Simon Levy

Biography

Levy was born in Surrey, England and grew up in San Francisco. He graduated from City College of San Francisco with an AA and San Francisco State University with an BA and MA in Theatre, and began his theatre career as an actor in San Francisco, primarily with the New Shakespeare Company and then The Alley Theater in Houston, Texas. Prior to studying theatre, he was a music major, played the saxophone, and was a jazz and rock-and-roll musician. He made his debut as a professional stage director in 1980 at the One Act Theatre Company in San Francisco, where he focused on the development of new work, directing many of the plays of Michael Lynch, among others, and at the Magic Theatre, directing the plays of Lynne Kaufman, among others. He moved to Los Angeles in 1990 and joined the staff of The Fountain Theatre in 1993. He has taught Playwriting at UCLA Writer's Extension and Chapman University, been a site evaluator for the National Endowment for the Arts and the California Arts Council, and is a member of numerous theatre and humanitarian organizations, including the Dramatists Guild, Society for Directors and Choreographers, and Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, among many others.

Recent projects

He's currently writing two plays.

He is the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's Milton Katselas Career Achievement Award in Directing. ... and was nominated for the 2015 Zelda Fichandler Award in Directing.

His stage adaptation of The Great Gatsby - published by Dramatists Play Service - authorized and granted exclusive rights by the Fitzgerald Estate - has had over 100 productions around the world and continues to be produced. The play inaugurated the Guthrie Theater's new theatre complex, was subsequently produced at Seattle Repertory Theatre, and was a Finalist for the PEN Award in Drama.

He also adapted Fitzerald's Tender is the Night and The Last Tycoon, both published by Dramatists Play Service.

In November 2015 he directed the West Coast Premiere of Athol Fugard's The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek for The Fountain Theatre, named by the Los Angeles Times as one of the Top Ten Theatre Productions in America in 2015, and winner of other awards.

In June 2015 he produced the World Premiere of Stephen Sachs' stage adaptation of Claudia Rankine's Citizen: An American Lyric for The Fountain Theatre, named Critic's Choice in the Los Angeles Times, and extended twice by popular demand.

In January 2015 he directed the Los Angeles Premiere of Zayd Dorhn's Reborning for The Fountain Theatre, named by the Huffington Post as the #1 Top Ten Los Angeles Theater Productions of 2015.

In October 2014 he produced the West Coast Premiere of John Biguenet's Broomstick for The Fountain Theatre, winner of numerous awards.

In June 2014 he produced the Los Angeles Premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brothers Size for The Fountain Theatre, named by the L.A. Weekly as one of the Top Ten Theatre Productions of 2015.

In September 2013 he directed the Los Angeles Revival of The Normal Heart for The Fountain Theatre, winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards Best Production (Revival), among numerous other awards.

In 2013 he produced the West Coast Premiere of Ken LaZebnik's On the Spectrum at The Fountain Theatre.

In 2012 he directed the award-winning and critically acclaimed World Premiere of Stephen Sachs' Cyrano, a co-production of The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre.

In 2011 he was the producer for the World Premiere of Stephen Sachs' Bakersfield Mist, which was optioned by Sonia Friedman for a West End production.

Playwright (scripts and awards)

Currently working on two new plays.

Director (projects and awards)

Screenwriting

Fiction