Hal Davis
Wichita native Hal Davis graduated from Wichita State University in 1972. He would
like to credit his teachers/mentors, DickWelsbacher, Joyce Cavarozzi, Audrey Needles
and Mary Jane Teall for giving him the foundation to accomplish a successful life
in the theatre. After graduation, he completed an intensive postgraduate program at
The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. It was there he made his London debut
at The Holland Park Theater Festival in a production of Tartuffe.
Davis made his Broadway debut in Titanic, the Tony Award Winner for Best Musical,
where he performed the roles of Capt. E.J. Smith and Mr. Isidor Strauss. He went on
to perform nationally and internationally in over 70 professional productions from
Broadway and Off Broadway to Stock and Regional Theatres. National Tours include Titanic,
The Best Little Whorehouse, The King and I, Grease, I’m Getting My Act Together, and
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other NYC credits include The Sound
of Music under the direction of Jamie Hammerstein, Handy Dandy, with Jane Alexander/Jerry
Orbach and Professionally Speaking. Regional credits: Sweeney Todd (Theatre Virginia),
Daddy Warbucks (CasaManana)and Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd (NCT). Davis has returned to Wichita
many times working with Stage One productions of Rough Crossing (Center for the Arts),
The Fantasticks (MJ Teall), and My Way (The Orpheum). His continued association with
Music Theatre of Wichita has remained strong over the decades starting in 1972 with
Man of La Mancha, to last summer’s production of Newsies, playing Joseph Pulitzer.
TV: The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow (PBS), One Life to Live as Detective Frank Slocum
(ABC), Loving (ABC). Recordings: Best Little Whorehouse/w/Ann-Margret, Good News (original
cast recording). In 2006, he moved from New York to North Carolina to become coordinator
and assistant professor of Musical Theatre at UNC-P. After nearly 10 years of teaching,
Davis retired and returned to his hometown. He is the proud father of Zachary and
Abigail.