“It is 1968, and Donald A. Hall Sr., the man who designed and engineered the Spirit of St. Louis, is in the last year of his life. His health is failing, but he is still haunted by the most famous moment of his life, when he helped Charles Lindbergh make the first solo transatlantic flight. “One day, Hall receives a letter from a young reporter. The reporter is eager to interview Hall for a story about the 40th anniversary of the flight. Hall is initially reluctant, but he eventually agrees to meet with the reporter at his home in Point Loma. The interview begins cordially, but it quickly becomes clear that the reporter is not just interested in getting Hall’s story. He is also trying to get to the truth about what happened on that fateful day in 1927.
As the interview progresses, Hall becomes increasingly agitated. He begins to question the intention of the interviewer, and he wonders if he made the right decision agreeing to this interview.”
The Creator Behind the Spirit of St. Louis is a one-act play written by Nova Hall, the grandson of Donald A. Hall Sr., the man who designed and engineered the Spirit of St. Louis. The play was written as Hall’s thesis project in scriptwriting at Arizona State University’s New College.
Hall was inspired to write the play after writing his grandfather’s biography, Spirit and Creator: The Man Behind Lindbergh’s Flight to Paris. The play tells the story of Hall Sr. in the last year of his life, as he is interviewed by a young reporter about his role in Lindbergh’s historic flight. The play was first performed in 2011 at the Flying Over Time theater in San Diego. It was directed by Tiffany Kell and starred James Ried as Donald A. Hall Sr. The play received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike.
Here are some reasons why Hall chose to write The Creator Behind the Spirit of St. Louis as a one-act play:
Nova and Don Hall at the Premier @ ASU
- He wanted to focus on the intimate relationship between Hall Sr. and the reporter. A one-act play allows for more time to explore the characters’ thoughts and feelings.
- He wanted to create a play that was both dramatic and suspenseful. The one-act format allows for a more tightly-paced story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- He wanted to create a play that was accessible to a wide audience. One-act plays are typically shorter and less expensive to produce than full-length plays. This makes them more likely to be performed by small theater companies and community groups.
The Creator Behind the Spirit of St. Louis is a moving play that tells the story of one man’s journey from obscurity to fame. The play is character drama, and a testament to the human spirit and bringing history to life.
If you are interested in learning more about the play, please contact us.