In March of 2024, Simon learned that the folks at the Marcus Hospitality Group enjoyed his voice work so much for the "2022 Marcus Persons of the Year" award show that they wanted him back for the 2023 campaign! Simon recorded the VO tracks in mid-March. Congrats to all the winners!!!

Simon got a wonderful birthday present this year as he booked a gig with Flying House Media. A great production company in St. Charles, IL, Simon played the role of a father receiving text messages from his daughter, giving Simon the opportunity to work through a challenging and fulfilling emotional arc. This commercial will be used internally for Flying House Media, though there might be an opportunity to view this commercial on simonjonprovan.com at some point in the future.

It's been a season of long-term gigs for Simon as he joined the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee faculty as an adjunct for the Spring '24 semester, teaching On-Camera Acting. This is in addition to his duties as Associate Professor of Theatre at Wisconsin Lutheran College, where he has the privilege of leading the theatre department into it's new era!

In early 2024, Simon was brought on as an Artistic Associate, joining the artistic team of Milwaukee's Optimist Theatre. Simon's responsibilities include guiding all four companies that are working under the Optimist umbrella this season to a cohesive, artistic vision. This work encompasses at least eight months of exciting work for Simon. 


It's been a hot minute since an update of Simon's work has been posted in this section, but only because Simon has been quite busy running an entire theatre department all by himself. From February of 2023 through the end of the year,  Simon provided completed voiceovers for the "2022 Marcus Persons of the Year" for the Marcus Hospitality Group, another episode of an "EdVest" podcast, another set of Vanguard e-videos, and voiced two separate TV commercials for Van Horn Automotive. In the acting department, Simon worked on two amazing films this year. The first was appearing in his fifth feature film with Salty Earth Pictures, playing a supporting role in the soon-to-be-released ONE BY ONE. The other film project was as a re-creation actor in the role of "Milwaukee Bucks scout" in Prime Video's "Giannis: The Marvelous Journey." Simon also did print shoots in 2023, one for "Harry and David" and another for "Diamond Kote." Back to acting on camera, Simon played starring roles in commercials for "Farm and Fleet," "Harwood Place Senior Living Center," "Panthervision" (his third spot for that amazing Wisconsin company), "Van Horn Automotive" (his fifth for VHA!), and a regional spot for "Old National Bank."  Simon was also on set for two days for a series of "Potawatomi Casino" commercials. Finally, Simon appeared in a couple of industrials, playing the role of a doctor for "GE Medical," and as a maintenance worker for "JJ Keller - Blood Pathogen Training." Along with this, Simon continues his work as a play-by-play analyst, having called games for Marquette University, Wisconsin Lutheran College, and FC Milwaukee Torrent. Highlights in his play-by-play work include announcing the Midwest Championships for the Women's Premier Soccer League and making his debut on the Big East Digital Network, calling Marquette's win over DePaul University.


For Simon's birthday month of February, he received the gift of two commercial gigs and another gift of being offered representation by a top-notch Chicago agency. The first commercial  was shot earlier in the month for Affordable Audiology out of Fond du Lac, WI. The second commercial was for Van Horn Automotive. As the spokesperson for Van Horn, this will be Simon's third spot with Van Horn since August of 2022. Finally, in mid-February, Simon went to an open-audition at Lilys Talent in Chicago. They were so impressed with Simon that they officially offered to represent him right on the spot!

The new year kicked off in great fashion for Simon in the voiceover department. As he continues to be the voice of Vanguard Engines, Simon voiced four different videos in January. Simon also had several images from a Milwaukee Tool print campaign renewed this month.

Simon ended 2022 with a commercial shoot for Global Coin. A heart-warming spot, you can see Simon in that commercial now at globalcoin1.com.

November kicked off in high gear. Simon filmed his second commerical for Van Horn Automotive, for which he is the current spokesperson. A fun shoot on-location in Plymouth, WI, you can expect to see this commercial start airing near the end of November/beginning of December. AND IT'S OFFICIAL - SIMON'S NATIONAL TELEVISION DEBUT WILL HAPPEN ON AN EPISODE OF CHICAGO FIRE! TITLED "ANGRY IS EASIER," THE EPISODE WILL AIR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 AT 8PM CT ON NBC! 

It's been a while since sharing all that Simon has been up to, but not for a lack of work. In fact, September and October, 2022, have been two of Simon's busiest (and biggest) months ever!! The biggest news in October, however, is that Simon booked an episode of the NBC hit drama, CHICAGO FIRE! Filming in mid-October, this is Simon's first booking on a national TV show. More details to follow when permission is given to do so. Stay tuned!! September began with Simon breaking into the ranks of Division 1 college soccer as a play-by-play analyst, being on the call for three non-conference matches for both the men's and women's programs at Marquette University.  Simon also continues his work as the play-by-play annalyst for Wisconsin Lutheran College men's and women's soccer, having called all but three home games in total this season throughout September and October. At the end of September, Simon played the role of husband in a national commercial for HARRY AND DAVID, filmed on location in Barrington, IL. Kicking off October, Simon will be playing the role of a cult leader named Nine in an independent feature film called, "Without A Name." This will film on location in Campbellsport and Kewauskum, WI. Near the end of October, Simon will return to performing live in a fun and entertaining event called "Spirits of the Silent City: Unfinished Business." Being staged at Forrest Home Cemetary in Milwaukee, WI,  Simon will be playing the role of General Billy Mitchell as he looks to clear his record of his infamous court-martial. And finally, at the end of October, Simon will bring his two passions of soccer and acting together.  Simon will be on set for a major print shoot for GE Medical in which he will be playing the role of a soccer player! 

Right out of the gate, Simon starts August 2022 with a voiceover for the United Dairy Industry of Michigan. Thanks to Source Connect Now, Simon was able to remotely record this VO in his home studio near Milwaukee, WI while producer Rob Haggar was on the other end of the connection in his studio in Madison, WI. As forshadowed below, near the end of August, Simon began his role as "spokesperson" for Van Hon Automotive, having shot the first of a guaranteed five commercials over the next two years. You can view that commercial here.

2022 continues to be a very busy year for Simon. July saw Simon film an informercial for Security Health Plan where he played the role of the spokesperson, do print and video work for Simplicity Zero-Turn lawnmowers in the role of husband/homeowner, record some voiceover updates for Vanguard e-Learning videos, and also do print and video work for the Door County tourism. Simon also booked an industrial that will film in Indiana as well as a commercial spot for an automotive group out of eastern Wisconsin, both set to film in August!

Just like in May, Simon has remained incredibly busy in June, 2022. Simon had a second day of shooting for a Piggly Wiggly grocery stores at the start of the month. In the middle of the month, Simon spent three days on set for the upcoming feature film "DIFFRACTION," where plays the role of Devon - a homeless Air Force veteran. The role of Devon was particulary exciting as this is not the type of role Simon ordinarly plays! Simon also did another voice-over for a Vanguard Engine e-Learing video. Simon finished off June by recording a commercial voiceover for Walworth Country Tourism from his home studio. Before we even get into July, Simon already has one print gig booked and another on-camera corporate video booked, both gigs shooting in mid-July!

In May, Simon had several bookings throughout Wisconsin. These included on-camera and print work for Bank Five Nine (role of bank manager), Discovery Green Bay (role of the boyfriend), and an on-camera commercial for Piggly Wiggly, in which Simon plays the dad. 

April 0f 2022 saw Simon step back into the voiceover booth to voice another e-Learning video for Vanguard Engines, the commercial line of Briggs and Stratton's small engines. Simon also was on set for two days, being the lead actor in a fun commercial for Ho-Chunck Casino (filmed on location in Madison and Wittenberg, WI). To finish off April, Simon was also one of the lead actors in a commerical for Fox Community Credit Union.

March started off with Simon accepting an offer to return as the voice of the FC Milwaukee Torrent soccer club, where he will once again return to the airwaves as the play-by-play analyst for all Torrent home games. Simon has been with the club since its founding in 2015. Last year, Simon assembled a streaming-team that helped the club earn "Best Streaming Experience" out of all 96 National Premier Soccer League clubs.

February of 2022 saw Simon continue a busy schedule. In addition to filming commercials for Ho-Chunk Casino and PantherVision, Simon also began directing "Barefoot In the Park" for Wisconsin Lutheran College. The show will run the first two weekends in April.

In January, Simon spent three weeks throughout Wisconsin filming "Stand In the Gap," the sequel feature film to "The Author, the star, and the Keeper." Once again Simon reprised his role of August Star, of which he was nominated for Best Actor at the 2020 International Christian Film and Music Festival. 

In addition to the work highlighted in the following paragraph, 2021 has seen Simon's best year yet with the amount of work he has completed as a freelance actor, voice-over artist, and print artist. Simon shot several industrials and many voiceovers for companies such as Vanguard Engines, Kohl's, EdVest, Washington University Health, Detox Organics, Panther Vision, Yasakawa, Northwestern Mutual, Mandt, Timian, Zoll, and Express Laundry. Simon also was seen on TV in a commercial for WG&R Furniture and in infomercials for Cubii machines (seen in both the USA and Canada). Along with all of this, Simon did print work for Milwaukee Tools, taught several masterclasses in Acting on Camera at Kettle Moraine High School for Arts and Performance, continued his work as play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Torrent professional soccer team, and, because of his work with the Torrent, was also hired as the voice of the Wisconsin Lutheran College men's and women's soccer play-by-play broadcasts. Finally, Simon also began filming the feature film "STAND IN THE GAP," in which Simon reprises his lead role of August Starr. This film is a sequel to the award winning feature, "THE AUTHOR, THE STAR, AND THE KEEPER.," for which Simon was nominated for Best Actor at the 2020 International Christian Film and Music Festival.

Just as he finished 2020 strong, 2021 saw Simon come sprinting out of the gates. In January and February alone, Simon was on-set for Detox Organics for both print and video work, voiced another Vanguard video, did a print shoot for Milwaukee Tool, voiced a business-to-business video for SmartCare, and spent five days in Chicago playing the role of Quinn Quail as the host of a fictional TV show called "What Should You Do?" for Attorneys Liability Assurance Society. 
 
Though a tough year for all, Simon was blessed to finish 2020 on a strong note. His fun singing national commercial for Ariens Snowblowers started airing in December and will air throughout February. Simon also recorded two more E-learning video for Vanguard Engines. Finally, Simon was cast as Cleon in Optimist Theatre's online production of "Pericles," by William Shakespeare. Videos of "Pericles" will be launched on Optimist Theatre's Facebook and YouTube pages in early 2021.

With an exciting announcement on the way about a specific radio commercial Simon booked for a mid-October recording date, Vanguard Engines has kept Simon busy (for which he is very thankful!) with yet another voiceover gig. This particular video focusing on Vanguard's new single-shaft engines and line of batteries.

September saw Simon once again over at Briggs and Stratton, where he filmed two videos as the spokesperson for Vanguard Engines. Simon also narrated a trade-show video for Omnitracs/Smartdrive.

The summer was a busy one for Simon, with voiceover, on-camera, and print work gigs in both Milwaukee and Chicago. Voiceover clients included EdVest (podcast), Batridge Training and Creative Solutions (role-playing), and Vanguard. On-camera, he continued in his role as spokesperson for Vanguard Engines. In regards to print, Simon was on-location in Chicago, IL as a model for Cubii.com.

Salty Earth Pictures recently announced that Simon has been nominated for A "Best Actor in a Feature Film" award for his work as August Star in THE AUTHOR, THE STAR, AND THE KEEPER for the 2020 International Christian Film and Music Festival, the largest festival of it's kind. The film also garnered a "Best Feature Film" nomination and Simon's co-star, Heather Ricks, has been nominated for a "Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film" award.  

In March, Simon was on-camera and voiced several instructional videos, all for Sentry Safe.

Simon started 2020 right out of the gates. Simon did yet another voiceover for Vanguard Engines and opened "The Glass Menagerie," which he directed for Wisconsin Lutheran College, in mid-February. The Kwik Trip commercial Simon filmed in November has been getting lots of air-time in the Midwest, especially during Milwaukee Bucks games, the NBA's best team so far this season. Finally, on the awards front, the Waukesha Freeman named the musical production of "She Loves Me" as one of the top picks of the 2019 theater season. Simon served as the director for this show, also at Wisconsin Lutheran College.
 
The last few months of 2019 have been busy ones for Simon. After learning that  he earned the "Best Actor-Short Film" at the Salty Earth Film Festival, Simon did several e-Learning voice-overs for Vanguard engines, two national radio spots for Thorne Supplements,  as well as voiceovers for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Johnson & Johnson, EdVest, Manpower, and Wins for Profit. On screen, Simon filmed commercials for Kalahari Resort, Potawatomi Casino and Hotel, and Kwik Trip, with the latter two being lead roles.  Simon also filmed a video for Christian Relief, in which he played the on-screen narrator and doctor. Finally, Simon also did two major print shoots, one for Potawatomi Casino & Hotel and one for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, where he once again appeared as doctor. 
 
Simon directed a very successful production of the Broadway musical "She Loves Me," at Wisconsin Lutheran College. The show played to packed houses nearly every night and was given rave reviews by audience members and critics alike. GMtoday called it, "A delightful production well-directed by Simon Provan."

Vanguard engines, the commercial division of Briggs and Stratton, has hired Simon to be the face and voice of their newest campaign. While most of these videos will be used for business-to-business purposes, some will find their way to the company's YouTube channel.

Simon recently wrapped on the short film "By the Rivers of Babylon," in which Simon portrays a Jewish refugee who, along with his son, escaped a Nazi ghetto. a heart wrenching story, this short film will be released for viewing in late February of 2019. Matt Roth was the writer and director. 
 
Filming has wrapped on THE AUTHOR, THE STAR, AND THE KEEPER as of the end of January 2019. Produced by Salty Earth Pictures, Simon plays the lead role of August Star. The feature film is planning to be released in late fall, early winter of 2019.

Simon began filming in mid-October for THE AUTHOR, THE STAR, AND THE KEEPER. In this feature film, produced by Salty Earth Pictures, Simon is playing the starring role of August Star. Other cast members include Bruce Marchiano (Jesus in "The Visual Bible"), David Ruprecht (host of "Supermarket Sweep"), Dale Waddington (regular guest star on several current Hollywood productions), and Heather Ricks (lead actress in many faith-based films). Filming will continue in November and January. 

Simon is currently directing LIFE, DEATH, AND A FEW THINGS IN BETWEEN: AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS at Wisconsin Lutheran College. The show runs September 20-23.
 
If you are in the Milwaukee area, keep an ear out for Simon's voice in the newest Bastille Days radio-commercial! Simon voiced the tag of this spot. The commercial will run through July 15.

Simon has been brought on to be the face and voice of Vanguard, Briggs and Stratton's commercial engine.  This has become a major campaign in the business-to-business industrial world. Earlier this year, Simon filmed two different videos and has voiced the first two e-Learning course for Vanguard. Three more e-Learning videos will be recorded later this year.

A campaign Simon is honored to play a part in, Tobacco Free CA went live with its "Story of Inequity" images.  Simon plays the role of a rural, rugged man.  See how he transforms from proud laborer to a smoker being "suffocated" by Big Tobacco by clicking here. Scroll down until you see Simon, then hover over "Read the Full Story" to see the transformation happen.
 
Mid-April saw Simon back in the voice-over booth; well, multiple booths, actually.
Simon returned to Plum Media in Milwaukee, WI to do more voice work for Snap-On tools.  Simon also headed out to Madison, WI, where he worked with Rob Haggar of Haggar Audio.  While there, Simon voiced two different scripts for an international appliance company.
 
Two films that feature Simon will be playing at the same film festival in Orlando!  THE OPEN DOOR, in which Simon plays Pastor Bridges, and SHEPERD, which Simon plays a former convict, will both air at the International Christian Film Festival. The ICFF takes place in early May, 2018.

MOUNT LIPTAK, the short film that features Simon as the father of the main character, continues to find success on the film festival circuit.  The film was recently named a REMI Award Winner as part of the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival.  In addition to WorldFest Houston, MOUNT LIPTAK has also been accepted in the Beloit Film Festival, Utah Film Festival, Albuquerque Film and Music Experience, and the Texas Independent Film Festival. 

Simon closed out a very successful production of THE OUTGOING TIDE with In Tandem Theatre, which ran in February 23-March 18, with the final weekend being a near total sell-out! Having played the role of Jack, click on the "Reviews" tab above to see what critics had to say about Simon and the rest of the production.
 
MOUNT LIPTAK, the short film that features Simon as the father of the main character, has been accepted into the Beloit International Film Festival. More news to follow in early March.
 
Simon begins 2018 with returning to Salty Earth Pictures for 5 days of shooting several scenes for SEP's "Bible B-roll" series, in which Simon plays the role of Jesus.
 
News from 2017:
Closing out the year, Simon once again was in Madison at the Haggar Audio studios, lending his voice as the narrator for another rural insurance company.
 
In late November, Simon was selected as a model for "Tobacco Free California," in which world-renowned still photographer Todd Antony (HOLMES with Benedict Cumberbatch).  

MOUNT LIPTAK, the short film that features Simon as the father of the main character, won "Best Drama Short" in December at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards.
 
Simon wrapped on MOUNT LIPTAK, written and directed by Ryan Thomas Garrett Allsop, at the end of June.  In this true story about a Great Depression-era family, Simon plays the role of the father Milfred Liptak.  Exhausted from life and all its misgivings, Milfred decides to do what is necessary for his family and crosses the picket line of the union shop for which he works.  The consequences are devastating. Producers plan to have all post-production worked completed in time for festival season!  Also at the end of June, Simon was busy in the voiceover booth as he played the role of narrator for a Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Driver's Safety e-learning video and provided the male voice in a Lands End/Verizon clothing line video.  In early July, Simon heads to Salty Earth Pictures in Fort Atkinson, WI, playing the roles of Pioneer Leader, Biblical times fisherman, Martin Luther, and a leader of a group of vikings.

May was a busy month for Simon. He filmed a trade-show industrial for Speed Queen, in which he played the role of a franchise owner, and also received two successful casting notes for projects that will film later this summer.  The first is for another e-Learning project for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and the second is for an on-camera role of "Scout Leader" in a Salty Earth Productions video for the Pioneer's Club.  The voiceover will record near the end of June and the on-camera video will record in July.

April saw a lot of work for Simon as he played the role of "Dad" in a Sentry Safe commercial (which he filmed with his oldest daughter!!); got cast in a short film about a family suffering during WW II (filming will take place in June); was on-camera as a spokesman for another Snap-On video; was the co-host/MC for the Milwaukee Torrent  (professional soccer team) season kick-off party; and voiced another pharmaceutical case study as the role of Dr. Musilino for Swift Solutions, 
 
In March, Simon recorded voiceovers for several Herzing University spots, to begin airing later this year.
 
February saw Simon back in the studio laying the voiceover for radio and TV commercials for the 2017 REALTOR HOME AND GARDEN SHOW in Milwaukee, WI. Simon also opened and closed W;T, of which he directed for Wisconsin Lutheran College.  Simon also voiced an update for the Hallmark Industries industrial that he recorded last year.

In January, Simon finished filming as Pastor Bridges in the feature film THE OPEN DOOR; voiced another industrial for KOHL'S; In early February, Simon traveled to Chicago to  film a commercial for GALAXIE HOME REMODELING.  

A few notes from 2016:

At the end of 2016, Simon performed in A LAURA INGALLS WILDER CHRISTMAS with Acacia Theatre, in which he not only played Pa, but got to be onstage with his two real-life daughters, Grace and Bethany!!  Grace played the lead role of Laura and Bethany played her younger sister Carrie!  See the "Reviews" section on this page to see what critics had to say.

In mid-December 2016, Simon played the role of a youth soccer coach in an on-camera commercial for Thedacare Healthcare.

Simon voiced the elementary school teaching component to the PBS Film RETURN TO GRACE with Boettcher and Trinklein Productions.