Ep 5: The Apollo

Chapter 8: The Kentucky Cycle

Welcome to the Jazz Lion’s Den, a journey through Levy Lee Simon’s debut Memoir Odyssey Towards The Light   In this final episode, Levy Lee Simon celebrates his Broadway debut with 'The Kentucky Cycle' at the Royal Theatre. He emphasizes the support received from his friend Nathaniel “Pop” Brown and the challenges faced, including mixed critical reception, notably from Frank Rich of the New York Times. Despite receiving standing ovations and emotional audience responses, the play was unable to run its full course. The experience marked an important moment in Simon's career, transitioning him from being in a drug treatment facility in the South Bronx to performing on the Broadway stage.   And for more on Levy Lee Simon: BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Towards-Light-Book-1/dp/B0CNX82PJR [https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Towards-Light-Book-1/dp/B0CNX82PJR] WEBSITE: https://www.levyleesimon.com/ [https://www.levyleesimon.com/] INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/levyleethejazzlion/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/levy.lee2/  LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levy-lee-simon-0433b05/  X: https://x.com/LevyJazzlion05 [https://x.com/LevyJazzlion05] TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@levylee235?lang=en Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jazz-lion-s-den--6205164/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jazz-lion-s-den--6205164/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].

Chapter 7: Star Hill

Welcome to the Jazz Lion’s Den, a journey through Levy Lee Simon’s debut Memoir Odyssey Towards The Light   This episode of the Jazz Lion's Den features a dramatic and vivid excerpt from his time at Star Hill, a hardcore treatment facility, highlighting the intense and emotionally charged experiences he faced. This marked a critical turning point in Simon's life, filled with real-life characters and raw honesty about his battle with addiction.   And for more on Levy Lee Simon: BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Towards-Light-Book-1/dp/B0CNX82PJR [https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Towards-Light-Book-1/dp/B0CNX82PJR] WEBSITE: https://www.levyleesimon.com/ [https://www.levyleesimon.com/] INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/levyleethejazzlion/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/levy.lee2/  LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levy-lee-simon-0433b05/  X: https://x.com/LevyJazzlion05 [https://x.com/LevyJazzlion05] TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@levylee235?lang=en Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jazz-lion-s-den--6205164/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jazz-lion-s-den--6205164/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].

Chapter 6: The NEC & Liza

Welcome to the Jazz Lion’s Den, a journey through Levy Lee Simon’s debut Memoir Odyssey Towards The Light It was the early 90s and the crack epidemic was raging in the inner cities of the United States, but not only the inner city, everywhere people were falling like flies to the plague. I never thought it would get me. I was convinced I’d done everything right, degree, budding acting career, and I was recognized, as a young woman described me “one of the dashing young men of NYC.” But little did I know, the power of that substance and the demons that came with it, but once I took that first hit, I was hooked. How could that happen to me? I was in denial. In this episode I am sharing about an experience which took place in the Hunts Point area of the Bronx, with a very extraordinary person by the name of Liza.  And for more on Levy Lee Simon: BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Towards-Light-Book-1/dp/B0CNX82PJR [https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Towards-Light-Book-1/dp/B0CNX82PJR] WEBSITE: https://www.levyleesimon.com/ [https://www.levyleesimon.com/] INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/levyleethejazzlion/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/levy.lee2/  LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levy-lee-simon-0433b05/  X: https://x.com/LevyJazzlion05 [https://x.com/LevyJazzlion05] TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@levylee235?lang=en Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jazz-lion-s-den--6205164/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jazz-lion-s-den--6205164/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].

Ep 5: The Apollo

Levy Lee is in New York during the roaring 80s and finally getting his big start in theatre. After narrowly getting re-accepted into the 127th Street Repertory, Levy Lee is tasked with one of the most nerve-racking challenges of his career, playing Walter Lee in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun at the famed Apollo theatre, a notoriously harsh environment to perform in. Some of his fellow cast members in the production included: Helen Butler, Charles Watts, Gregory Wallace, Bruce Jenkins, and Tupac Shakur. Lee recounts his performance that included laughs, boos, tears, and some much needed advice from a mentor.   And for more on Levy Lee Simon: BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Towards-Light-Book-1/dp/B0CNX82PJR [https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Towards-Light-Book-1/dp/B0CNX82PJR] WEBSITE: https://www.levyleesimon.com/ [https://www.levyleesimon.com/] INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/levyleethejazzlion/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/levy.lee2/  LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levy-lee-simon-0433b05/  X: https://x.com/LevyJazzlion05 [https://x.com/LevyJazzlion05] TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@levylee235?lang=en Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jazz-lion-s-den--6205164/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jazz-lion-s-den--6205164/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].

Ep 4: The Roaring 80s

Welcome to the Jazz Lion’s Den, a journey through Levy Lee Simon’s debut Memoir Odyssey Towards The Light I’d just graduated with my BA in Theatre and Journalism from Cheyney State College, had my first apartment in the Boogey Down Bronx, and experienced my first heartbreak, well second if I’m to be honest. This was the beginning of what I call the roaring 80s. It was a wild time, sex, R&B, Hip Hop, the Hustle, and along with all that came drugs and alcohol. I was out and about NYC, running in the fast lane, Justines, Pippins, Leviticus, La Martinique, to name a few, and after hour spots such as the River Ridge, and the Room in the Bronx and Browns in Brooklyn. It was an exciting time. It was a fun time, until it wasn’t. In this episode, I’ll be reading a short excerpt from, “The Roaring 80s.” This segment I subtitle “Gus.” You’ll see why. And for more on Levy Lee Simon: BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Towards-Light-Book-1/dp/B0CNX82PJR [https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Towards-Light-Book-1/dp/B0CNX82PJR] WEBSITE: https://www.levyleesimon.com/ [https://www.levyleesimon.com/] INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/levyleethejazzlion/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/levy.lee2/  LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levy-lee-simon-0433b05/  X: https://x.com/LevyJazzlion05 [https://x.com/LevyJazzlion05] TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@levylee235?lang=en Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jazz-lion-s-den--6205164/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jazz-lion-s-den--6205164/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].