UBU Staff BIOS: David simmons
David Simmons: Executive Director
An honors graduate of the University of Montana School of Music with additional musical training in Vienna Austria, David’s diverse career as an educator, performer, producer, recording artist, inspirational speaker and mental health advocate has taken him to all 50 states, 19 countries and 4 continents. He has served as Education Director and Teaching Artist for Arizona Broadway Theater (Phoenix, AZ), Fort Peck Fine Arts Council (Glasgow, MT), Desert Foothills Theater (Scottsdale, AZ) and as a Teaching Artist for Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center (Phoenix, AZ), Child’s Play Theater (Mesa, AZ), Desert Stages Theater (Scottsdale, AZ), Wyoming Council on The Arts, and the Missoula Children’s Theater (Multiple International Residencies). Additional teaching experience includes residencies with the University of Montana (Missoula, MT), Casper College (Casper, WY) and Estrella Mountain Community College (Phoenix, AZ).
David's work for social justice through music, theater, education and community organizing came naturally. He grew up in a family of arts educators and pacifist/activists. His own work in engaging the arts and education as tools of activism includes work as an Actor, Musician, Director, Playwright, Composer, Event Organizer and Educator working for Cultural Diversity, Equity, Pluralism, LGBTQ/Gender Rights, Mental Health Equity, Inclusion, Diversity in Casting and Community Building. His professional affiliations in this work include The Mixed Blood Theater, Penumbra Theater, Minnesota Opera, SteppingStone Theater for Youth Development, The Peaceful Love Warriors, Fort Peck Arts Council, Arizona Broadway Theater and, of course, The UBU Project.
Training and Honors: David continued his vocal studies with Kammer Sänger Otto Edelman of the Vienna Statsöper and jazz theory and bass with Dartanyan Brown of Chase, Phoebe Snow and Sly and the Family Stone. He was nominated for the Arizona Governor's Arts Award in Arts Education and currently serves on the Arizona Department of Education's Round-table Advisory Committee for Arts Education.
David has performed live with Alice Cooper, Bob Hope, The Solid Rock House Band and members of REO Speedwagon, A-ha, Tower of Power, Sly and the Family Stone, The Phoenix Symphony, The Schubert Kirche Orchester (Vienna) and has served as Music Director, Bassist and featured soloist on tour with Motown Recording Artists: The Drifters.
David's acting credits include: Matthew in multiple national tours and regional productions of Harry Chapin's Cottonpatch Gospel, Daddy Warbucks in ANNIE at Arizona Broadway Theater, Mr. Bumble in OLIVER! with Phoenix Theater & Phoenix Symphony and Dr. Fine, Lead Guitar and special consultant in the regional premier of NEXT TO NORMAL for The Mixed Blood Theater of Minneapolis, MN.
In addition, David is a thriving survivor of his own suicide attempts, is a grateful, recovering alcoholic with over 28 years sober, was bullied in school and lives with the managed mental health diagnoses of major depressive disorder recurrent, PTSD and free-floating anxiety. This, in addition to his professional training and ongoing partnership with experts in childhood trauma and K-12 education, helps David bring a unique and hope-filled perspective and dedication to his work with The UBU Project's Social/Emotional Arts Integration Residencies. Whether in a classroom, coffee shop, rock club, worship space or classical concert hall, David brings a wealth of experience, energy and encouragement to every stage, school or project he encounters. David has one adult son, Niko (currently living in St. Paul, MN) and he makes his home in the Phoenix West Valley.