MORE ABOUT US - WILLARD SIMMS
Mr. Simms received the first commission ever from
the newly formed Denver Center Theatre Company to write the State
Historical Drama for his home state of Colorado. Mr. Simms' production
launched 18 actors, dancers, and musicians throughout the state in
1976, Colorado's Centennial year, exposing Coloradoans from remote
mountain sections to real professional theatre, held in public parks
on a specially-designed portable stage.
For television, Mr. Simms has also written:
- Two episodes of a mini-series on St. Francis of
Assisi
- The television version of his stage play "Einstein:
A Stage Portrait"
- The television version of his stage biography of
Leonardo da Vinci
- Several episodes of the network series "Family"
In recent years, Mr. Simms' work has focused on his
passion for history by writing primarily in the field of stage biographies.
He believes that the intimacy and personal immediacy of this form
is the best way to bring alive the great truths that the inspirational
figures of the past have left us.
He is the author of eleven published plays:
- Five with Dramatists Play Service of New York
- Two with Dramatic Publishing of Chicago
- Four with Pioneer Drama Service of Denver
AWARDS
EINSTEIN: A STAGE PORTRAIT
- Drama-logue Playwriting Award
- Colorado Authors League
BYE BYE BLACKBIRD
- Drama-logue Playwriting Award
- Drama-logue Critics Choice
- Five Stars, The Scotsman (Britain's Edinburgh Fringe Festival)
WRIGHT FROM AMERICA
- Drama-logue Critics Choice
- The Stage (Britain's Edinburgh Fringe Festival)
- Juneteenth National Playwriting Competition, Louisville,
KY
POE!
- Mystery Writers of America, Maltese Falcon Award
- Colorado Authors League Playwriting Award
RESIDENT PLAYWRIGHT
- University of Oklahoma
- New Orleans Repertory Theatre
- Denver Center Theatre
- California Lutheran University
- Schwayder Theatre
WRITING FELLOWSHIPS
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- Shubert Theatre Foundation
- Colorado Centennial Commission
- Denver Public Library
- Denver Mayors Committee
Email Willard at willard@theatreofwill.org
