Meet Keath Hall of Mesa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keath Hall.

Keath, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a military family, moving around for a good chunk of my youth but eventually landing in San Diego. Did a little of everything in school; football, wrestling, even some drama but mostly as a lighting guy. I was working on a degree in History from San Diego State University when I got a phone call to step in for an actor in a production for a guerilla Shakespeare company call “Poor Players Theatre Company”; worked on 17 Shakespeare productions with them. From then on I started working for theatres on and off stage. Travelled around a bit and landed a gig for Southwest Shakespeare Company in 2007 in a production of Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. On that production I met the stage manager and woman who would be my wife. We travelled and worked on a show every summer called Tecumseh! The Outdoor Drama in Ohio; I learned more stage combat, tech skills and horseback riding. Moved back to Arizona and worked for a while. The Pandemic hit and everything stopped for a time. Got a Masters In Literature from NAU and started teaching Film and Theatre for High School. Coming back from the pandemic, I gathered some friends and started Ronin Theatre Company. When I looked around and saw the theatre in the valley, a lot of it just wasn’t for me; lots of versions of “Annie” and the usual faire catering to a very specific audience. A “ronin” is a masterless samurai and the theatre I was looking to create wasn’t meant to be tied down by only doing what was safe or expected. Classics hold a special place to me; I love taking something old and making it seem new and exciting. Just recently I was offered the position of Artistic Director at Southwest Shakespeare Company in Mesa Arizona. The companies’ mission, the classics, and the many friends and relationships I’ve gained from the company over the years made my decision easy. Accepting this new position at Southwest Shakes meant leaving Ronin, which I had built for the last five years. A Klingon Hamlet is my last show with the company for the foreseeable future but I am happy to have left them financially stable and with experienced leadership. Now to Southwest; I’m opening the season with an adaptation of George Orwell’s “1984”. A Classic? Absolutely. Risky? For sure. Important? I believe so. There are a lot of challenges a head for all theatre, for me, and Southwest Shakespeare Company. But… when you love what you do,… when you have a mission to engage students and audiences in history and literature,… when you surround yourself with people who are as passionate as you are… anything and everything is possible.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Theatre is certainly “the road less travelled by” in my family.
While not “smooth” I do acknowledge that I have been lucky. Friends and family have supported me when I was broke and broken. For several periods of my life I was couch surfing and sleeping in libraries. A few health issues left me at the mercy of our broken medical system.
I have worked hard to challenge myself to push harder and try things and make myself better in every aspect of acting, directing, producing, teaching and being a husband and father.
Certainly there are many people who have had it harder than me.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have been an actor, director, fight choreographer, Technical director, carpenter, rigger, lighting technician, equestrian, sound technician, pyrotechnician, stagehand and teacher.
Most recently I am known for acting and directing, specifically for Shakespeare.
I guess what sets me apart from others, what I’m proud of and probably why I’ve been hired as the Artistic Director of Southwest Shakespeare Company is a reputation for hard-work, passion, kindness and honesty. (I hope at least)
My work ethic and honesty I got from my father who is a Navy Veteran. Passion comes from my mother who loved to read and was a science fiction nerd.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I remember in the 2nd & 3rd grade reading The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien, Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, and IT by Stephen King. I remember what it felt like to be immersed in those worlds and imagining myself in those amazing situations and places. Should I have been reading those books? Some might say no, but for a tubby awkward child with very few friends, I remember feeling incredibly empowered to be trusted with such mature content.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.swshakespeare.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWShakespeareCompany

Image Credits
Southwest Shakespeare 2025-2026 Season
CJ Mascarelli Design

Hall Family

Hadestown 2024
North Valley Arts Academy
Shadow Mountain High School
Mr. Halls Set Design Class & Tech

Keath Hall as Malvolio
Southwest Shakespeare Co
Twelfth Night 2024
(Photo Devon Adams)

Keath Hall as Hamlet
A Klingon Hamlet 2025
Ronin Theatre Co

Keath Hall as Orson Wells
Orson Welles 2021
Don Bluth Front Row Theatre