David Simpatico

David's work has been presented at major theatres around the globe, including London's Hammersmith Apollo, Williamstown Theatre Festival and the New York Shakespeare Festival. Highlights include the stage adaptations of Disney's High School Musical 1 and 2; the full length opera commission, The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing with composer Justine Chen (American Lyric Theater); Whida Peru, with a score by Josh Schmidt; and The Screams of Kitty Genovese, a rock-opera with a score by Will Todd. David also wrote the libretto for Pulitzer Prize-winner Aaron J. Kernis' millennium symphony, Garden Of Light, which received its world premiere with the NY Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall, conducted by Kurt Masur, in the Fall of 1999.
David is currently working on LIFEafterLIFE, a one-man musical with composer Josh Schmidt. He is also adapting Dickens' A Christmas Carol, with composer Will Todd. David has recently been commissioned to write the original sci-fi rock opera, Rose of Sharon, with composer Heather Christian. David completed his Masters degree in Creative Writing (2017) with the MountainView Writers (SNHU); his thesis project, a two-man play, Wilde About Whitman, takes us behind doors during the little known, historic meeting of the two literary giants. His play, Waiting for the Ball to Drop, has been optioned by director/producer Stephen Lloyd Helper.
David is an alumnus of the Composer Librettist Development Program at American Lyric Theater, and a graduate of Northwestern University. He also writes, directs, edits and stars in Zombie Hideaway, a webisodic series, as well as Rev. Jimmy's Lake of Fire, both of which are featured on his new Youtube channel, Noise Ball Simpatico. Along with playwright Darrah Cloud, he leads A Howl of Playwrights, a weekly workshop for local playwrights in Rhinebeck, NY.
David lives in Rhinebeck NY with his husband and muse, Robert Strickstein, and wonder-dog, Elmo.
Author's Shows
Questions & Answers
Callboard
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A round of applause for Oscar and Grammy-winning MTI author @IMPaulWilliams (Bugsy Malone, Bugsy Malone JR.)! Willi… t.co/y9fhHvwMkE
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Raise your voice for the 10th anniversary of #SisterAct! On this day in 2011, Sister Act opened on Broadway, starri… t.co/KH35fazJ3F
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Where did they go right?! Happy 20th anniversary to The Producers! On this day in 2001, the hit musical adaptation… t.co/PsFlNMfWnf
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The late Adam Schlesinger (Cry-Baby) will be honored in an online show streaming May 5. t.co/YLUD1IIPQN
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Ahead of its 20th Broadway opening anniversary on Monday, @MelBrooks and Susan Stroman chatted about bringing The P… t.co/zmfAbIgmoc
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Wow Miss Erin Keeny is epic@as The Witch! Thanks for the incredible photo @jenheimphoto #regram *** Shot Into the Woods for Central High School tonight! Kids did fantastic, set looks stunning, and costumes are perfection!! #ihsmtahopeful #theaterphotography #livetheatre #stagephotography Miss Erin Keeny as The Witch #intothewoods #mtishows
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