Run time is approximately 140 minutes, with a 20 minute intermission.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story chronicles the amazing journey shared by the folk-rock duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. It tells the story from their humble beginnings as Tom & Jerry to their incredible success as one of the best-selling music groups of the '60s to their dramatic split in 1970. It culminates with the famous The Concert in Central Park reunion in 1981 with more than half a million fans in attendance.

Using state-of-the-art video projection, photos, and original film footage, the show also features a full live band performing all of their hits, including Mrs. Robinson (featured in the 1967 film The Graduate), Cecilia, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Homeward Bound, and many more.

With more than 100 million album sales since 1965, Simon & Garfunkel's perfect harmonies and songs that poignantly captured the times made them one of the most successful folk-rock duos of all time. Over the years, they won 10 Grammy® Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1977, their Bridge Over Troubled Water album was nominated at the 1977 Brit Awards for Best International Album. In 2003, Simon and Garfunkel were awarded a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award, and the following year saw their The Sound of Silence awarded a Grammy® Hall of Fame Award.

CAST

• Jonah Bobo
• Paul Simon
• Elliot Lazar
• Paul Simon
• Israel Bloodgood
• Paul Simon
• Brendan Jacob Smith
• Art Garfunkel
• Trevor Gill-Snow
• Art Garfunkel

BAND

• Josh Vasquez
• Guitars and Background Vocals
• Marc Encabo
• Keyboards, Guitar, and Background Vocals
• Billy Harrington
• Drums and Background Vocals
• Jay Hemphill
• Bass Guitar and Background Vocals

Artist Biographies

JONAH BOBO, PAUL SIMON

Jonah Bobo is an NYC-based musician and theatre artist who is extremely passionate about both live performance and studio production. He is a multi-instrumentalist and producer as well as a recording artist, working with artists in New York and across the nation.  As a composer, his theatrical work has been awarded distinctions by the Richard Rodgers Award Foundation and the Eugene O'Neill National Theatre Center.

ELLIOT LAZAR, PAUL SIMON

Elliot Lazar is a Boston-based actor, singer, and musician born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada. Last season, he appeared in the National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof, The Band's Visit (Huntington/Speakeasy Stage), and Rent (Rainbow Stage). Selected credits: Another Roll of the Dice (North Coast Rep), Parade (Opera NUOVA), James and the Giant Peach (MTYP), American Idiot (Winnipeg Studio Theatre), Way to Heaven (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre), and The Magic Flute (Manitoba Underground Opera). MFA in Theatre (Boston Conservatory) and BMus in Vocal Performance (University of Manitoba).

ISRAEL BLOODGOOD, PAUL SIMON

Born and raised in Oregon, Israel Bloodgood has worked as an actor, dancer, musician, songwriter, and teacher all over the world. After growing up in the theater and earning his Bachelor's Degree at Eastern Oregon University, Israel performed around the Pacific Northwest with The Seattle Shakespear Co., Bag & Baggage Productions, and the La Grande Shakespeare Co. Eventually, Israel moved to England to earn his Master's degree at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, working with The London Touring Players, Bristol International Theatre Workshop, and the European/Australian tour of The Simon & Garfunkel Story, and is now moving back to the US with his wife and two children, to join the American Cast of the show.

BRENDAN JACOB SMITH, ART GARFUNKEL

Brandan Jacob Smith is a singer, actor, and songwriter from Brooklyn, New York. He made his national television debut with viral sensation acapella group T.3 on season 16 of America's Got Talent in 2021. The group has racked up millions of views across their social media platforms and tours regularly throughout the U.S. On stage, Brendan's recent credits include Fredrick Fleet in Titanic (Ogunquit Playhouse), Malcolm in The Full Monty (North Shore Music Theatre), and Frankie Epps in Parade (The Rev Theatre Co.) He also performed the role of Logan Shepard in the powerful work Considering Matthew Shepard with Grammy-winning ensemble, Conspirare.

As a songwriter, he performs regularly with his pianist brother, Damon Smith, in New York City; the duo released an album of original songs as The Brightmares. Additionally, he and his longtime friend Jonah Bobo (Paul Simon at select performances) collaborate on and release original music as Bobo and Smith.

Having grown up harmonizing to Simon & Garfunkel, Brendan is thrilled to be singing these beautiful songs every night.

TREVOR GILL-SNOW, ART GARFUNKEL

As a singer-songwriter, Trevor's lilting finger-style guitar, ethereal vocals, and poetic verse echo through their indie-folk sound. A recent graduate with a Bachelor of Music from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, Trevor plans on releasing their much-anticipated debut to streaming services in early 2026.

Huge thank yous to their family, friends, MSA, and their wonderful partner, Mia.

JOSHUA VASQUEZ, GUITARS AND BACKGROUND VOCALS

Joshua Vasquez is a guitarist from San Diego, CA. At the age of 12, he was inspired by classmates at the time to pick up the guitar and eventually decided to pursue it as a career. His pursuit brought him first to the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, and upon graduation began attending Berklee College of Music in the fall of 2013. At Berklee, he studied with some of the most renowned teachers in contemporary guitar education. Teachers such as Rick Peckham, Tim Miller, Mike Williams (once a teacher to John Mayer), and Mick Goodrick. Since graduating from Berklee in 2017, Josh has been working as a freelance player and session guitarist in the Southern California area. Doing everything from recording for up-and-coming artists and video games to being in music videos and playing for the theater. His accolades include improvisation awards from several jazz festivals and being a semi-finalist in Guitar Center's King of the Blues competition in 2011.

MARC ENCABO, KEYBOARDS AND BACKGROUND VOCALS

Marc Encabo is a Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist and performer. Being heavily surrounded by music throughout his upbringing in San Diego, CA, he would find his musical voice through school, YouTube, and church, leading to teaching himself to play guitar, piano, and bass, and to furthering his studies as a jazz bassist at the renowned Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSU Long Beach. As a songwriter, composer, and collaborator, he has arranged for, performed, and recorded with and for various artists and groups across the US, UK, Europe, and the Philippines.

JAY HEMPHILL, BASS GUITAR AND BACKGROUND VOCALS

Jay Hemphill is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and audio engineer from Long Beach, California. Starting on the cello at age 7, he quickly developed a passion for every instrument he could get his hands on. He switched to bass in high school and got his first taste of being a professional musician when he started playing jazz and musicals. From there, he has had the opportunity to tour across America with many brilliant musicians, as well as play in multiple musicals, including the world premiere of The Boy who Danced on Air, and perform with his own project, Discount Art.

BILLY HARRINGTON, DRUMS AND BACKGROUND VOCALS

From Ann Arbor, Michigan, Billy Harrington is a full-time drummer, keeping busy with recording sessions and live work. With a bachelor's in the Musical Arts & Jazz Studies from the University of Michigan, he has lectured on early pop drumming and most extensively on the drumming of Ringo Starr, including for the university's symposium celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and as a featured artist in the Oxford University Press textbook, What Goes On: The Beatles, Their Music and Their Time. As producer, his own shows, A Night For James: A Tribute to the Music of James Taylor, and Lennon & McCartney tribute All Together Now debuted in 2015 and 2016. In 2019, Billy's research on the drums of Led Zeppelin's John Bonham with Paul Thompson of Roxy Music was published in Modern Drummer magazine. Recent stage credits include Always... Patsy Cline and Mamma Mia (Encore Musical Theatre Company 2021-22), and national tours, The British Invasion Live (Quatro & Maple Tree Entertainment 2022), and Dirty Dancing In Concert (Quatro Entertainment 2022).

Billy is so excited and honored to be on stage celebrating two of pop music's greatest songwriters, Simon & Garfunkel.

ABOUT RUCKUS ENTERTAINMENT, PRODUCERS

Ruckus Entertainment, based in Los Angeles and formed in 2022, brings together veteran entertainment producers Alison Spiriti, Justin Sudds, Dean Elliott, and Ralph Schmidtke, who are collectively responsible for producing over 100 touring productions seen by millions around the world. Their burgeoning production company brings audiences world-class concerts and live events and is focused on celebrating the history and music behind iconic, globally recognized musical artists. Current productions include The Simon & Garfunkel Story, The Life and Music of George Michael, and The British Invasion.

DEAN ELLIOTT, SHOW DIRECTOR AND MUSICAL SUPERVISOR

Dean Elliott rose to fame as the lead role of Buddy Holly in the Olivier Award-nominated musical Buddy—The Buddy Holly Story. In this role, he had the honor of opening the 2008 West End Revival at the Duchess Theatre, London, West End, and after much media praise, was asked to open and perform in the show in Buddy's hometown of Lubbock, Texas, in front, and with, Buddy's immediate family before taking the role around Europe and Canada. Before 'Buddy', Dean trained at the prestigious Sir Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) and other notable theatre work includes Over The Rainbow - The Eva Cassidy Story (UK No1 Tour), Release The Beat (Arcola Theatre, London), and the multi-award-winning Ed—The Musical (Edinburgh Festival). Notable TV and radio appearances include Richard and Judy, BBC London Tonight, The Jonathan Ross Show, and BBC Radio 2's Elaine Paige Show. Dean has always been a fan of Simon and Garfunkel and is thrilled to be able to bring the music and story together with this fantastic team and tour it around the world!