Name:
Simon Jon Provan
Year Graduated:
2007
Degree:
M.F.A. Acting
Favorite Memory of T&D:
There are so many favorites, it's almost impossible to say there is one that tops the list. A few favorites include the many late night talks with Lucien Douglas, performing the one-man show “A Night In November” in the Lab Theatre and having it directed by my close friend and fellow classmate, and the opportunities to participate in workshops with some top-notch agents and actors. However, the memory that stands out the most for me is when in my third year our family expanded from three to four as my wife, Sarah, gave birth to our second daughter. Not only was the faculty supportive of my life as a father and husband when it was just me, Sarah and Grace, but was very accommodating to my schedule as Bethany's birth date neared and occurred. This is one of the many reasons my entire family and I loved living in Austin.
Influential Professors or Classes:
Every single one of my professors at UT was tremendously influential to both my acting process and my life. Here are just a few highlights in what is in reality a very long list: I remember making leaps and bounds as an actor while participating in the Meisner Repetition exercises taught by Lucien Douglas and the Jump Improv Exercises lead by Lee Abraham. In fact, in the acting classes I now teach, I use these exercises as well. Likewise, in regards to Shakespeare, I truly appreciate Barney Hammond helping me find honest ways to deepen the meaning and emotions behind the words that Shakespeare penned wtihin myself. All in all, I would not be the person, actor and teacher I am without the guidance and support of the entire UT Theatre and Dance Faculty.
Current Hometown:
Delafield, Wisconsin
Current Profession:
Artistic Director of Theatre on the Bay in Marinette, Wisconsin
Lecturer in Communication and Theatre Arts at UW-Marinette.
Biography:
Simon Jon Provan (M.F.A. Acting, 2007) earlier this year was named Artistic Director of Theatre on the Bay in Marinette, Wisconsin, where he also serves as Lecturer in Communication and Theatre Arts at UW-Marinette. He recently directed THE GLASS MENAGERIE at TOB and will be directing LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Longergan during the spring semester.
Since graduating from UT, Simon has performed on stage with In Tandem Theatre (Milwaukee, WI) in HA!, where the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel hailed him as "a stalwart straight-man, a commodity in satire comedies" and in THE GIRL IN THE FRAME, noted by Greater Milwaukee Today as "a very convincing typical guy."
Along with appearing in several commercials, Simon plays one of three lead role of Cleopas in the Biblical Featurette THE ROAD TO EMMAUS. Starring Bruce Marchiano (Jesus in MATTHEW), the film was directed and produced by the Emmy award winning team of Steve Boettcher and Mike Trinklein. Production took place in the fall of 2008. To see a trailer of the film, please visit http://roadtoemmausmovie.com.
In the Spring 2008, Simon directed GOD WILLING, A TWOLOGY, an original play by former Texan classmate Ian Galloway, for UW-Waukesha, where he also taught Acting, Introduction to Theatre, and Public Speaking. The Waukesha Freeman had high praise for the play, with the review summarizing the play with three words — "Don't miss it."
Simon currently resides in Delafield, Wisconsin, is married to Sarah Provan and is the father of two beautiful daughters, Grace and Bethany.
