Theater News

Lights Will Dim Throughout Broadway and West End in Memory of Peter Hall

The legendary theatrical director died on Monday at the age of 86.

Peter Hall receiving the Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre Award in 2011.
Peter Hall receiving the Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre Award in 2011.
(© Alastair Muir)

Venues on Broadway and across the West End will be dimming their lights this Friday, September 15, in honor of the late creator, producer, and theatrical innovator Peter Hall, who died on Monday, September 11, at the age of 86. The marquees of Broadway theaters in New York will be dimmed at exactly 7:45pm (EST) for one minute, and dimmed on the West End in London for one minute at 7pm (BST).

As a director, Peter Hall received nine Tony Award nominations for productions including An Ideal Husband (1996), Four Baboons Adoring the Sun (1992), The Merchant of Venice (1989), Betrayal (1980), Bedroom Farce (1979), Old Times (1971), and The Rope Dancers (1957). He won in 1981 for Amadeus and in 1967 for The Homecoming. Hall's additional Broadway credits include Amadeus (1999 revival), Orpheus Descending (1989), Wild Honey (1986), The Petition (1986), No Man's Land (1976), The Misanthrope (1975), As You Like It (1974), Saturday Sunday Monday (1974), Via Galactica (1972), and The Hollow Crown (1963).

Founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, Hall remained there until 1968. He was later named director of the National Theatre and oversaw the move from the Old Vic to its current home on the South Bank. He also created the Peter Hall Company in 1988 and in 2003 became the founding director of the Rose Theatre Kingston. He also worked extensively in the opera world with productions at the Royal Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, and Bayreuth. He additionally served as artistic director of Glyndebourne Festival Opera from 1984-90.

"Peter Hall was an unrelenting advocate for the arts who worked tirelessly to bring new life to classic works and introduced new work that became classics," said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. "With every project, he pushed himself to explore, experiment, and always seek the truth. He didn’t just make theater, he created an environment for it to thrive by founding and leading some of the most respected organizations in the industry. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues."