Biography
Don Hill has worked in the professional theatre as an actor,
stage manager, production manager, director, producer and
union negotiator in a thirty-two year career spanning both
coasts. As an actor, he attended Webber Douglas Academy
of Dramatic Arts in London. As a directing student at USC
he was mentored by the late John Houseman, who chaired his
master's thesis, Find Your Way Home. Latter at
USC he would guest direct Equus, California
Suite And The Lion In Winter.
Hill
served as production stage manager for the Los Angeles Chamber
Orchestra under the artistic direction of Gerard Schwarz
working with such luminaries as Patti Lupone and Leontyne
Price. As resident production stage manager for the Los
Angeles Actors' Theatre (LAAT), he stage managed twelve
productions including the world premiere of John Guare's
Women And Water and the world premiere of Sherlock's
Last Case by Charles Marowitz starring Dakin Mathews.
 Off-Broadway
he stage managed Secret Honor produced by Robert
Altman and starring Philip Baker Hall. At the Los Angeles
Theatre Center he stage managed the world premier of Nanawati
by William Mastrosimone, starring Bill Pullman. For the
Mark Taper Forum, he was production stage manager for Street
Of The Sun.
During
his five years as production manager for the Los Angeles
Theatre Center he supervised 66 main stage productions 54
of which were new works. Hill received the Employee of the
Year Award for his outstanding contribution. As production
manager for inaugural season of the Geffen Playhouse he
worked with such prominent directors as Joe Mantelo on Love,
Valor, Compassion and Adrian Hall on Quills.
As
Associate Producer for the Long Beach Civic Light Opera
(one of the largest musical theatre companies in America),
Hill worked with such personalities as Carol Burnett, Dixie
Carter, Nell Carter, Tyne Daly, Sandy Duncan, Charles Durning,
Bebe Neuwirth, Leslie Uggams and Elaine Stritch. In addition
to overseeing all production elements of the large scale,
star-studded musicals in the 3,000-seat Terrace Theatre,
he was involved in revitalizing the Center Theatre, a 600
seat venue. While assisting in launching the national tour
tours of State Fair staring Susan Egan and Bye
Bye Birdie starring Tommy Tune and Anne Reinking, Hill
produced for a New Works Festival for the Center Theatre.
He also became heavily involved with the student outreach
program “Class Act”, which brought thousands
of junior high school students into the theatre to see a
specially adapted version of the show which he created.
The highlight of Don Hill’s experience at the LBCLO
was creating (with Tony Award wining Producer Barry Brown),
the legendary presentation of Company In Concert,
a concert version of the musical Company with the
original Broadway Cast. After a record-breaking performance
at the Terrace Theatre, he took the show to Avery Fisher
Hall at Lincoln Center.
For
12 years Hill served on the board of LA Stage Alliance (formerly
Theatre LA). This organization created the Ovation Awards
(the only peer judged award for excellence in theatre in
the greater Los Angeles area). Mr. Hill was a vital player
in the creation of the Ovation Awards show, from its first
competitive format presented at the Alex Theatre in 1995
to its growth at the Shubert Theatre and later at the Orphem
Theatre. As Associate Producer and later as Director of
this show, Hill’s passion for celebrating the best
in theatre was evident. Under his guidance, the Ovation
Awards presentation has honored such theatre greats as Stephen
Sonhdiem and August Wilson, with such celebrity hosts as
Nathan Lane and Alfred Molina.
During
this time, Mr. Hill worked on a number of important benefits.
He was production stage Manager for the Pacific Center AIDS
benefits honoring Elizabeth Taylor and Angela Lansbury.
He worked on other benefits as production manager that included
A Tribute To Peter Allen with Bette Midler and
Lily Tomlin and George Burns 80th Birthday Celebration
with Carol Channing.
Hill
has toured nationally as production stage manager on The
Diary Of Adam And Eve with David Birney and with Carmen
Zapata’s tour of The House Of Bernarda Alba.
As
the chief business representative for Actor's Equity Association
for seven years, Hill negotiated and administered the Production
(Broadway) Contract, The Disney Agreement, Business Theatre
Agreement, Western Special Production Contract, The Western
Civic Light Opera Agreement, the Hollywood Area Theatre
Agreement and the new Casino Agreement. Among his many achievements
while at Actor’s Equity, he organized the Hollywood
Bowl for Equity Performers. He also was a major contributing
author to the new Casino Agreement. In addition, he served
as national staff chairperson for the Entry To Equity Committee,
revitalizing the Equity Membership Candidacy Program. He
has been a proud member of Actors Equity since 1981.
Prior
to his appointment at UCI, Hill taught Entertainment Law
at Columbia College (Hollywood).
Find out more about Don:
::
Biography
:: Teaching Philosophy
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