Today we’d like to introduce you to Levy Lee Simon.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m originally from Harlem USA, NYC. I’m a child of the 60s and 70s, when New York was NY and Harlem was, well Harlem, I feel blessed to have been born and raised there and at that time. I think I always had a calling to be an artist but wasn’t able to fully realize that until I attended college at Cheyney State in Pennsylvania. It was there I got bit by the bug. I graduated and came back to New York and began studying acting in the 80s, with my mentors, Gertrude Jeanette, (actress and teacher and one of Sidney Poitier’s mentors.) Ernie McClintock (director and teacher/founder of the African American Studio/127th Street Repertory Ensemble,) and Nathan George. (actor – best known for the Pulitzer Prize winning play, “No Place to Be Somebody,” and movies like, “One Flew Over the CuckoosNest,” “Serpico,” and “Short Eyes.”
So, I studied and performed with these great mentors for many years. Highlights with them includ playing Walter Lee at the Apollo Theatre with the late great Minnie Gentry and 12 yr old, Tupac Shakur as my son, Travis. I got into the Negro Ensemble Company and toured with “Ceremonies in Dark Old Men,” 33 states, 89 cities. I crossed over into Circle Repertory Theatre LAB as an actor. Circle Repertory hosted some legendary theatre greats, such as Lanford Wilson, Ed Harris, Cathy Bates, Kathy Baker, Jeff Daniels, Joh Malkovich, Joan Allen, Christopher Reeves, Michael Warren Powell, Tanya Berezin, and so many more. (Yes, I’m name dropping. LOL)
Circle produced the first play of mine to put me on the map as a playwright, “God the Crackhouse and the Devil.” That play, had some great names too, that went onto become celebs, Bobby Canvale, Gary Perez, Justina Machado, Russell G. Jones, Benja Kay, Olivia Negron, what am I saying, the entire cast. The play was highly regarded and lead to me getting a fellowship to the University of Iowa’s Playwright Workshop for my MFA, which I attained in 1999,
I left Iowa City and came to Los Angeles because Hollywood was calling. I’d optioned my “Bow Wow Club” movie script to FOX Searchlight. But, it’s a typical Hollywood story. I had all these big named people attached to the project but it never took off for reasons out of my control. I optioned three more scripts to the studios, with similar results. In the meantime, my plays were getting produced all over the country. The Robey Theatre, here in LA, produced my Haitian trilogy, “For the Love of Freedom,” to great success, Those plays received several NAACP and Ovation nominations and awards. In 2007, my play, “The Guest at Central Park West,” received Audelco Awards for Best Dramatic Production, Best Actor/John Marshall Jones and Best Playwright/Levy Lee Simon. I have had something like 50 plus productions of my work over the years, from NY to LA. And more nominations and awards.
In 2016 I co-produced, wrote and starred in our independent film, “The Last Revolutionary” directed by Michael Brewer, with John Marshall Jones. We premiered at the Pan African Film Festival in 2017, and played seven more festivals that year, headlining the African Diaspora Film Festival. The Last Revolutionary can be seen on Amazonprime.com or for free on tubi.com
I’ve been working constantly and, on so many projects, in theatre, film and television. I guess the short highlights would be, the premiere of my memoir “Odyssey Towards the Light,” published by KLPublishingGroup, (Amazon.com.) My solo show, “Odyssey Race and Racism,” which premiered at the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2023, and receiving a “Best Supporting Actor Nomination’ from the Colorado Theatre Guild, for my role in Beaufield Berry’s ‘In the Upper Room,” at Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Also my, “Heated Discussion,” plays produced by the Robey Theatre Company. Let me not leave out that I am a member of the Tent Playwright Theatre Collective, The Actor’s Studio PDU, and the Robey Theatre Company.
I’m always working on something. Right now I’m juggling several projects new and old. I have two plays that are on a Broadway track. (You never know but I’m exciting that they are.) I’m working on two commission projects, and one optioned movie script. Looking to do some acting later in 2026. I just directed, Javon Johnson’s play, BREATHE at the Mark Theatre in North Hollywood.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road. LOL No, is it ever? I think I have seen and been through everything. The ups and downs, the disappoints and the victories. I’ve learned from all of it. I think the biggest thing was coming out to Hollywood with Hollywood expectations that didn’t pan out and not because of anything I did. Well allow me to put it this way, the things that occurred were out of my control, but my response to them was all on me. I think it led to living in excess, partying, drinking, drugging. And yes, it got in the way of things too. But, I’ve been sober now for a long time. So I’m able to use my experience to help other people. Today I don’t live in expectation that’s one of the many lessons I learned.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I think when people mention me as an artist I hope they would say, that brother is serious about what he does. But not just as an artist. I aim to do work with at is meaningful and impactful, that makes a difference. Some people have called me an activist and I like that, though not sure if I own it yet, but I like when other people say it. It’s such a high bar and I don’t put myself on that bar with the great artist/activist. I think I am proud of my body of work and I have not allowed Hollywood to define who I am. Hey, I may not ever be accepted into the inner circles of the main stream, but that’s OK, I’m good. people respond to my work and feel it’s important work. I write subject matter in some cases Hollywood would never produce. Then I have stuff that they don’t know audiences would love. Oh another thing I am very proud of is that, given the serious nature of my work, I always find ways to make people, laugh. And I feel that is a gift and so important, which I am known for.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’m kind of an open book. What you see is what you get. You want to know something just ask but be specific and don’t be shocked by my answers. LOL… Some people in the business have been surprised by my humor, and ability to weave that into chaos. I guess that’s it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.levyleesimon.com
- Instagram: [email protected]
- Facebook: www.facebook/levylee2
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levy-lee-simon-0433b05/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@levylee117
Image Credits
Photo 4- Ashe Gupta Photography
Photo 3 -SaSaphotos.com
Photo 7- Scott Slaughter Potography.
