John Simpkins is New Artistic Director at TriArts Sharon Playhouse, NYU Steinhardt Partnership Announced

TriArts Sharon Playhouse (Sharon, CT) is pleased to announce that John Simpkins has been appointed Artistic Director, effective immediately. John has recently directed the Off-Broadway productions of Bloodsong of Love (Ars Nova - three Drama Desk nominations), ReWrite (Urban Stages) and Things to Ruin (Second Stage, Joe's Pub, Le Poisson Rouge). He is also the co-conceiver (with Joe Iconis) of Things to Ruin - whose CD and licensing are available through Sh-K-Boom.

Regionally, John has directed Damn Yankees (Engeman Theatre - starring André De Shields and Felicia Finley), Annie (starring Mark Zimmerman and Jim Walton) and Cabaret (starring Teri Ralson and Max Von Essen) at Sacramento Music Circus, and Evita (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma - starring Kate Chapman and Eric Michael Gillet).

Additionally, he is a faculty member of the music theatre program at NYU Steinhardt - where he has directed Floyd Collins, The Fix, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Merrily We Roll Along, Parade, Fiorello! and A New Brain. His production of Parade is available on reserve at Lincoln Center's Theatre on Film and Tape Archive. A strong supporter of the development of new musicals, he has directed new works at Goodspeed Opera House, Berkshire Theatre Festival, NAMT, NYMF, SPF at The Public Theatre, York Theatre, Barrington Stage, Merkin Hall, CAP 21, and Ars Nova.

At TriArts Sharon Playhouse, John has directed The Wedding Singer and A Funny Thing...Forum. He will continue directing for the theatre in Summer 2011 with a production of Rent. Together with Executive Director Alice Bemand, he is also originating a program, in a partnership with NYU Steinhardt, that will enable college students from Universities around the country to earn college credit for their performance in a TriArts Sharon Playhouse production. Said Simpkins: "We hope to position TriArts Sharon Playhouse as one of the premiere summer theatres in the country - combining the excellence of union and non-union professional actors with emerging college talent and the CT community. This collaboration will create an exciting and unique environment where everyone is learning from each other in the production process. It is our goal to channel that energy in order to build a large and vibrant audience as well as a reputation for being a terrific place to create theatre." Simpkins will maintain his active professional directing career as well as his faculty position at NYU while taking on this leadership role for TriArts.

TriArts Sharon Playhouse is a not-for-profit theatre, located in Litchfield County, Sharon, CT, at the foot of the Berkshires. In addition to producing four mainstage musicals and many special events each summer season, TriArts also offers a summer youth theatre program, workshops and readings of new musicals, concerts, and special events throughout the year in its Bok Gallery. New in 2011 is the Bok Gallery Discussion Series - featuring lectures, talks, and interactive conversations with theatre professionals.

For more information on TriArts Sharon Playhouse, please visit www.triarts.net or call 860-364-SHOW (7469).

 

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