S. Bart Simpson (a.k.a. Swanky, CEO and artistic director of Blue Monkey Sideshow,, is a native of Indianapolis. He holds his B.S. from Ball State University Honors College and an M.F.A. from the University of Texas at Austin where he received the Whitinger Fellowship in Directing. He taught design and theatre technology at Marian College, Indianapolis, for six years. He has designed or directed more than 60 productions in Indianapolis and adapted numerous works for the stage, including John Gardner's GRENDEL and ALICE IN WONDERLAND. An accomplished musician, Bart teaches percussion and has composed scores for MAGDALENE and PRINCE AND THE PAUPER. His personal business, Art Thieves & Company, designs and installs large art and scenery, including the 2000 Haunted House for The Children's Museum Guild of Indianapolis. As artistic director for The Blue Monkeys, Bart organizes the pace and intensity of the images presented to the audience, choosing the acts and show order best suited to the demographics of the audience. As CEO, he keeps a lot of paperwork up to date. In performance he is Swanky-musician, talker, knife thrower, fakir of the bed of nails, and pawn of the clown.