Calgary, AB – Cheryl Gottselig, Chair of the Board and Cal Johnson, Chair of
the Artistic Director Search Committee are pleased to announce the
appointment of Craig Hall as the incoming Artistic Director of Vertigo
Theatre effective July 1, 2012
Craig Hall has been working as a professional theatre artist since 1997. He
is currently the Artistic Producer of Vancouver’s Rumble Productions and is
a member of the critically acclaimed absurdist theatre troupe Theatre Melee.
In addition to his work with these companies, he has had the pleasure of
directing and designing for Green Thumb Theatre, Nightswimming, Radix
Theatre, Section 8 Productions, Studio 58, Douglas College, The Electric
Company, The Virtual Stage, Theatre Replacement, The Firehall Arts Centre,
Pi Theatre and Theatre Skam. Craig has also worked extensively as a
production manager, technical director, stage manager and dramaturg. In 2011
Craig was one of two directors chosen to participate in the Neil Munro
Intern Director’s Project at the Shaw Festival. He is the recipient of the
2003 Ray Michal award for outstanding body of work by an emerging director
and has won several Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards for his work. He is a
graduate of Studio 58.
“It will be a great honor to lead Vertigo Theatre into the next chapter of
its development. Mark Bellamy has been working tirelessly over the last
seven years to build an incredibly loyal fan base for the company’s work,
while at the same time evolving the mandate and challenging perceptions of
what ‘mystery theatre’ can be,” says Craig Hall. “I look forward to
continuing that evolution while at the same time honoring the company’s
history and its reason for being. The next nine months will see Mark and I
working closely on a smooth transition and preparing for Vertigo’s 2012 –
2013 season. I can’t wait to return to Alberta where I was born and raised.
I look forward to getting better acquainted with Calgary’s vibrant theatre
community and to meeting Vertigo’s patrons and supporters.”
Chair of the Vertigo Theatre Society Board Cheryl Gottselig stated, “The
Artistic Director Search Committee conducted a lengthy and arduous process
to find our new Artistic Director. We were pleased with the number of
qualified applicants from Calgary and across Canada. Craig Hall brings the
enthusiasm and theatre experience that will result in future programming at
Vertigo Theatre that will thrill our audiences.”
Vertigo Theatre’s General Manager Suzanne Mott adds, “I am thrilled with the
search committee’s choice. We had such a strong list of candidates to
choose from and the committee’s process was extremely thorough. Craig has a
very exciting artistic vision. His strong background as a creator,
director, designer and collaborator as well as his commitment to mentorship,
makes him a perfect choice to continue Mark’s legacy for this company.”
Mark Bellamy, who will continue as the Artistic Director through to the end
of the season when he will be directing Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of
Fleet Street, adds “This is a very exciting time for Vertigo and I am
confident that in choosing Craig Hall as the next Artistic Director the
Board has made an excellent choice to move the company forward into the next
phase of its evolution. Craig is a dynamic and vibrant artist and I look
forward to working with him over the course of this year as we plan the 2012
– 2013 season.”
Vertigo Theatre is a professional, not-for-profit charitable organization
with a dual artistic mandate. Its mission is to be a leader in developing,
producing and presenting plays based in the mystery genre, and plays for
young audiences, while providing a performance home for other organizations.
For more information on Vertigo Theatre visit www.vertigotheatre.com.
