Avelyn Simons
Person by Avelyn Simons
Theater-Maker Who Loves the Work Onstage, Backstage, and in the Classroom
About
Theater has always been a huge part of my life. I’ve been lucky to perform at places like NJPAC, Paper Mill Playhouse, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and in shows like Les Misérables, Into the Woods, and Rent. I was part of the Paper Mill Broadwa...
Theater has always been a huge part of my life. I’ve been lucky to perform at places like NJPAC, Paper Mill Playhouse, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and in shows like Les Misérables, Into the Woods, and Rent. I was part of the Paper Mill Broadway Show Choir for several years as a soloist, featured dancer, and swing, which gave me the chance to perform all over the state. I’m also a musician, and I love using those skills to support the stories I tell onstage and in the classroom. In recent years, I’ve focused a lot on directing and teaching. I started a theater program at Immaculata High School, and within two years, our productions began receiving statewide recognition. "Once" earned me Best Director nominations from both the BergenPAC Awards and the Central Jersey Marquee Awards, which each include 50 to 60 high schools across New Jersey. We also received nominations for Best Overall Production, Best Ensemble, etc, and a win for Best Leading Actress. I teach a mix of classes including drama, public speaking, and film, and I direct our full season of shows. I care deeply about making theater a place where students feel seen, challenged, and inspired — and I’d love the chance to talk about that journey on your podcast.
What Matters
Avelyn says education absolutely matters: "It's so important that, everybody is able to use their own brain to function in society and get to learn about different people and different things, and become a well-rounded human."
Avelyn believes performing arts matter for everyone: "Whether you're an audience member or an actor or someone off stage, it impacts you regardless."
Avelyn says teaching matters because of the lasting impact teachers have: "Just knowing the contact they still have with their students and the impact they have on their students, and me too. It's a really beautiful thing to see."
Avelyn says guitar matters: "I've been playing since I was 10, I think. So, it definitely matters and it's a wonderful instrument."
Avelyn believes travel matters: "I think it's super important to be, culturally aware of what's going on in the world and getting to see places firsthand."
Avelyn says pets matter: "They definitely teach you how to take care of something, because when you're a child, you're very self-centered."
Avelyn says mental health super matters: "Life's a journey and being healthy and having people to help you through it is a big deal."
Avelyn says artificial intelligence matters if used properly: "If you use it as a tool and you use it properly... I think it's good."
Avelyn says coffee doesn't matter to her: "I really tried, but I really don't like coffee. I really tried. I'm so tired sometimes, but I just, it doesn't do it for me."
Whys (8)
Avelyn says artificial intelligence matters if used properly: "If you use it as a tool and you use it properly... I think it's good."
Does ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE matter to you?
Avelyn says mental health super matters: "Life's a journey and being healthy and having people to help you through it is a big deal."
Does MENTAL HEALTH matter to you?
Avelyn says pets matter: "They definitely teach you how to take care of something, because when you're a child, you're very self-centered."
Does PET matter to you?
Avelyn believes travel matters: "I think it's super important to be, culturally aware of what's going on in the world and getting to see places firsthand."
Does TRAVEL matter to you?
Avelyn says guitar matters: "I've been playing since I was 10, I think. So, it definitely matters and it's a wonderful instrument."
Does GUITAR matter to you?
Avelyn says teaching matters because of the lasting impact teachers have: "Just knowing the contact they still have with their students and the impact they have on their students, and me too. It's a really beautiful thing to see."
Does TEACHING matter to you?
Avelyn believes performing arts matter for everyone: "Whether you're an audience member or an actor or someone off stage, it impacts you regardless."
Does PERFORMING ARTS matter to you?
Avelyn says education absolutely matters: "It's so important that, everybody is able to use their own brain to function in society and get to learn about different people and different things, and become a well-rounded human."
Does EDUCATION matter to you?
Takeaways (15)
I hadn't earned their respect yet, so I did the research and made the case until they trusted me.
A Federal Reserve boss running theater games on day one made me think we're onto something real here.
Theater games aren't just warm-ups — they're how shy kids slowly stop dreading being seen.
I had to write a five-page paper just to prove I knew what I was doing before anyone listened.
I sped through my intro because I was nervous too — confidence isn't just a student problem.
Standing alone on a stage in front of even five people is genuinely hard, especially as a teenager.
Trust has to come first — without it, students won't take any risks in class.
I realized I didn't know what I was capable of until I was already doing it.
My students and I both surprised ourselves with what we were actually capable of.
At the end of that first year, I hadn't earned my place yet, so I wrote five pages to prove the idea.
Some kids aren't looking for a career in theater — they just need to find their footing.
Performing is vulnerable — even I rushed through my intro because I was nervous.
I spend the first few weeks just building trust, because without it nothing else works.
Theater skills show up everywhere — even the Federal Reserve uses theater games on day one.
I watch shy, reluctant kids slowly become people who actually want to be in the room.