1. Sir Peter Hall Born in 1930 in England
Founded the Royal Shakespeare Company; director of the National Theatre
Directed the English-language premiere of Waiting for Godot; London premiere of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; world premiere of Amadeus
Major advocate for government funding for the arts
“In the last five years, I've made another radical change: I now ask the actors to learn the part before we start rehearsals. Some argue that, if you do that, the actor won't develop. Absolute bunk. What it gives you, in effect, is an extra two weeks' rehearsal."
“I don't regard Brecht as a man of iron-gray purpose and intellect, I think he is a theatrical whore of the first quality.”
Daughter Rebecca Hall is stage/film actress (Iron Man 3, The Prestige, The Town)

3. Harold “Hal” Prince Born in 1928 in New York City
Produced many shows…West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof
Directed many shows…Cabaret, Evita, Phantom of the Opera, several shows with Sondheim, including Sweeney Todd and Company
Holds record for individual winning 21 Tony Awards
“Artistic self-indulgence is the mark of an amateur. The temptation to make scenes, to appear late, to call in sick, not to meet deadlines, not to be organized, is at heart a sign of your own insecurity and at worst the sign of an amateur.”

5. Mike Nichols 1931-2014; born in Germany, but moved to US when he was 7
Married to Diane Sawyer
Began career doing improv with the Compass Players
Won Emmy, Oscar, Tony, Grammy (1 of 14 to do so)
Directed Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Annie, Spamalot
Movies: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Graduate, Working Girl, The Birdcage, Wit, Angels in America
“I love to take actors to a place where they open a vein. That's the job. The key is that I make it safe for them to open the vein.”

7. Jerzy Grotowski Polish director and theoretician, 1933-1999
Started the Laboratory Theatre in Poland; trained and directed actors in experimental theatre; rigorous physical training (believed in actor using every part of his body to express emotion)
Wrote Towards a Poor Theatre (poor=theatre can be made without spectacle; it is about communion between actor and spectator)
Famous productions: Akropolis and The Constant Prince
“If you want to create a true masterpiece you must always avoid beautiful lies… The spectator, perhaps, is content. The spectator likes easy truths. But we are not there to please or pander to the spectator. We are here to tell the truth.”

10. Sir Trevor Nunn Born in 1940 in England
Has been artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and the Theatre Royal
Best known for directing Cats and Les Misérables!!! Also directed revival of Oklahoma! starring Hugh Jackman!!!
“If you're a director, your entire livelihood and your entire creativity is based on your self-confidence. Sometimes that's dangerously close to arrogance.”