Adrian Hall — The Man Who Made Trinity Rep a National Treasure — Dies at 95
Sunday, February 05, 2023
Adrian Hall, the founding artistic director at Trinity Rep. and the person who was most responsible for launching the theatre to national fame, has died.
He was 95.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTUnder Hall, Trinity Rep. won a Tony Award in 1981.
He was born in Van, Texas. His death was announced on social media by his long-time friend Dan Butler.
His directing style was described as "bold" by the New York Times, and his work was considered part of the first- and second-generation regional theater movement of the 1960s and late 1980s.
Hall not only put Trinity on the map, but also made Providence a creative hub.
Trinity was selected to produce Oscar Wilde's "Feasting with Panthers" for PBS' Theater in America series. The New York Times wrote in its review, "The whole works beautifully, not least because of a splendid performance by Richard Kneeland in the role of Oscar Wilde. It is always, no matter the circumstances, the portrait of a man. Mr. Kneeland has rescued Wilde from the gallery of acting grotesques that have haunted his memory. He and the rest of the Trinity Square Repertory Company, most notably Mr. Hall, can claim credit for outstanding theater and television."
He led Trinity until 1986. For his three final years, he split his time between Providence and the Dallas Theater Center in Texas. Ultimately he left for Dallas. And just three years later, he had creative differences and was directing in Los Angeles and beyond.
