Biography
A London based performer, Shimi Goodman was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. At the age of fifteen he began working with the musical theatre company "Chich's Neighbours" which was hugely popular in Israel. It was there that Shimi got his first lead role starring as Don Jose (Daniel) in Carmen - a Rock Opera which was later televised.
After serving in the Israeli army, during which time he was given permission to work as an actor, he moved to England to study at the Guildford School of Acting. He graduated with distinction in 2002 receiving a BA in Musical Theatre Studies. Whilst studying he won the Musical Theatre Award 2001 and was a prize winner at the Surrey Male Singer Competition. Soon after graduating Shimi landed a role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End production of Bombay Dreams at the Apollo Victoria understudying and playing the principal - Akaash.
Shimi's next West End show was Chicago at the Adelphi where he had the opportunity to play all the male ensemble parts and also the role of Mary Sunshine opposite Brooke Shields. Shimi went on to be a featured singer in the original London cast of the record breaking production of Dirty Dancing at the Aldwych, where he also understudied and played Robbie Gould. Shimi then joined the Impulse company to train at the Meisner acting technique. In 2008, Shimi returned to Israel to create the lead role of Samuel in the world premiere of the musical Salt&Honey at the Mount Scopus Amphitheatre in Jerusalem. He then came back to London to play Douglas in Party Time and the hooded man in Mountain Language both by Harold Pinter and at the Landor. Shimi played Rapunzel's Prince, the Wolf and Florinda in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods at Upstairs at the Gatehouse. The show was extremely well received and to date is the best selling show in the history of the theatre. Among many, What's on Stage metioned "Goodman in particular steals every scene he's in,... he has the whole show - and the audience - in his pocket."
In 2009, Shimi went on his first national UK tour with the acclaimed Bill Kenwright production of Evita, playing the role of Che. On his return to London, "comfortably slipping into Gene Kelly's dancing shoes" Shimi played the role of Don Lockwood in Singin' in the Rain at the Broadway Theatre. Reviews described him as "a true triple threat" and "a looker, a hoofer and boy can he sing!".
In 2011 Shimi rejoined the cast of Chicago for it's final six months in the West End's Cambridge theatre.
For his German debut Shimi went on to perform in the critically acclaimed production of The Who's Tommy at the English Theatre in Frankfurt.
Rengent's Park Open Air Theatre was Shimi's next port of call in the productions of Ragtime (directed by Timothy Sheader) and Midsummer Night's Dream where he played Cobweb (directed by Matthew Dunster).
After finishing a successful extended run of the world premiere of Paper Dolls by Philip Himberg, directed by Indhu Rubasingham at the Tricycle theatre, Shimi went on to perform in yet another world premiere this time in the West End. From Here to Eternity the musical, based on one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century, co produced and with lyrics by Sir Tim Rice and directed by Tamara Harvey. The show was filmed and screened in cinemas around the world.
In 2015 Shimi had the great honour of being invited to sing at a special gala evening dedicated to and in the presence of former Israeli President Mr Shimon Peres and numerous other heads of state at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. In 2016 Shimi shared a stage in London singing with 1998 Eurovision Song Contest Winner Dana International. The show culminated with the pop star and Shimi singing the Israeli national anthem.
Shimi's debut album is currently available for purchase on the MUSIC page and iTunes. The album contains thirteen tracks, seven of which are new songs by multi award winning writer Christopher Hamilton including "No Good At Love" with lyrics by Sir Noel Coward and "Trusting You", a duet with Wicked`s Dianne Pilkington.