ABOUT HUGO WEST
Hugo West Theatricals is the lunatic hobbyhorse of native Cincinnati writers and producers Michael D. Hall and Joshua Steele. Called “smart playwright[s] who know how to surprise an audience in unexpected ways” (LINK nky) with an “uncanny ability to bring us local history in theatrical form” (Behind The Curtain Cincinnati) and who “share a gene or two with P.T. Barnum” (Movers & Makers), their often sold-out productions have been dubbed “fun and mysterious” (Cincinnati Enquirer) and “unexpectedly entertaining and thoughtful” (National Review).
HWT’s most recent production, a tenth anniversary staging of their musical HOT DAMN! IT’S THE LOVELAND FROG! enjoyed a sold-out run at the Loveland Stage Company. Founded in 2012, HWT has produced award-winning stagings of original, adapted and existing works, with a special interest in remarkable Cincinnati history topics. Their production history includes DON'T CROSS THE STREAMS: THE CEASE AND DESIST MUSICAL; A KLINGON CHRISTMAS CAROL; HOT DAMN! IT'S THE LOVELAND FROG!; ZOMBIE-LOGUE; CESSNA; THE LETTERS OF VINCENT VAN GOGH: A LIVE PERFORMANCE; SUMATRAN RHINO; THE GOSPEL OF BARABBAS, HARAMBE and UTOPIA, OHIO. Their works have appeared at The Cincinnati and Indianapolis Fringe Festivals, the Loveland Stage Company (Loveland, OH) The Art Academy of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Art Museum, The Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum (Cincinnati, OH) and Falcon Theater (Newport, KY).
MICHAEL D. HALL
Michael Douglas Hall is a playwright and actor living in Los Angeles. His writing work with Joshua Steele includes DON'T CROSS THE STREAMS, HOT DAMN! IT'S THE LOVELAND FROG! and CESSNA. Michael also wrote and performed a one person show, ZOMBIELOGUE, as well as writing and producing SUMATRAN RHINO. Along with stage roles like Oscar in THE ODD COUPLE and Martin Dysart in EQUUS, Michael has been seen on the silver screen in The Public, directed by Emilio Estevez, and on Apple TV’s hit show Physical. He lives with his beautiful girlfriend, Dierdre, and their awesome dog, Brutus.
JOSHUA STEELE
An award-winning producer and performer, Joshua manages historic Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine, presenting and hosting nearly 300 events annually. He previously served as Managing Director of Theatre at The Carnegie, and President of the League of Cincinnati Theatres. He has been a featured performer with the Cincinnati Pops, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Landmark Productions, and Commonwealth Theatre Company, among others. Joshua is a voice instructor for the NKU School of the Arts.