About SimG Productions
SimG Productions (incorporating SimG Records) was formed by Actor-turned-Director Simon Greiff in the summer of 2009, out of artistic necessity.
American composer Scott Alan personally asked Simon if he would be interested in Producing a London Concert of his music and the result was
Just Me & Them: The Music Of Scott Alan,
which played two sell out performances at the Leicester Square Theatre with a glorious West End and Broadway cast including Stephanie J. Block, Mark Evans, Ramin Karimloo, Patina Miller and Frances Ruffelle. SimG Productions was created to make that happen.
"Perhaps it was producer Simon Greiff's attention to detail that made the concert appear so flawless: the simple, yet beautiful staging, the addition to the orchestrations of a talented string trio and what appeared to be a thoroughly rehearsed cast. The overall impression of the evening was that an awful lot of effort and hard work had gone into creating it and it had certainly paid off."
BroadwayWorldUK
At the same time, West End leading lady Annalene Beechey had begun recording her long-awaited debut album
Close Your Eyes
,featuring songs of Scott Alan and an enchanting mix of contemporary musical theatre from Britain and America, plus guest performances from Rebecca Lock and Julian Ovenden. SimG Records, the independent record label, was created to help release it.
"Lovingly produced by Simon Greiff, it’s a fine showcase for this talented singer’s (Annalene Beechey) lovely voice ... it’s a winner."
WhatsOnStage
At the end of 2009 Philip Sykes joined SimG Productions to help co-produce Theatre Concerts. Together they went on to produce the acclaimed
Stephanie J. Block In Concert
at the New Players Theatre, which enabled a London audience to savour the vocal talent of one of Broadway's major Divas of recent years and featured West End leading men, Hadley Fraser and Oliver Tompsett.
Early 2010 saw the release of SimG Records' second solo album: West End leading lady Caroline Sheen’s debut album
Raise The Curtain
,featuring a compelling selection of songs from some of the best contemporary musical theatre composers, and special guest Michael Jibson.
"It is a joy to find a new label with such strong introductory releases as these … Annalene Beechey & Caroline Sheen’s albums are among the best solo albums of the last few years, whether from Broadway or the West End".
Pat Cerasaro, BroadwayWorld
Since then SimG Productions and SimG Records have continued to grow both in the volume and quality of their projects – including presenting a prestigious series of cabarets showcasing the work of a host of British musical theatre writers, including
Brunger & Cleary, Robert Gould, Dougal Irvine, Lindsey Miller, Grant Olding, Chris Passey, Stuart Matthew Price, Joe Sterling, Tim Sutton
and
Laurence Mark Wythe,
and introducing award winning American composer
Bobby Cronin
In Concert - plus producing an impressive catalogue of records and SimG has the distinction of having had up to four albums in London’s
Dress Circle
Theatre Shop ‘best seller’ list at the same time.
REVIEWS...
"Simon Greiff should be applauded for doing something that others wouldn’t even consider, and that is taking a risk and producing albums of new material in the musical theatre world."
Nick Wakeham, Musical Theatre Review
"SimG Records are doing more for new writers than just about any other label around."
Mark Shenton, The Stage
"[‘Close Your Eyes’ and ‘Raise The Curtain’]…these two triumphant solo albums are each, on their own, nearly twice as good as what passes for original and interesting and good these days. It is a joy to find a new label with such strong introductory releases as these … both are among the best solo albums of the last few years, whether from Broadway or the West End."
Pat Cerasaro, BroadwayWorld
"Unless we can hear new material and new artists, recorded in a high-quality, contemporary way - we'll never get to hear what's out there. By providing the artists with a creative producer for their voices and choice of material, SimG is ensuring that the best material gets heard."
George Stiles (Composer)
"SimG Records are quickly creating a new niche market in the UK for creating quality recordings of musical theatre singers, choosing highly individual songs and lesser known composers to showcase. SimG seems to have a knack for routing out unfamiliar songs that not only fit the singer perfectly but make the listener feel like they have discovered something brand new."
Grant Olding (Composer & Lyricist)
"Simon Greiff has been instrumental over the past few years in giving new musical theatre writers a much needed boost, whether that is through his Sunday evening concerts in and around London or for giving them an opportunity to showcase their talents through many CD recordings. ‘Somewhere In My Mind’, is no different, except here with Joe Sterling he may have found the freshest and most promising new writing talent in recent years."
John Roberts, Public Reviews
"[The Songs Of Joe Sterling] While we have writing of this quality, and record labels like SimG there to enable it, then the British Music (and Musicals) industry is in very safe, and talented hands."
Ian Gude, Review Graveyard
"SimG is setting a high bar as for labels dedicated to musical theater. Not only do the company's releases marvelously showcase established performers and songwriters, they also -- most welcomely -- bring exceptionally gifted emerging artists into the spotlight."
Andy Propst, TheaterMania
"With its growing reputation for bringing us not just extremely polished, but aesthetically pleasing and well put together performances, one can hope that they'll continue to produce more phenomenal concerts in the near future."
BroadwayWorld.com
"Amazing cabaret season by SimG Productions - a godsend to new writers ... Please support all future endeavours."
Julie Robinson, Public Reviews
