Some names carry weight in the theater world without ever making front-page news, and Simon Levy is one of them. As the longtime producing director and dramaturg of the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles, Simon Levy has quietly shaped American stage drama for decades. This article looks at who he is, what he’s built, and why his work still matters today.
Who Is Simon Levy?
Simon Levy was born on May 12, 1949, in Surrey, England, though he grew up in San Francisco. That mix of backgrounds — a British birthplace, an American upbringing — seems to show up in his work later on: he’s drawn to stories that feel both classic and immediate.
Before theater took over his life, music did. Levy studied as a music major, played saxophone, and spent time as a jazz and rock musician. It wasn’t until later that he pivoted fully into theater, and honestly, that pivot changed the course of his career entirely.
Early Education and Training
Levy’s academic path wasn’t a straight line into drama school. He started at City College of San Francisco, earning an Associate in Arts, then moved on to San Francisco State University, where he picked up both a BA and MA in theater. That combination of practical training and academic grounding gave him a foundation he’d lean on for the rest of his career.
Building a Career on Stage
Simon Levy’s first steps as a working actor happened in San Francisco, primarily with the New Shakespeare Company. He later worked with the Alley Theater in Houston, Texas, adding range to his early résumé. By 1980, he’d made the jump to directing, debuting professionally at the One Act Theatre Company in San Francisco.
That early directing work focused heavily on new and developing plays — he directed several works by playwright Michael Lynch, and later worked at the Magic Theatre directing plays by Lynne Kaufman. It wasn’t glamorous work necessarily, but it built the reputation that would carry him forward.
Simon Levy and the Fountain Theatre
Since 1993, Simon Levy has served as producing director and dramaturg at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles. That’s over three decades at one institution — a rarity in an industry where people move around constantly. His role there hasn’t just been administrative; he’s been a creative force, shaping the theater’s identity and its output year after year.
The Great Gatsby Adaptation
If there’s one project that defines Simon Levy’s career, it’s his stage adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. This wasn’t a fan-made or unofficial version — it was authorized and granted exclusive rights by the Fitzgerald Estate, which is no small thing when you’re adapting one of America’s most beloved novels.
The adaptation has since had over 600 productions worldwide. Think about that number for a second. That’s not a niche success; that’s a play being performed somewhere, constantly, for years on end. It even inaugurated the Guthrie Theater’s new $125 million complex — a milestone moment for both the venue and the play itself. From there it moved to Seattle Repertory Theatre and was later named a finalist for the PEN Award in Drama in 2007.
Why This Adaptation Stands Out
Adapting a novel as iconic as The Great Gatsby for the stage is genuinely difficult. The book relies heavily on internal narration and mood — things that don’t translate easily into dialogue and blocking. Levy’s version managed to keep the emotional core of Fitzgerald’s story intact while making it work as a live performance, which is likely why it’s endured for so long.
Other Notable Works
Simon Levy didn’t stop with Gatsby. He’s also adapted other Fitzgerald works, including The Last Tycoon and Tender Is the Night, continuing his focus on bringing literary classics to theatrical life.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Born | May 12, 1949, Surrey, England |
| Raised In | San Francisco |
| Education | City College of San Francisco, San Francisco State University (BA, MA) |
| Role at Fountain Theatre | Producing Director & Dramaturg (since 1993) |
| Signature Work | Stage adaptation of The Great Gatsby |
| Productions Worldwide | 600+ |
| Other Adaptations | The Last Tycoon, Tender Is the Night |
| Recognition | PEN Award in Drama finalist (2007) |
Legacy and Influence
What makes Simon Levy stand out isn’t flash or celebrity — it’s consistency. Three decades at the same theater. Hundreds of productions of a single adaptation. A steady hand guiding new works from emerging playwrights alongside literary classics. That’s the kind of career that doesn’t always make headlines but genuinely shapes an art form over time.
For theater students and playwrights looking at how to adapt literature for the stage, Simon Levy’s Gatsby remains something of a case study — proof that a faithful, well-crafted adaptation can outlive trends and find new audiences decade after decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Simon Levy?
Simon Levy is an American theater director and playwright, best known as the producing director and dramaturg of the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles since 1993.
2. What is Simon Levy best known for?
He’s most recognized for his authorized stage adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, which has been performed in over 600 productions worldwide.
3. Where was Simon Levy born?
He was born on May 12, 1949, in Surrey, England, though he grew up in San Francisco, California.
4. Has Simon Levy adapted other novels besides The Great Gatsby?
Yes. He’s also adapted Fitzgerald’s The Last Tycoon and Tender Is the Night for the stage.
5. What theater is Simon Levy associated with?
Simon Levy has been the producing director and dramaturg of the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles since 1993.
Conclusion
Simon Levy’s career proves that lasting impact in theater doesn’t always require constant reinvention. Sometimes it’s about picking the right project, doing it well, and sticking with an institution long enough to shape it from the inside. His Gatsby adaptation alone has outlived trends, venues, and even generations of theatergoers — and that’s a legacy most playwrights would envy.
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