Adrian Hall (director)

Adrian Hall (December 3, 1927 – February 4, 2023) was an American theater director. His directing style was described as "bold" by the New York Times,[1] and his work was considered part of the first and second generation of the regional theater movement of the 1960s and late 1980s.[2] He was the founding Artistic Director of the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island from 1963 to 1986,[3] and the Artistic Director of Dallas Theater Center in Dallas, Texas from 1983 to 1989.[4] He is considered to have created major and divisive change within both institutions.[3][4]

Adrian Hall
Born(1927-12-03)December 3, 1927
Van, Texas, U.S.
DiedFebruary 4, 2023(2023-02-04) (aged 95)
Tyler, Texas, U.S.
Alma materEast Texas State Teachers College
Occupation(s)Actor, director, artistic director
Known forWork in regional theatre

Trinity Repertory Company

In addition to his work producing plays at Trinity Repertory, Hall oversaw and participated in the Project Discovery program at Trinity Repertory, which introduced high school students to theater. Actress Viola Davis credits Hall's visit to her high school and the subsequent visits to the theater during Hall's tenure as what "changed her path."[5]

Two of Hall's productions at Trinity Repertory Company were featured on the PBS series, Great Performances.

Personal life and death

Hall was born in Van, Texas, in 1927, and took an interest in theatre from an early age.[6] After graduating high school early, he enrolled at East Texas State Teachers College (now Texas A&M University–Commerce) when he was sixteen, and graduated in 1949. He also spent six months during that time studying at the Pasadena Playhouse.[6] After serving in the U.S. Army, he worked in New York for several years before beginning at Trinity.[6]

Hall was a resident of Van at the time of his death. He died at a hospital in nearby Tyler, Texas, on February 4, 2023, at the age of 95.[6][7]

References
  1. Gerard, Jeremy (November 1, 1987). "Theater; How a Bold Director Has Transformed a Regional Theater". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  2. de Vries, Hilary (September 3, 1989). "THEATER; New Paths for Regional Theaters". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  3. Stanzler, Milton. (1995). "Providence is no longer just a train stop" : the Trinity Repertory Company : its first twelve years. Chapel Hill, NC: Professional Press. ISBN 1570872112. OCLC 47004434.
  4. Woods, Jeannie. Theatre to Change Men's Souls: The Artistry of Adrian Hall. University of Delaware Press, 1993. ISBN 0-87413-451-X page=66
  5. Pobzeznik, Marcia (July 23, 2019). "Tiverton Couple giving away 'Hamilton' tickets through contest". Providence Journal (RI). p. A5. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  6. Genzlinger, Neil (February 23, 2023). "Adrian Hall, 95, Dies; A Visionary Devoted To Regional Theaters". The New York Times. p. B8. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  7. "Adrian Hall — The Man Who Made Trinity Rep. a National Treasure — Dies at 95". GoLocalProv. February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
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