Rob Simon is a singer/songwriter and educator who has worked as a speaker/performer and trainer/consultant for school systems and other agencies from coast to coast – including 21 years as a former teacher and teaching specialist for USD 259. Currently, he directs music for contemporary worship at College Hill United Methodist Church, provides lead and background vocals and percussion for local band, Blue Eyed Soul, and works as a teaching artist with Arts Partners. He is also a professional storyteller with the Wichita Griots for whom he has written, co-produced and directed fourteen (14) original stage productions, and he does part-time creative work as a Restorative Practices (RP) consultant for USD 259, and as RP Advocate at Wichita West High School, where he also finds ways to use the arts.
In theater circles, Rob co-starred as part of the cast for the Cabaret Oldtown hit show “Five Guys Named Moe,” and for the same production with Stage One. Additionally, he has appeared on Wichita theater stages off and on for years – including as “Brer’ Rabbit” in One People Theatre’s production of “The Race” in 1979; lead for the cast in “GODSPELL” for The Wichita Association of Repertory Arts at the former Marple Theatre; Walter Lee Younger in W.A.R.A’s “A Raisin In The Sun;” and one of three performers in the musical revue “Side By Side By Sondheim.” Rob also played Tom Robinson in Community Theatre’s “To Kill A Mockingbird,” and has been seen in shows with independent producers of Vineyard’s “RAGMAN,” and co-starred in Deana Murray’s “Ring Around The Moon” with the late Karla Burns.
Rob is a writer of songs, poetry, scripts and prose and uses his musical and creative talents in his work. He is currently working with his wife and son on marketing original musicals – including a popular one called “The Back-to-School Daze,” and he has published Inciting Reflection, a collection of some of the weekly radio commentaries he produced for local Public Radio affiliate, KMUW, for over ten years, and Imitation of Life, describing some of the creative theater projects he has created or promoted since the 1980’s .
A website at www.positiverhythm.org provides a way to contact and keep up with Rob, his wife, Denise, and their son, Arri