Toby Simkin

Toby Simkin (, 21 April 1964 – 7 April 2024) was an English theatrical producer and impresario most notable for his work on Broadway and off-Broadway and in London's West End. From 2004, he worked throughout China, living in Shanghai developing a national theatre network and producing films and musicals for import and export.

Early life Simkin was born on 21 April 1964 in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, England. His father was Australian Brigadier General M.B. Simkin, CBE, KStJ (died 2003) and his mother was Irene Simkin. Along with his three siblings, Simkin was raised in Australia in a military family, that later became a diplomatic family; Simkin lived in many countries experiencing different cultures, and was educated in Washington D.C. and Brisbane, Australia. In childhood, he wanted to be an archaeologist. He started in theatre in the early 1980s, winning the Elizabeth Bequest Scholarship in Australia. He produced and directed his first show at the age of 18, The Long and the Short and the Tall.

Career Broadway On Broadway, his producing credits include the Tony Award winning Long Day's Journey into Night (starring Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Dennehy and Philip Seymour Hoffman); I Am My Own Wife (starring Jefferson Mays); Death of a Salesman (starring Brian Dennehy) plus The Crucible (starring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney); Marc Salem's Mind Games; The Price; and Victor/Victoria (starring Dame Julie Andrews).

Simkin was a member of the League of American Theatres and Producers.

Off Broadway Off-Broadway, he was Executive Producer of Savion Glover's NYC and national tours of Improvography I & II, Classical Savion, Matt & Ben, Savion at the Rialto and for Celebrity's Constellation in Europe, Batir, A Hot Minute (both directed/choreographed by Wayne Cilento), An American Canteen in Paris, and Spotlight Broadway.

West End On the West End/London his producing credits include, The Female of the Species (starring Eileen Atkins) I Am My Own Wife (starring Jefferson Mays);, Simkin's company, Buy Broadway, went public in 1998 and he sold it in 2000, becoming vice-president of the Broadway Television Network.

Later life and death Simkin controlled worldwide rights to various film and stage properties, including the motion picture USD $14 million budgeted film "The Sacrifice of Yang GuiFei" (based on the story of Yang GuiFei) along with "Tea 4 Two" and "The Great Big Chinese Show".

Simkin died at his home in Shanghai on 7 April 2024, at the age of 59.

He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia posthumously in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours in recognition of his "significant service to musical theatre, and to major event production".