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“delightfully directed by John Simpkins. That rare show that looks, sounds, and acts as though it’s setting a trend, rather than just following one”
-Matthew Murray, Talkin Broadway
“The charming new musical directed by John Simpkins is equal parts gruesome, zany, and heartfelt”
-Julia Furay, CurtainUp
“a lot of blood. In fact, in Simpkins’ staging, there’s enough spurting blood to rival a Quentin Tarantino film or a Martin McDonagh play.”
-David Gordon, nytheatre.com
“A wildly funny, happily tuneful, and graphically bloody pocket-sized musical that regularly threatens to burst beyond the small Ars Nova stage.”
-Broadway World
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Costume Design: Michelle Humphrey
Sound Design: Jon Weston
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Jennifer Werner
Music Director: Matt Hinkley
Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski
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Ars Nova April 1 - May 9 2010
DAMN YANKEES​
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John W. Engeman Theatre
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Stephanie Lang
Music Director: Mark Hartman
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Joel E. Silver
Costume Design: Michelle Humphrey
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“An amazing thing happens at about the seventh-inning stretch...a fun romp as directed by John Simpkins”
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-Newsday
“Directed by John Simpkins, the musical is fun and leaves you with a smile and humming the show’s popular songs.”
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-The Long-Islander
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“The confident guidance of John Simpkins, the director, signals a rousing production.”
-New York Times
CABARET​
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Sacramento Music Theatre​
Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Patricia Wilcox
Music Director: Darren Cohen
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“Under the direction of John Simpkins, ‘Cabaret’ is a highly charged musical. A thrilling night at Music Circus.”
-Sacramento Stage & Theatre
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Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Pamila Gray
Costume Design: Steven Howard &
Bob Miller
ANNIE
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Sacramento Music Circus
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Bob Richard
Music Director: Dennis Castellano
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Kyle Lemoi
Costume Design: Marcy Froehlich
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“I walked out as one of the children in the audience, wide eyed, innocent, and optimistic.”
-Sacramento Stage & Theatre
“In John Simpkins’ affecting staging, all the heart-tugging machinations of Thomas Meehan’s trim book and tuneful songs by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin work their calculated magic to great effect.”
-Sacramento Bee
“This production of ‘Annie’ is outstanding, and it will delight adults and children alike.”
-Enterprise
EVITA​
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Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Robin Lewis
Music Director: David Andrews Rogers
Scenic Design: Lee J. McIntosh
Lighting Design: Helena Kuukka
Costume Design: Jeffrey Meek
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“high marks for pacing and visual appeal.”
-The Oklahoman
“Wonderfully directed by John Simpkins”
-The Edmond Sun
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“Simpkins’ cast has created a fine example of the emptiness of power”
-The Norman Transcript
THE PLANT THAT ATE DIRTY SOCKS​
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Lucille Lortel Theatre - Theatreworks USA
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Jennifer Werner
Music Director: Jana Zielonka
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Costume Design: Tracy Christensen
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“a fast paced hour of lighthearted fun”
-New York Post
“Even adults may find themselves humming “Plants Make Wonderful Pets.”
-New York Times
“Directed by John Simpkins, the show has a knowingly daffy humor, in the manner of Nickelodeon’s The Fairly Odd Parents.”
-Time Out New York
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“gives the kids a terrific rock vernacular which seems completely age-appropriate, yet which is sophisticated enough to engage adult theatregoers’ ears.”
-Theatremania.com
“John Simpkins direction adds even more humor”
-Backstage.com
“Director John Simpkins and choreographer Jennifer Werner keep the show pulsing with all the energy of a Saturday morning cartoon marathon”
-TalkinBroadway.com
VIOLET​
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Frederick Loewe Theatre​
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Jennifer Werner
Music Director: Stan Tucker
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Costume Design: Michelle Humphrey
Sound Design: Craig Kaufman
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“Light and dark are the dominant themes of the show, and Simpkins keeps these opposites nicely balanced.”
-Broadway World
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“Simpkins provided a truly first-class, professional production.”
-AM New York
REWRITE
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Urban Stages​
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Choreographer: Jennifer Werner
Music Director: Matt Hinkley
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Costume Design: Michelle Humphrey
Sound Design: Craig Kaufman
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“ReWrite is unstoppable.”
-Variety
“A dash of comic relief and a lot of looniness are added to the mix”
-New York Times
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“Simpkins is a very gifted director who manages to bring out the humanity of all his characters despite the Twilight Zone like situations.”
-Talk Entertainment
“John Simpkins has staged a simple but splendid production which allows the work to speak for itself.”
-Theater Scene
“Director John Simpkins keeps the tone cheerful and at a fast pace”
-Curtain Up
GO-GO BEACH
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NYMF​
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Michele Lynch
Music Director: Karl Mansfield
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Costume Design: Philip Heckman
Sound Design: Ken Travis
Floyd Collins
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Frederick Loewe Theatre​
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Jennifer Werner
Music Director: Grant Wenaus
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Costume Design: Michelle Humphrey
Sound Design: Craig Kaufman
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“Under the skillful direction of John Simpkins, the tragic story is vividly and beautifully brought to life.”
-Talk Entertainment
“Impressive. Gripping. Poignant. See it.”
-Talk Entertainment
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“Adam Guettel’s ‘Floyd Collins’ gets the top-shelf treatment from John Simpkins’ production.”
-AM New York
“This production is one of the most emotionally fulfilling shows in New York.” -Broadway World
URINETOWN​
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Frederick Loewe Theatre​
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Jennifer Werner
Music Director: James Cunningham
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Costume Design: Michelle Humphrey
THE BUS
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59E59 Theatre
Director: John Simpkins
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Costume Design: Michelle Humphrey
Props Design: Sven Henry Nelson
Original Music: Michael Shaieb
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“A big-city play about gay teens that hopes to open the minds of small-town audiences. If any play can do it, this is the one.”
-Theatre Is Easy
“The Bus is theatre magic. This is one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
-Theatre Is Easy
“Director John Simpkins optimizes the playing space with carefully choreographed staging.”
-Backstage.com
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“Simpkins knows when to encourage quiet, simple movements and manners of speech as a counterpoint to the highly-charged emotions that the characters are experiencing.”
-TheaterMania
“Some clever directing by John Simpkins, who makes quite a lot out of a tiny theater’s cramped space.”
-Capital New York
“Simplicity does not mean simple. The small-town simplicity of The Bus packs a wallop that is worth your time, whatever your beliefs.”
-Curtain Up
A WONDERFUL LIFE
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John W Engeman Theatre​
Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Jennifer Werner
Music Director: James Cunningham
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Costume Design: Michelle Humphrey
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“‘A Wonderful Life’ is pretty wonderful...credit director John Simpkins...a musical that reminds you of the movie without constantly being diminished by comparison.”
-Steve Parks, Newsday
“Simpkins’ skill was evident in every scene. Blocking and interpretation were flawless.”
-Charles Morgan, Times Beacon Record Media
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“The Engeman Theatre called upon the dream-team composed of director John Simpkins, set designer Michael Schweikardt, costume designer Michelle Eden Humphrey, and lighting designer Chris Dallos, whose collaboration has spanned 10 years. And work their theatrical magic they did.”
-David Ambro, The Observer
“Sharply directed by John Simpkins”
-Estelle Hallick, Broadwayworld.com
THINGS TO RUIN​
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Second Stage, The Zipper Factory, Ars Nova, Joe’s Pub
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Jennifer Werner
Music Supervisor: Matt Hinkley
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Costume Design: Michelle Humphrey
Sound Design: Craig Kaufman
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“Special mention should go to director John Simpkins who has turned this eclectic mix of music into an organic whole with a fluid and energetic sense of style.”
-Theatremania.com
“The buzz that surrounds Mr. Iconis recalls the excitement that in earlier days surrounded Marc Shaiman, Mr. Larson and Jason Robert Brown.”
-New York Times
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“I would call Things to Ruin the beginning of something, except that it is already well underway”
-New York Times
“A welcome interruption to the Off-Broadway musical scene”
-Variety
PARADE
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Frederick Loewe Theatre
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Christopher Windom
Music Director: Darren Cohen
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Costume Design: Michelle Humphrey
Sound Design: Ken Travis
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN​
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Frederick Loewe Theatre​
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: Jennifer Werner
Music Director: Stan Tucker
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Costume Design: Michelle Humphrey
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“John Simpkins’ most accomplished production”
-AM New York
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“Simply breathtaking.”
-Broadway World
“Waiting for Mr. Simpkins’ annual production has become one of my favorite rites of the theater season.”
-Matt Windman, AM New York
THE FIX​
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Frederick Loewe Theatre​
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Director: John Simpkins
Choreographer: MK Lawson
Music Director: Stan Tucker
Scenic Design: Michael Schweikardt
Lighting Design: Chris Dallos
Costume Design: Michelle Humphrey
Sound Design: Craig Kaufman
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The Fix, the 1997 London and 1998 Washington musical that hasn't wended its way to Broadway. It's now at NYUSteinhardt's Frederick Loewe Theatre in a smashingly terrific production directed by John Simpkins, who really understands how to stage a musical. Bryan Welnicki is sensational as Cal Chandler, who wasn't born great but is having greatness thrust upon him -- and won't achieve greatness. Simpkins, Welnicki and The Fix come close to it, however.
-Peter Filichia, TheaterMania