Michael Hall Retires from Caldwell

From the Palm Beach Post:

Michael Hall, the longtime artistic director and co-founder of Boca Raton's Caldwell Theater Company, has announced his retirement.

Clive Cholerton, the theater board's chairman for the past four years and director of the current production "Dangerous," will succeed Hall as artistic director on June 1.

Christine Dolen blogs about it for the Miami Herald:

During Hall's long tenure, the Caldwell collected 73 regional Carbonell Awards (and counting) for excellence.

Among his many highs: productions of Sarah Ruhl's The Clean House, Moises Kaufman's The Laramie Project and Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, John Patrick Shanley's Doubt.

(Sigvision photo of Michael Hall, left, and Clive Cholerton)

Michael Hall was an originator of regional theatre in South Florida with the creation of the Caldwell Theatre back in 1975. Prior to that, the only professional theatre seen with any regularity in South Florida were the random tours playing at the Royal Poinciana and Parker Playhouses, or Miami's Jackie Gleason Theatre. (The Coconut Grove was a community theatre at this time). James R Caldwell, philanthropist and inventor of the rubber dustpan, provided the backing and a lot of other support.

At 68, Hall he says he's ready to "to write a book, travel the world, and become a better photographer."

Clive Cholerton has been the theater board's chairman for the past four years and is the director of the current production Dangerous. He is pictured here overlooking the stage in the theatre's new space, a major project under his leadership.

Cholerton has directed in New York and Toronto, and has appeared as an actor.

South Florida Theatre Scene extends its best wishes to both men; Michael Hall certainly deserves to rest on his laurels, and Clive Cholerton has already met several bold challenges on behalf of the Caldwell.