From Actor, to Director, to the Wold
Professor Adam Simpson and Lynn’s Drama Program
By Connor Markey, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Putting on a college drama production is no easy task, but it certainly helps to have an experienced actor and director at the helm.
For Lynn University, that person is Chair of the Drama Department Adam Simpson. No stranger to the acting world, Simpson spent the majority of his acting career in theater before transitioning to film and television.
His most recent production, an adaptation of Broadway’s classic “Crazy for You,” was a major success at Lynn University.
“‘Crazy for You’ is about a young banker. He is from New York and he is sent to Nevada to foreclose on a theater that’s behind on their mortgage,” said Simpson. “When he arrives, he meets this beautiful woman, and he falls in love with her. So, instead of foreclosing on the theater, he decides to save it by putting on a show.”
While the first production of “Crazy for You” debuted on Broadway in 1992, the play’s history goes back much further, involving some of the most renowned musicians of the 20th century.
“The book was written by Ken Ludwig, and it has the music of George and Ira Gershwin from the 1930s,” said Simpson. “The show actually originated as a show called ‘Girl Crazy’ in the 1930s. It was on Broadway for a little bit and then they reimagined the show and incorporated a bunch of tunes from various Gershwin musicals.”
While Simpson agreed that the play did very well, he said that the process of learning acting at Lynn can be “intense.”
“Students have acting, singing and dancing classes every single day, Monday through Friday,” said Simpson. “Fridays are for rehearsals and master classes; we bring in professionals to work with the students and teach them new things.”
Students interested in attending future productions can learn about upcoming events by visiting https://www.lynn.edu/events. Lynn students, staff and faculty are able to receive two complementary tickets at the Wold Performing Arts Center Box Office.
