Press
I'm a "silvery soprano" with an affinity for "grounded yet goofball comedy!"
Change May Be Good For You - Chicago Theatre Review (Recommended)
"Beautiful Hannah Mary Simpson... leaves it all on the stage as... Sir Dinadin... with excellent combat skills and swordplay..." - Colin Douglas
Read the full review here.
By The Sword Excalibur: A Review of Camelot at Music Theater Works - Newcity Stage (Recommended)
“The supporting players are uniformly excellent, all clearly capable of bigger assignments. The knights of Hannah Mary Simpson, Tommy Thurston and Sarah J. Patin win even when they lose in battle, with vibrant, pedal-to-the-metal performances...” - Aaron Hunt
Read the full review here.
CAMELOT - MUSIC THEATER WORKS - theaterinchicagoreviews
"In fact, 'Fie on Goodness!' with just four actors is a surprise highlight. The disdain of the frustrated knights is reflected well in the facial expressions and voices of just three knights played by Sarah Patin..., Hannah Mary Simpson..., and Tommy Thurston." - theatreinchicagoreviews
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A strong but imperfect Camelot comes to Skokie - ChicagoOnstage.com (Recommended)
"The three actors playing the Knights—Hannah Mary Simpson, Tommy Thurston, and [Sarah J. Patin]—are so striking..."
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Review: Midsommer Flight Stages Midsummer Night’s Dream in City Parks, Where Fairies Roam - Third Coast Review (Highly Recommended)
"But first the mechanicals must present their play... The highlights are the Wall, performed by Quilter, and Simpson’s fiercely friendly Lion." - Nancy Bishop
Read the full review here.
Regional Reviews: Chicago -
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Talkin' Broadway (Highly Recommended)
"[Justin] Cavazos has a number of solid musicians to call on within the cast... with Hannah Mary Simpson's (Snug/Cobweb) silvery vocals. The music is, by turns, driving and dreamlike and plays an important role in weaving the the production's spell." - Christine M. Malcom
Read the full review here.
‘Healing’ becomes Black Ensemble Theater’s most powerful statement on the African American experience - Chicago Sun Times (Highly Recommended)
"Every ensemble member gets a moment to shine... Hannah Mary Simpson pours her silvery soprano into 'Heroes...'" - Catey Sullivan
Read the full review here.
A Civil Rights Movement Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow - Chicago Theatre Review (Recommended)
"BET newcomer, the exquisitely gifted vocalist, Hannah Mary Simpson, thrills with Taylor’s anthem, 'They Are Our Heroes.'" - Colin Douglas
Read the full review here.
Jackie Taylor's Legend The Musical: A Civil Rights Movement, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - Let's Play at ChicagoNow (Recommended)
"[Hannah] Mary Simpson, who made her debut at BET, displayed a pristine voice..." - Rick and Brenda McCain
Read the full review here.
"The Healing" (Formerly Titled "Legends: A Civil Rights Movement") - Around the Town Chicago (Recommended)
"The ensemble players are unbelievable... Hannah Mary Simpson... reminded me of Shirley McClain..." - Alan Bresloff
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"Sea What They Did There?" - Newcity Stage (Recommended)
"As the cabin boy Pip, Hannah Mary Simpson sports a warm singing voice that needs to be heard in Chicago’s bigger theaters." - Aaron Hunt
Read the full review here.
Moby Dick - PerformInk (Critics' Pick)
"Many of the most impactful moments – both serious and humorous – come from actors Hannah Mary Simpson and Kelsey Skomer... Simpson’s skill at grounded yet goofball comedy are what consistently engage and surprise and elevate the production as a whole." - Bec Willett
Read the full review here.
"Cuckoo’s Theatre Project’s ‘Moby Musical’ puts the ‘dick’ in ridiculous" - Chicagoland Musical Theatre
"Hannah Mary Simpson shines as the security guard forced into the role of doomed cabin boy Pip." - Ian Rigg
Read the full review here.
26.2 - Picture this Post (Highly Recommended)
"In one of the most powerful pieces of the night, a young woman confronts and overcomes each of the major challenges she’s faced in life, cleverly illustrated by fistfights between her and the other ensemble members representing these events. The title is “U is for Unbreakable,” a nod to writer-performer Hannah Mary Simpson’s indomitable spirit and affinity for Ellie Kemper’s title character in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Yet after defeating every outside obstacle, Simpson opens up and admits that although she wants to be resilient, after all she has survived and accomplished, she is so very tired. This moment of astonishing vulnerability comes at you sideways and takes your breath away." - Harold Jaffe
Read the full review here.
Hog'sBelly - Picture this Post (Recommended)
"[This production] bottle[s] the energies of up-and-coming actors, also providing opportunities for early warnings on young talents to watch. (Although the entire ensemble was good, this writer found Hannah Mary Simpson and Joshua Bomba intriguing)." - Amy Munice
Read the full review here.