🎭September Member Spotlight: Talon Baldwin

 If you’ve seen a Center Stage Jackson production in the last few years, chances are Talon Baldwin had a hand in it – whether on stage, behind the scenes, or at the producer’s table. Talon has been a CSJ board member for the past three years, and he’s also stepped into the roles of producer and actor.

His theater journey started in a very unexpected way. During
Jackson’s Cruise Night, his wife spotted the CSJ booth and boldly announced, “My husband needs to be on stage.” Talon then auditioned for Something Rotten – with no idea what it was – and suddenly found himself dropped into tap classes. Eight tap dances later, he was hooked. “I’ve been tapping ever since,” he says.

Now, just a few years later, Talon is taking on his biggest role yet: Jerry Lukowski in The Full Monty. Jerry is the heart of the show – a down-on-his-luck mill worker whose grit, humor, and tenderness carry the story. Talon has been working hard to embody Jerry’s complexity, from his frustration and vulnerability to his deep love for his son.

It feels especially fitting that Talon’s wife was the one who nudged him into theater in the first place – because now she’s seeing him shine in a lead role that demands both stamina and heart. From being “volunteered” into auditioning to carrying a show like The Full Monty, it’s safe to say her hunch was right: Talon belongs on stage.

While he enjoys acting – especially in comedies – Talon’s heart also lies in producing. “It’s stressful but very rewarding,” he admits. His dream roles lean toward high-energy farce, with Noises Off and The Play That Goes Wrong topping his list.

Outside of theatre, Talon has another passion: board games. Twice a year, he even hosts full weekend board game events at his home.

For Talon, community theatre is about connection and joy. “It’s an escape from reality for a minute. You get to be someone else and meet other people being someone else. It’s a great time.”