazy business world. And I knew I wanted something more consistent long term. So when I graduated college I made the tough call to pursue the broadcasting route instead of theater route. And now I still get to feed my love of theater by being involved in the arts here in Arkansas.

I still can't believe I'll be on stage this week at Robinson Auditorium singing with REAL performers!! I think I'd be more comfortable if they had asked me to dance instead of sing! But I am also so grateful and honored to be asked... and I'm up for the challenge!!

So as they say in the theater world... don't wish me luck!! Just tell me to "break a leg!!"



Here's the press release from Celebrity Attractions about the show:


SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!

KATV’s very own Christina Munoz will be performing a special number with the cast of 100 Years of Broadway all three nights!

Christina Munoz anchors Channel 7 News at 6pm and Nightside at 10:00 p.m. She joined KATV in April of 2003. Before moving to Little Rock, Christina was a reporter and fill-in anchor at KDLH Channel 3 News in Duluth, Minnesota. Prior to that, she worked behind the scenes at WCCO, the CBS affiliate in Minneapolis. Christina has been actively involved in various community organizations throughout Arkansas since moving here. She's a member of the Arkansas Climbers Coalition and is an honorary board member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). She also served two years as President of Ballet Arkansas and continues to be an advisory board member. Christina was also on stage in Ballet Arkansas' annual production of "The Nutcracker" for four years.

Neil Berg’s widely acclaimed 100 Years of Broadway, a musical revue of Broadway’s most celebrated shows, features a dazzling cast of five Broadway stars accompanied by an all-star New York band. The show is opening at the Robinson Center Music Hall on February 26, 2013 and will run for three nights.
Past productions of this popular show have featured Betty Buckley, Liz Callaway, Ben Vereen, and Alex Santoriello among others. Along with musical director and pianist Neil Berg, the Robinson Center Music Hall production will feature Carter Calvert (Grizabella, Cats), Danny Zolli (Jesus, Jesus Christ Superstar), Sandra Joseph (Christine, The Phantom of the Opera), Ron Bohmer (Phantom, The Phantom of the Opera) and William Michals (Beast, Beauty and the Beast). *Cast is subject to change based upon possible Broadway and touring developments.

Welcomed by AT&T, 100 YEARS OF BROADWAY plays at the Robinson Center Music Hall February 26-28, 2013. All performances begin at 7:30p. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by phone at 501.244.8800 or 800.982.2787(ARTS), in person at Celebrity Attractions and all Ticketmaster outlets, or online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets prices are $57.00, $46.50, $36.00 and $25.00 (no additional fees). Groups of 10 or more may call 501.492.3316 for a discount. For more information, visit the Celebrity Attractions’ website at www.CelebrityAttractions.com.

100 YEARS OF BROADWAY is part of the 2012-2013 Celebrity Attractions’ Broadway Season which also includes the Tony® Award winning JERSEY BOYS. Celebrity Attractions would like to thank our season sponsors KATV and American Airlines for their continued support of nationally touring Broadway in Little Rock.