Biography

Fay Simpson

Fay Simpson as been the Artistic Director and co-founder of Impact Theatre since its creation in 1990.
Informed by her work in the rehearsal room, the teaching studio and onstage over the last 20 years, Ms. Simpson has developed a unique physical training method for the actor called The Lucid Body. She currently teaches this technique at Yale Drama School, Michael Howard Studios, The Studio/NY and Bond Street Studios in Brooklyn.

Fay has taught movement for actors in training programs throughout the country and in the UK, exploring both solo and ensemble physical performance as well as the actor’s physical response to Shakespearean texts at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts,  The Stella Adler Conservatory, The Stone Street Studios, Colorado College, The University of the South, Sewanee and The Globe International Centre in London.

With Impact Theatre, Ms. Simpson conceived, directed and produced several original physical theatre productions at Manhattan Class Company: D-Train, Take Me Home, Degas’ Little Dancer, and Research & Development. Other Off-Broadway and International productions include Raging Women and One Bad Man, Kurt’s Wife: A Story of Lotte Lenya, The Marital Bliss of Francis & Maxine, Better, Triptych, and a solo performance piece entitled Trapped In Seven, for which she was honored with “Best Female Performer” in the Spotlight On awards of 2000. She is presently performing a solo piece entitled Grey Gone at Universities and book stores across the country as part of a book tour.

In 1999, Ms. Simpson was awarded a Fox Foundation Fellowship, which enabled her to serve as an Assistant Director at the New Globe Theatre in London under the artistic directorship of Mark Rylance for the 1999 – 2000 London theatrical season, collaborating with Mr. Rylance on productions of Julius Caesar and Antony & Cleopatra. She was awarded a Tennessee Williams Fellowship from The University of the South, Sewanee and has worked in collaboration with actor/director Joseph Siravo presenting Shakespeare works in development at the Cherry Lane Alternative Theatre and The Actors Center, NYC. Ms. Simpson is the recipient of the ‘Amy and Eric Berger National Theatre Essay Award’ for development of her new book, The Lucid Body; A Guide for the Physical Actor.