Thomas Hall, who joined the Old Globe Theatre staff in 1978, has announced that he will leave his post of managing director prior to the end of the 1999 season. All told, Hall has served the Playhouse as production stage manager, production manager and then, for nearly 19 years, as managing director. In his various capacities, Hall produced over 240 productions and has overseen $13 million in capital improvements, including the design and construction of both the Old Globe Theatre and the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. During Hall's tenure, the Old Globe retired a substantial deficit from the fires of 1978 and 1984 while its operating budget blossomed from $1.2 million in 1982 to its current level of nearly $11 million.

"I have had the rare privilege of being a member of the Old Globe staff for over two decades and although this decision has been very difficult for me, I believe now is the right time for me and the Globe to make the change," Hall said. "It was my objective when I took the job of managing director to help realize Craig Noel's dream of creating a year-round professional company that was recognized as one of America's top-ranking regional theatres. That goal, along with many others over the years, has been met and I believe the theatre is poised for even greater achievements in the years to come."

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent