In Memory

David Simpson

David Simpson

2 Mar 1955 - 20 Apr 2009

David Carl Simpson, 54, of Amarillo died Monday, April 20, 2009.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in St. Stephen United Methodist Church with Dr. Jim Smith officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

David was born March 2, 1955, in Amarillo. He attended Wolflin Elementary, Austin Junior High and Amarillo High School, graduating in 1973. He was a member of St. Stephen United Methodist Church as he was growing up. His major was theatrical arts at Texas Tech University and Stephen F. Austin State University. While he was in junior high, his love of the theater began as he worked as a stage hand at Amarillo Little Theatre.

He began his professional career locally as an Actor's Equity stage manager and technical director for the Country Squire Dinner Theatre during high school. There, he had a memorable opportunity to direct a production of "Barefoot in the Park" starring Dorothy Lamour. After college, he took a job at Showco in Dallas, touring with musical groups as a lighting technician. He then moved to the Los Angeles area and worked for Vari-Lite.

David had an active professional career as a creative producer, having managed award-winning World Fair and theme park productions in Japan and Korea as well as paradigm-breaking entertainment projects in Tunica, Miss., and Los Angeles.

David also worked on the original award-winning Broadway productions of "The Will Rogers Follies," "A Life In Revue," "Nick & Nora," Anna Deavere Smith's "Twilight Los Angeles 1992" and "Victor/Victoria."

As a lighting designer, lighting director or automated lighting programmer, David had worked on projects ranging from television specials and award shows, to feature films, concerts and original Broadway productions. His network television credits include "The Roseanne Show," Barbara Streisand's "Timeless New Years Eve" special, MTV Video Music Awards and Country Music Awards among many others. He had designed lighting for the televised behind-the-scenes craft award shows for both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscars) and the Academy For Television Arts and Sciences (the prime-time Emmys).

His feature film work includes "Death Becomes Her," "Forrest Gump," Michael Jackson's "Moonwalker" and "Invaders From Mars" - his personal favorite. He designed or directed lighting for such musicians as Andrea Bocelli, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Chaka Khan, David Bowie, Celine Dion, The Jackson Five (played basketball with them), The Rolling Stones, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.

After working all over the world in professional entertainment for the past 25 years, he returned to his roots recently and continued to work nationally out of Amarillo.

He served as production consultant for Lone Star Ballet since 2002, effectively producing and managing productions and events. He was the director of production for 4th Wall Ltd. in Amarillo and worked as a freelance producer nationally, traveling often to California to work on events, including those for the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, Operation Smile, Young Musicians Foundation and the Oscar De La Hoya Foundation. David also was awarded a Golden Touch Award at the Golden Nail Awards in 2007 in Amarillo for "Odyssey," the opening production at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, which he produced.

David's long list of accomplishments during his involvement with Lone Star Ballet include:

"The NEW Nutcracker" (producer)

"TimeSteps: Rock of Ages" (producer)

"Giselle"(producer)

"Cinderella" (production manager)

"Coppelia" (production manager), plus many more.

In addition to the major productions he supervised, David worked tirelessly with Lone Star Ballet on facility development, annual Academy recitals, educational outreach and fundraising events. Though the majority of his work was behind the scenes, his indelible imprint bought significant quality to the productions Lone Star Ballet produced and guest ballet companies they hosted.

David's involvement in the community also included work with the Amarillo Opera, Amarillo Symphony, Trinity Fellowship Church, West Texas A&M University, the musical drama "Texas," Amarillo Little Theatre, with the technical staff at the Amarillo Civic Center, and on special events for so many private businesses, including The Secret Garden.

David loved to bring joy, beauty and excellence to whatever he did. He was a wonderful son, brother, uncle and friend.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Anna Audean Simpson; his niece, Misty Ann Simpson; his grandparents, uncles and aunts.

Survivors include his father, Carl V. Simpson of Amarillo; a brother, Danny Simpson of Amarillo; a sister, Deanna Henry and brother-in-law, David Henry, nephews, Matthew and Stefan Henry, all of Yardley, Pa.

Because David loved the arts in Amarillo, the family suggests memorials be to Lone Star Ballet, 3218 Hobbs Road, Amarillo, TX 79109; or St. Stephen United Methodist Church, 4600 S. Western St., Amarillo, TX 79109.