A hilarious and self-deprecating keynote, ending with an off-color song, marked the occasion of the 174th Commencement as Brad Hall ’75 returned to his alma mater.

The actor, writer, and director began his remarks under the tent on the Quad by noting that he had been having a recurring nightmare about returning to the Williston Northampton School to give an oral report—dressed as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Pausing for a moment, so the audience could take in his black, formal robes, Mr. Hall quipped, “Thank you for helping my most horrible dreams to come true.”

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One 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 174^th 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.

There was a lot of lighthearted banter in the Grubbs Gallery on Monday afternoon as four of Williston Northampton School’s top athletes gathered for ceremonies to highlight their college commitments.

Andrew Liu, Ryan Richmond, and John “Marshall” Rizutto signed National Letters of Intent with Assumption College, Bentley University, and Edinboro University, respectively. George “Curt” McLeod was also recognized for committing to Cornell University.

“Read the fine print—make sure!” yelled one teammate as Mr. McLeod inked his name. The football player grinned; the paper he was using was a prop for the ceremony.

Mr. Rizutto, a fellow football star, also got a ribbed, with teammates reminding him not to lose the ceremonial signing pen.

“It’s your special pen, Marshall!” “Marshall, don’t lose that pen!” they called.

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