GODFREY L. SIMMONS, JR. (Major Taggert) is an Artistic Director of Civic Ensemble, a regional theatre in Ithaca, NY, along with Sarah K. Chalmers. For Civic, he directed Eugene O’Neill’s All God’s Chillun Got Wings and appeared in Judy Tate’s Fast Blood and Athol Fugard’s My Children! My Africa! .Godfrey was a Producing Artist for Off-Broadway’s Epic Theatre Ensemble for four years, appearing in A More Perfect Union, Widowers’ Houses (which Godfrey co-adapted with Ron Russell), Measure for Measure, and A Hard Heart, among other plays. For Epic, he also co-wrote and starred in a documentary play about the election of President Barack Obama, Dispatches From (A)mended America. He won the 1999 Audelco Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in John Henry Redwood’s Old Settler opposite Leslie Uggams at Primary Stages. He appeared in award-winning productions at Playwrights Horizons (Betty’s Summer Vacation, Obie Award-Best Play) and Round House Theatre (Home, Helen Hayes Award-Best Production). Other Off-Broadway and Regional Theatre appearances include Arena Stage, Olney Theatre, Syracuse Stage, People’s Light, Working Theatre, and Melting Pot Theatre among others. He has directed for Civic Ensemble, Cincinnati Playhouse, Cornell University, and Binghamton University. Godfrey was a 2012 TCG/Fox Fellow and a participant in the SPARK Leadership Program, funded by American Express, The Joyce Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group. He is a lifetime member of Ensemble Studio Theatre. He has taught acting at Marymount Manhattan College and Binghamton University, and is currently Senior Lecturer in Cornell University’s Department of Performing and Media Arts.