BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Longtime proponent and General Manager of Theatre West Virginia, Scott Hill, confirmed Saturday that he would be stepping away from the role after nearly a decade of service.
Hill’s face is one which is well-known throughout Raleigh County, his contagious energy and boundless enthusiasm having made him a fixture in the community.
Originally a native of Charleston, Hill bounced around Southern West Virginia for a time, relocating to the Huntington area before returning to Charleston, and finally landing in Raleigh County in the mid-1990s.
Something of a renaissance man, Hill’s professional history exhibits a broad range which includes time at Southern Communications, the American Red Cross, and local radio station WJLS as a color commentator.
Hill notably has also served as Festival Director for the Rocket Boys Festival in Beckley, one of many facets of his ongoing friendship with Coalwood’s own Homer Hickam. Hickam would contribute to Theatre West Virginia adaptations of his iconic memoir Rocket Boys during Hill’s time as General Manager, the most recent of which took place during Theatre West Virginia’s summer run and featured a detailed stage reproduction of several Coalwood landmarks.
Hill also oversaw Hickam’s presentation of the “Key to Coalwood” to Beckley Mayor Rob Rappold during the July run of shows over the summer.
Along with several summer concert events including tributes to iconic artists such as John Denver and the Eagles, Hill oversaw a number of stage productions throughout 2022 at Grandview’s Cliffside Amphitheater.
Some such productions included adaptations of timeless tales such as Hatfields and McCoys, The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Carol, and the aforementioned Rocket Boys. Hill was also involved in bringing Public Theatre NY’s Coal Country – the critically acclaimed stage adaptation of the Big Branch Mine Disaster – to Woodrow Wilson High School in May, and along with it, songwriting legend Steve Earle.
“Thank you everyone for a great run,” Hill said following the news of his intended departure. It is unclear at this time whether a replacement has yet been selected for the role of Theatre West Virginia General Manager, but most would agree that the individual will have some hefty shoes to fill.
More information on Theatre West Virginia can be found at the Theatre West Virginia website.