Writer and Performer Brad Hall ’75 to Deliver Commencement Keynote

Photo by Matthew CavanaughOne of television’s creative powerhouses—who has been involved in such shows as Frasier, Curb Your Enthusiasm, SNL, and Parks and Recreation, among others—will deliver the keynote at Williston Northampton’s 174th Commencement on Sunday, May 24, 2015.

Brad Hall ’75 describes his career as having achieved “the weird distinction of having done just about every creative job in television.” He has written, performed in, composed music for, produced, and developed theatre productions, television shows, and motion pictures. He is an award-winning actor, writer, and director, having received such accolades as a Peabody Award and a Golden Globe.

Mr. Hall, a California native, describes his senior year at the Williston Northampton School as a “blissful” one. After majoring in theater at Northwestern University, he attended the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts, and Drama Studio in London. Brad was a co-founder and artistic director of the Practical Theatre Co. in Chicago where he was a performer, writer, composer, and director of new plays and improvisational comedy revues. After writing and performing on NBCʼs Saturday Night Live, he was involved with numerous successful TV shows, including Brooklyn Bridge, the Single Guy, and Watching Ellie. NBCʼs The Sing Off a cappella reality show is loosely based on a feature film Mr. Hall wrote for Columbia Pictures.

Mr. Hall has recently written and directed two award-winning short films, “Picture Paris,” a dark comedy starring his wife, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and a documentary about an art collection that becomes an education for African American kids in Harlem, “Generosity of Eye.”

Cade Zawacki, who will be attending Carnegie Mellon in the fall, will also speak at Commencement, having been selected by his peers to be the senior class speaker. In his introduction, Mr. Zawacki noted, “I want this speech to be different so that it sticks in your brain and cements with you all of the wonderful memories that you have made here at Williston.”

The Commencement ceremony will take place under a tent in front of the Reed Campus Center, starting at 9:30 a.m., and will include the graduation of 139 members of the Class of 2015. The Reed Campus Center is located at 40 Park Street, Easthampton.

 

One thought on “Writer and Performer Brad Hall ’75 to Deliver Commencement Keynote”

  1. Undoubtedly Brad Hall knows another extremely successful Williston alumnus involved in the same business: H. Charles Eglee ’70. Known even in 1970 as ‘Chic,’ perhaps beginning with Cybil Shephard and Bruce Willis in the “Moonlighting” series he has put together hit after hit. Currently he is responsible for “The Walking Dead”.

    Get Brad and Chic together for something Williston-related. Wow, that would be something. In the meantime I am curious as to how their paths have crossed.

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