Fermat's Last Theater Co.

Fermat's Last Theater Co. FLT is a small nonprofit theater group based in Madison, WI.

Founded in 2013 by David Simmons and a motley crew of rude mechanicals with deep roots in the Madison community and a shared passion for and experience with the works of William Shakespeare. We graciously bum our name off of Pierre de Fermat, who never quite had enough room in the margins for all his notes.

Break a leg to Tom Kastle Actor/Musician who takes the Fermat's Last Theater Co. show Joe Hill - Alive As You and Me to ...
03/21/2026

Break a leg to Tom Kastle Actor/Musician who takes the Fermat's Last Theater Co. show Joe Hill - Alive As You and Me to Greenwich Village tomorrow night!

We are heartbroken to announce that Nicholas Benjamin Simmons unexpectedly passed away in his sleep on Saturday, Decembe...
12/28/2025

We are heartbroken to announce that Nicholas Benjamin Simmons unexpectedly passed away in his sleep on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at the age of 39. He was highly involved in a number of endeavors including a startup, a venture fund, and book publishing. Nick's ultimate life goal and greatest happiness was bringing together passionate, interesting people.

At the time of his death, Nick and his wife Rebekah were in the middle of the next great journey: starting a family, with career changes and medical care well underway. There has been no determination in his cause of death at this time, and no explanation will ever be satisfactory for this loss felt by so many.

We want to honor Nick's life and ethos surrounded by his loved ones and the enormous number of people whose lives he touched with a memorial for him that honors this spirit. Due to the suddenness in the change of circumstances, additional financial support would be greatly appreciated to help cover the memorial, burial, and other related costs. Any amount contributed is greatly appreciated.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-nick-simmons-life-and-legacy?lang=en_US&ts=1766857540

Additionally, you can also help us preserve Nick’s legacy by submitting photos, videos, and memories under the “Memories” tab here: https://everloved.com/life-of/nicholas-simmons/

To ensure you receive information about Nick's memorial and any future ways to help us keep Nick’s memory alive, you can confirm your contact information here: https://forms.gle/gerKghe1bXQjSFqd8

Thank you with all our hearts for your help in giving Nick and his family some solace during this incredibly difficult time.

Thanks to the 105 souls who came to hang out with Thelonious Monk today. Kudos to pianist Isaiah Dobbins and narrator B...
10/12/2025

Thanks to the 105 souls who came to hang out with Thelonious Monk today. Kudos to pianist Isaiah Dobbins and narrator Buzz Kemper, and special shoutout to BlueStem Jazz for helping make these shows possible and to MUSO for hosting us.

Standing room only at MUSO for 'Round Midnight (and a standing ovation) - one more show tomorrow at 2 PM . David Simmon...
10/12/2025

Standing room only at MUSO for 'Round Midnight (and a standing ovation) - one more show tomorrow at 2 PM . David Simmons on the left, pianist Isaiah Dobbins in the middle and narrator Buzz Kemper on the right.
Join us tomorrow for a whole lot of wonderful jazz by Thelonious Monk. And thanks especially to Bluestem Jazz for their support and MUSO for hosting us. 2040 Winnebago - free of course.

Happy birthday to Thelonious Monk, born this day in 1917 in Rocky Mount, NC. Would that he was with us still. But we a...
10/11/2025

Happy birthday to Thelonious Monk, born this day in 1917 in Rocky Mount, NC. Would that he was with us still. But we are honoring his life and incredible musical art - there has never been another like him.

Join us for this celebration Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2 PM at MUSO, 2040 Winnebago. Come early, get a good seat (parking can be tough around there, so leave a little early).

Isaiah Dobbins, a senior in the UW School of Music Jazz program will play Monk's amazing tunes, Buzz Kemper of Audio for the Arts will tell us the story of Monk's life and times. Thanks to BlueStem Jazz for co-sponsoring these shows - we could not have done it without them.

Free of course. Q&A after the shows.

A small sneak peak at our Monk show on WORT's Global Revolutions with Martin Alvarado at 10:30 AM this morning.
10/06/2025

A small sneak peak at our Monk show on WORT's Global Revolutions with Martin Alvarado at 10:30 AM this morning.

The photo of Monk in our poster is from 1947 when he was playing at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem. What's missing? His ...
10/05/2025

The photo of Monk in our poster is from 1947 when he was playing at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem. What's missing? His hat! Monk did wear a beret at times in the '40s, but in the late '50s he started wearing a variety of headgear, and it became a ritual that when he toured (especially outside the US) his hosts would present him with a new hat. This show would not be possible without the support of BlueStem Jazz - who have a very cool logo ... and a very cool lineup of shows for the fall and winter. Check them out at bluestemjazz.org - see you at MUSO for the Monk show. Hats recommended but not required.

One week from tonight! This is a joint production of Fermat's Last Theater and BlueStem Jazz. Free as always. Join us...
10/04/2025

One week from tonight! This is a joint production of Fermat's Last Theater and BlueStem Jazz. Free as always. Join us!

Monk was an eccentric cat, no doubt about that, and besides his iconic tunes you will learn about his life. Stories abo...
09/25/2025

Monk was an eccentric cat, no doubt about that, and besides his iconic tunes you will learn about his life. Stories abound, a few may even be true. Buzz Kemper will be our narrator and Isaiah Dobbins our pianist. A shout out to BlueStem Jazz for partnering with us on these two shows - this would not be happening without them.
Note: the Facebook events page mangles the time of the Sunday Oct 12 show - it is a 2 PM matinee. Come early and get a good seat. Free of course.

Thelonious Monk had a full and complicated life, and his eccentricities lead to many stories, some true, some not, some ...
09/20/2025

Thelonious Monk had a full and complicated life, and his eccentricities lead to many stories, some true, some not, some still hovering in the air. The magisterial biography of Monk by Robin D G Kelly has been an invaluable guide as we sought to capture his life and work - 460 pages of text and 100 pages of footnotes. Join us for this celebration of his genius - and only one day after his birthdate of Oct 10. Buzz Kemper will tell the tale and Isaiah Dobbins will play the tunes. Free as always. Join us!

Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, better known as Nica, was a friend, supporter and soul mate to a whole generation o...
09/13/2025

Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, better known as Nica, was a friend, supporter and soul mate to a whole generation of jazz musicians from the 1940's thru the 1960's. An heiress of the Rothschild family and fortune, she is one of the characters you will meet in Fermat's Last Theater's 'Round Midnight. Nica had 70 or 80 cats and drove a silver Bentley. She compiled a book of photos of the jazz greats and asked them each the same question - if you had three wishes, what would they be?
There were many of the expected responses - fame, fortune, good health. But quite a few of the answers went like this - I want to have the music I create to be appreciated and understood as art, on a par with what classical European composers have done. Well said. Join us for 'Round Midnight on Oct 11 and 12th and judge for yourself.

Address

3113 View Road
Madison, WI
53711

Telephone

+16082239571

Website

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